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Velvet-purple Coronet
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Velvet-purple Coronet

by Nate Chappell

Gallery: AvianPosted January 30, 2010241 views8 comments
Hi everyone, we're home to the wet, cold Pacific Northwest after 7 weeks of guiding, shooting and holidays in Ecuador. Strangely the cool weather feels good, this feeling will probably last about 3 days :rolleyes: Here's a multi flash hummingbird photo from the trip. I manually focused on the flower here. Full frame.

MkIII 500F4 25mm extension tube, 1/250 F25, iso 400
580ex set at 1/32 power
3 Nikon Sb-26 slave flashes set at 1/16 power, 2 on flower/bird, 1 on artifical background.

Comments

8 comments
Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on January 30, 2010 at 2:41 PM
A great set up shot Nate. I like the affect the low flash output had on the flower and bird. Everything looks nice and sharp. Great shadow and light in this one. I do not tend to like multi flash hummingbird images because everthing is illuminated too evenly. This is nice. I would love to see a larger version, so I could see more detail in the bird's face.
Registered on December 6, 2008, 360 Posts, 7132 Comments
Comment posted by Nick Saunders on January 30, 2010 at 3:15 PM
A fabulous shot Nate. I love the spread wings and the take off pose with feet tucked under like that. Quite unique in Hummingbird shots.
The lines of the flower and bird are very complimentary too.
:toast:
Registered on February 6, 2008, 321 Posts, 3035 Comments
Comment posted by Ed Dubois on January 30, 2010 at 3:49 PM
Great shot Nate. I like the dramatic lighting and how you kept the details in the blacks and whites too.
Registered on February 22, 2005, 129 Posts, 4739 Comments
Comment posted by Steve Balke on January 30, 2010 at 6:38 PM
Unusual and fine capture, Nate as well as a very colorful bird. Searching around for info on this bird I discovered the Internet Bird Collection (IBC). It's been around since 2002 so you all may know of it. However, it looks to me like it's now beginning to greatly expand its bird videos. Could be useful for us in identification. Certainly, watching the videos there of this bird jumping around so actively made me realize just what an accomplishment this shot is (see: http://ibc.lynxeds.com/species/velvet-purple-coronet-boissonneaua-jardini ). :toast:
Registered on June 18, 2009, 229 Posts, 2915 Comments
Comment posted by Ken Archer on January 30, 2010 at 8:40 PM
A unique perspective for sure, looks like he's tunrning back toward the flower for another drink. Excellent work Nate!!! :toast:

Ken Archer
Registered on October 28, 2004, 222 Posts, 6683 Comments
Comment posted by Ajit Huilgol on January 31, 2010 at 1:46 AM
A work of art, Nate! :toast: :toast: :toast:
Registered on December 19, 2008, 302 Posts, 2055 Comments
Comment posted by Sally King on January 31, 2010 at 11:02 AM
I love how isolated the bird and flower are. Love how you caught the takeoff with that spread tail and wings. The glint in the eye is the icing on the cake. Beautiful image.
Registered on December 2, 2008, 416 Posts, 4450 Comments
Comment posted by Simon Bennett on February 1, 2010 at 3:37 AM
Super image Nate - I expecially like the alignment of axes in the upper left of the image - the flower, the bird, the wing, and the darker tonality. Dynamic pose, head turn and irridescent highlights cap it off - well done.
Registered on February 4, 2007, 350 Posts, 4614 Comments