Violet-tailed Sylph

Gallery: AvianPosted March 15, 2012412 views15 comments

Here's a multi-flash hummingbird shot from our most recent Ecuador photography tour. Some may quibble with the shadow on the breast but in some respects I think it makes the shot look less studio and more natural. I use Nikon SB-26 slave flashes because they are triggered automatically by any other flash, therefore no need for other wireless devices or plug-ins and people shooting with any camera brand can shoot on the setup. This is full frame.

7D 300F4 1/250 F22, iso 400, 580ex and 5 Nikon SB-26 flashes set at 1/16 power, artifical background, Feisol tripod.

Comments

15 comments

Comment posted by Max Waugh on March 16, 2012 at 2:29 AM

Don't see flight shots of this species too often, Nate. My favorite aspect of it is that you managed to get some light on the iridescent tail. I couldn't even get them to turn that toward me while they were perched.

Max

Registered on September 26, 2008, 428 Posts, 2329 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on March 16, 2012 at 4:45 AM

Sweet Catch Nate!!! Love those iridescent colors, especially on the head and tail. I do wish the blooms were a bit lower in the frame though, but not much you can do about that.

Ken Archer

Registered on October 28, 2004, 222 Posts, 6683 Comments

Comment posted by Carlette Bragg on March 16, 2012 at 7:12 AM

Nate, what can I say, this is fantastic! I really like the iridescent colors you were able to capture. Thanks for sharing!

Registered on March 19, 2009, 76 Posts, 387 Comments

Comment posted by KC Choo on March 16, 2012 at 10:06 AM

Terrific pose captured here, Nate! I must say that before I tried multi-flash earlier this year for Hummers, I was quite negative about it all. Now I am a definite convert!

Registered on November 15, 2004, 519 Posts, 8278 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on March 16, 2012 at 10:53 AM

Very nice job getting this difficult full frame image, I like the seeing the long tail and the iridescent color shine, well done Nate.

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

Comment posted by keith mitchell on March 16, 2012 at 4:24 PM

Nate i certainly would not quibble with anything about this image,it's superb.

Keith.

Registered on July 12, 2008, 127 Posts, 1735 Comments

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on March 16, 2012 at 9:54 PM

The flash really brings out the iridescent glow. I wish for a tighter crop but not possible I see.

Registered on June 30, 2009, 300 Posts, 5051 Comments

Comment posted by Matt Shellenberg on March 17, 2012 at 11:40 AM

Sweet pose you captured, Nate. I have no issue with the shadow, it makes it look like very natural light. Great job.

Registered on February 6, 2008, 168 Posts, 3118 Comments

Comment posted by Patrick O'Healy on March 17, 2012 at 1:46 PM

Love this image the color contrast of the flower in the corner offers wonderful balance.

Registered on March 13, 2011, 326 Posts, 1679 Comments

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on March 17, 2012 at 2:19 PM

Very good, Nate. I'm surprised that at f22 the right wing is a bit soft. The Sylph's tail isn't ideal – it's much more spectacular than the photo shows – but you are getting me interested in multi-flash set-ups. You're set up seems more straightforward than Glenn Bartley's.

Registered on August 28, 2006, 1240 Posts, 8506 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on March 17, 2012 at 2:47 PM

Thanks for your comments everyone!

Jim, there's a good chance the right wing is soft as much from wing blur as depth of field as these birds fly very fast and at 1/16 the shutter speed on these flashes is about 1/4000.

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

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on March 18, 2012 at 10:18 AM

Very nice Nate.

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

Comment posted by Ray Whitt on March 18, 2012 at 4:53 PM

Excellent catch, love the colors. Wing and tail position are very nice.

Ray

Registered on May 27, 2011, 92 Posts, 2619 Comments

Comment posted by Steve Balke on March 21, 2012 at 11:11 AM

No nits from me on this one, Nate. I love both the colors and the comp.

Registered on June 18, 2009, 229 Posts, 2915 Comments

Comment posted by May Haga on March 27, 2012 at 1:19 PM

Gorgeous capture Nate.
May

Registered on February 22, 2007, 714 Posts, 8470 Comments