RT Hummingbird

Gallery: AvianPosted September 6, 2011142 views10 comments

We only get Ruby-throated Hummingbirds in my part of South Dakota, and only for a four-month period in summer. They're just about ready to leave, which means that in my yard, it will be until about May 10 next year before I see them again. So, despite having a lot of photos of them from my yard, I spent some time yesterday trying to shoot them.

This is the first time I've tried shooting them at a different flower in my yard though, some hostas at the top of a little hill. The males left last week, so females/immatures were all I had left to shoot. Still love having them around though, and am going to miss them.

I've never been all that fond of staged hummingbird photos and multiple flash, as the shots always look staged to me. This isn't staged, but I can't say it doesn't look much different than some of the multi-flash shots! Went stronger on the flash than I normally do, and am mixed on the result. Canon 50D, 400 5.6L, 1/2700, f6.3, ISO 400, 430EX.

Bye hummingbirds!! See you in 8 LONG and cold months!!!

Comments

10 comments

Comment posted by Sally King on September 6, 2011 at 10:48 PM

I love the way the hummer is position with the flowers of the hostas. Definitely you stopped the wing action. I really like the pastel colors. The sharp eye catches attention.

Registered on December 2, 2008, 416 Posts, 4450 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on September 6, 2011 at 11:57 PM

I too prefer non setups for hummingbird photos. I like the position you've captured here, but the flash seems a bit strong.

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

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on September 7, 2011 at 6:15 AM

A great image Terry. I too like the position of the bird and the upward angle. The overall comp is nice. I like the colors and the stronger flash may have caused the colors here. I would have to see the same shot with less flash to know which I would like better. I like this as posted.

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

Comment posted by Nick Palmieri on September 7, 2011 at 8:19 AM

Nice angle and great soft colors.

Registered on September 1, 2011, 35 Posts, 748 Comments

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on September 7, 2011 at 8:42 AM

super details in the larger version, Terry, and a pretty setting too. for whatever reason, the flash looks better to me in the larger version than the smaller; I think you did a good job with this. Most of our male hummers depart very early--by mid-July there are usually mostly only females and immatures--I'm always just thinking I need to start shooting some males at about the same time they're mostly disappearing!

Registered on March 21, 2009, 202 Posts, 4187 Comments

Comment posted by Keith Bauer on September 7, 2011 at 9:59 AM

Hi Terry: very nice hummer shot. I like the soft pastel color palette of the entire image. Nice sharpness.

Registered on November 20, 2003, 458 Posts, 4836 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on September 7, 2011 at 11:20 AM

Very cool hummer shot Terry, I have really developed a fondness for hummer images lately. For me, they are some of the hardest birds to photograph. I do not think the flash is so strong that is takes anything away from this image. I like the wing spread and the detail around the head is very good. Nice job in getting this shot, way to go.

Registered on September 17, 2009, 302 Posts, 5535 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on September 8, 2011 at 12:05 AM

Great composition with the Hosta, Terry. I never thought of them as Hummingbird flowers. I know what you mean by missing them. We have only Rufous at our place and the last of them left a few weeks ago. The flash doesn't look that obvious to me. I've never tried shooting up at one, but it looks like a challenge.

Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments

Comment posted by Michael Lotito on September 8, 2011 at 1:25 PM

Very nice Terry. The open tail really does it for me.

Registered on June 26, 2009, 181 Posts, 1558 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on September 8, 2011 at 8:00 PM

Looks good to me Terry, I like the wing position here.

Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments