Hummer In The Rain

Gallery: AvianPosted May 7, 2010253 views10 comments

This is a female Magnificent Hummingbird from the Savegre Valley in Costa Rica.

It was raining a bit when we were photographing hummers coming to a flower. I really like the rain streaks in the image. I also liked the wing blur at 1/100. While I like high speed hummingbird photography to completely stop the wings, these kinds of shots also have a lot of appeal to me. Interested in your thoughts.

Larger version included for your critique. The smaller version just doesn't seem to pop for this image.

Canon 5D, 500mm f/4
1/100 @ f/13
ISO 800
580 EX Flash @ -2 1/3

Comments

10 comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on May 7, 2010 at 11:54 PM

WOW you're good.... love all of the streaking and motion blue going on in this photo, while the flower remains crisp and sharp

- Luke

Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments

Comment posted by Monica Siri on May 8, 2010 at 8:58 AM

Keith,
I like this image a lot as posted.

Registered on September 20, 2009, 132 Posts, 3764 Comments

Comment posted by Charles Gangas on May 8, 2010 at 9:58 AM

Great shot Keith! The blurred wings work for me, as does the rain. Had the good fortune of visiting the Sevegre Valley in March. Lots of hummer activity-very cool place.

Registered on August 12, 2009, 544 Posts, 2414 Comments

Comment posted by Chetan Rangaraj on May 8, 2010 at 10:22 AM

Gorgeous image. The streaks of rain and the wing blur add a lot to the image. Superb capture.

Registered on February 12, 2009, 17 Posts, 27 Comments

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on May 8, 2010 at 10:44 AM

Really nice. I like the rain and fuzz on the plants. Nicely done. Sharon

Registered on November 1, 2003, 392 Posts, 4810 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on May 8, 2010 at 10:53 AM

Very nice. I like the rain streaks and the wing blur and I prefer this style to the stop-motion of multiple flashes.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1031 Posts, 12705 Comments

Comment posted by Peter Conway on May 8, 2010 at 11:43 AM

Keith this is really sweet. THe rain adds a lot and the slower shutter speed works not only to give a sense of motion in the wings but also for that rain streak effect. All good.

Peter

Registered on June 25, 2007, 347 Posts, 3913 Comments

Comment posted by Mauro Pasquero on May 8, 2010 at 4:43 PM

Very nice shot, Keith. I love it.
Mauro

Registered on January 21, 2010, 650 Posts, 2500 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on May 9, 2010 at 1:17 PM

Sweet!

Registered on December 6, 2008, 360 Posts, 7132 Comments

Comment posted by John Tobias on May 10, 2010 at 7:45 PM

Good and unique shot of a hummer. Like the detail in the bird and flower, the streaks of rain and the partial wings. Thanks for sharing.

Registered on September 12, 2009, 2120 Posts, 6455 Comments