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Rufous Hummingbird at breakfast
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Rufous Hummingbird at breakfast

by Dennis Plank

Gallery: AvianPosted June 30, 20081,730 views31 comments
Taken June 22nd at about 7:20 am. I'd seen the hummingbirds in the garden delphiniums the previous day, so I staked them out that morning. I'd just about given up, when this one showed up. My wife and I both think it's a hatch year, but it might be a female. And yes, with the sun on them, the delphiniums are this color. I've seen some debate about the amount of blur appropriate in a hummingbird's wings. I tend to like having them look like what I see in nature, and I've never seen a wing stopped, when it wasn't perching. I particularly like the way these become almost transparent at the tips. For those of you who like the full bird in view, I'll post that one in a couple of days.

40D, 500mm ISL +1.4TC, tripod, f6.3 @ 1/250, iso 640, aperture priority. 80% full frame.

Comments and criticisms are appreciated-always.

Comments

31 comments
Comment posted by Richard & Gail Buq on June 30, 2008 at 12:57 PM
Really nice Dennis! We have been getting some Black-chinned hummers on the flowers here, but nothing that has the color of those delphiniums. I like your composition on this and the sharpness of the hummer. Very nice! :toast:

Richard Buquoi
Georgetown, TX
Registered on December 18, 2005, 151 Posts, 811 Comments
Comment posted by Michael Twaddell on June 30, 2008 at 1:31 PM
Wow Dennis! Over the top on that one! The detail in the little critter is just amazing, not to mention the color of the flowers! Nice one! :toast: :toast: :toast:
Registered on August 16, 2007, 199 Posts, 2132 Comments
Comment posted by Vincent Grafhorst on June 30, 2008 at 2:24 PM
Wow, love those colors Dennis! :toast:
Registered on February 24, 2006, 504 Posts, 7203 Comments
Comment posted by May Haga on June 30, 2008 at 6:30 PM
This is great, love the background and I like how the bird is just right into the flower.
May
Registered on February 22, 2007, 714 Posts, 8470 Comments
Comment posted by Gary Gulash on June 30, 2008 at 6:48 PM
Wouldn't change a thing Dennis. The violet color of the flowers is amazing, the hummer well exposed and very sharp. A gorgeous photo my friend. :toast:
Registered on January 28, 2005, 879 Posts, 12098 Comments
Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on June 30, 2008 at 8:30 PM
GORGEOUS! Simply stunning color in the flowers and the detail in the hummer is spectacular! I like the wings like this, too. Congratulations...I'd be thrilled with this! Sharon
Registered on November 1, 2003, 392 Posts, 4810 Comments
Comment posted by Richard Ditch on June 30, 2008 at 8:33 PM
That's some serious color!

I agree completely with you on the look of the wings. I too prefer some blur over completely flash-frozen wings. This is a terrific way to show them.
Registered on November 1, 2003, 1031 Posts, 12705 Comments
Comment posted by Nate Chappell on June 30, 2008 at 9:39 PM
This is wonderful and very different Dennis, I like how the flowers extend and create the whole bg, great job. :toast:
Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments
Comment posted by Mia McPherson on July 1, 2008 at 5:38 AM
Dennis,

I think this has become my new favorite of yours. I love the rich, vibrant colors of the Delphiniums, how the hummer is face first in the blossom, the lovely light & details in the feathers & the flowers. I also like the wing blur a lot.

Very well done Dennis!
Registered on June 25, 2007, 491 Posts, 12566 Comments
Comment posted by Jose Anselmo d'Aff on July 1, 2008 at 8:19 AM
WOOOW Dennis, I see a wall of blue flower. Amazing shot. What I say...Fanastic. :eek:
Registered on April 28, 2008, 38 Posts, 156 Comments
Comment posted by KC Choo on July 1, 2008 at 9:15 AM
This is an amazingly good image! The blue is magnificent! I am also a fan of blurred Hummer wings.
Registered on November 15, 2004, 519 Posts, 8278 Comments
Comment posted by Tom Lusk on July 1, 2008 at 10:14 AM
Wow! :eek:

Just WOW! :eek: :eek:
Registered on September 17, 2005, 312 Posts, 600 Comments
Comment posted by Jim Arvanitis on July 1, 2008 at 11:48 AM
Excellent shot Dennis! The color and composition is exquisite, and the hummer is in
perfect focus with the wings blurred just enough to give it a feel of motion. This is indeed
pretty much what we see in nature. :toast: :toast: :toast:

Jim Arvanitis
Registered on February 8, 2008, 45 Posts, 129 Comments
Comment posted by Michael Ginex on July 1, 2008 at 4:10 PM
One of the best hummer shots I ever saw. Wish it were mine. Nice work, Dennis.
:toast: :toast: :toast:
Registered on October 16, 2007, 80 Posts, 353 Comments
Comment posted by Mark Blount on July 1, 2008 at 11:49 PM
Dennis,
Love the shot, and the color is over the top for me :toast: :toast:
Registered on October 14, 2007, 58 Posts, 535 Comments
Comment posted by dan elster on July 2, 2008 at 1:33 AM
Downright beautiful man!! :toast:
Registered on September 23, 2005, 299 Posts, 2443 Comments
Comment posted by Andrey Antov on July 7, 2008 at 8:10 PM
Great image, congratulations!
Andrey
Registered on March 18, 2008, 292 Posts, 341 Comments
Comment posted by Ron Dudley on July 7, 2008 at 8:49 PM
A BIG congrats on the EP Dennis!!! :toast:
Registered on March 30, 2007, 437 Posts, 10915 Comments
Comment posted by Charlie VanTassel on July 7, 2008 at 9:12 PM
Hey Dennis,
Somehow I missed this, but glad I got a second chance. Congratulations on the EP! Excellent photo! :toast: :toast:
Registered on October 18, 2006, 644 Posts, 4801 Comments
Comment posted by Bill Chambers on July 7, 2008 at 10:35 PM
Wonderful shot! Congrats on the well deserved EP. :toast:
Registered on April 10, 2005, 753 Posts, 21216 Comments
Comment posted by David Cobb on July 8, 2008 at 12:27 AM
Beautiful shot Dennis, congrats on the EP too!

David M. Cobb
Registered on December 14, 2007, 312 Posts, 3243 Comments
Comment posted by Marsel van Oosten on July 8, 2008 at 3:18 AM
The colors are great, but I like the motion blur in the wings even more. Wonderful image, congrats on the EP!
Registered on March 9, 2004, 285 Posts, 2277 Comments
Comment posted by Stan Rose on July 8, 2008 at 4:04 AM
:eek: OMG--that is just crazy beautiful! Fabulous, congrats on the EP- :toast:
Registered on September 15, 2005, 836 Posts, 17099 Comments
Comment posted by Kah Kit Yoong on July 8, 2008 at 4:14 AM
:eek: :toast:
Registered on September 27, 2006, 636 Posts, 10682 Comments
Comment posted by Mia McPherson on July 8, 2008 at 6:32 AM
Dennis, congrats on a well deserved EP!
Registered on June 25, 2007, 491 Posts, 12566 Comments
Comment posted by David W. Kelly on July 8, 2008 at 10:05 AM
Congrats. What a winner. :toast: :toast: :toast: :jump: :jump: :toast:
Registered on October 7, 2005, 883 Posts, 6590 Comments
Comment posted by Derrick Lipinski on July 22, 2008 at 1:37 PM
Wow! I don't know how I missed this one, Dennis - spectacular image! Congrats on the EP! :smile:
Registered on October 5, 2007, 58 Posts, 2039 Comments
Comment posted by Ingrid Vekemans on August 17, 2010 at 2:06 PM
Fantastic colours, superb image!
Registered on August 2, 2010, 138 Posts, 780 Comments
Comment posted by Simon Bennett on August 18, 2010 at 6:49 AM
Spectacular!!!
Registered on February 4, 2007, 350 Posts, 4614 Comments
Comment posted by Marlise Launstein on October 23, 2011 at 1:05 AM
WOW :eek: :eek:! This is an incredible picture. The lighting ,sharpness and the composition is all perfect.I hope I can get a picture like this someday.
Registered on August 31, 2011, 28 Posts, 175 Comments
Comment posted by Mike Ramy on July 23, 2012 at 8:37 PM
What everyone else said on this one (31 so far). I viewed your outstanding Gallery and at the beginning a no doubt, this is one of those, 'Once in a Lifetime Shots'. I hope I can handle mine, if and when it comes, so well as you.
Registered on June 16, 2012, 567 Posts, 2809 Comments