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Happy Accident
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Happy Accident

by Keith Bauer

Gallery: AvianPosted July 31, 2012302 views16 comments
I was co-leading a hummingbird workshop last weekend. Before the workshop started, I was shooting on my setup with another instructor. Both of us tried to capture this image at the same moment. Turns out I was a a couple of milliseconds behind and the only flash that I got was the background flash. While the flash recycle time for this kind of shooting is very fast, sometimes with multiple people shooting on a single setup, it happens that sometimes you get a black frame because the other photographer got the frame with flash.... So long story, that for me ended up with a happy ending. I really liked this image The silhouette against the background was interesting, with the wings still showing detail was pleasing to me.

I hope you like this image and I look forward to your comments.

Larger version included.

Comments

16 comments
Comment posted by Toya Heatley on July 31, 2012 at 9:52 PM
Absolutely love it! Well done!
Registered on June 13, 2012, 36 Posts, 98 Comments
Comment posted by David Haynes on July 31, 2012 at 9:54 PM
Keith,
You couldn't have done this shot any better had it been planned. Fort me what makes the shot are two things. The background colors are really pleasing, blues, greens, and grey's, and compliment the silhouette, and the wings are sharp and have detail particularly if you look at the larger version. The bonus is that the hummer is actually feeding with some of the bill visible. The feet are sharp as are some belly feathers behind the feet. The composition really works well. The only thing that I might find a small nit about is that the background looks like a set up and rather flat with out dimension. BUT....I'd be really happy with this as well Keith. I'm interested to see what others say. Super shot.
Registered on February 20, 2010, 110 Posts, 1511 Comments
Comment posted by Max Waugh on July 31, 2012 at 11:33 PM
Really cool result, Keith. The fact that it's mostly silhouette but you still get some light through the wings makes it even better.

Max
Registered on September 26, 2008, 428 Posts, 2329 Comments
Comment posted by Rick Turner on July 31, 2012 at 11:34 PM
Different and beautiful. Wings are stunning. :toast:
Registered on February 18, 2012, 534 Posts, 2755 Comments
Comment posted by Jamie Douglas on August 1, 2012 at 1:36 AM
This is one of the most cerative and eye catching images I have see. Nice one

Jamie
Registered on July 16, 2012, 10 Posts, 87 Comments
Comment posted by Howard Cheek on August 1, 2012 at 7:49 AM
Great title that says it all, everyone should be so lucky :wink:
I too like the bit of near wing detail.
Also, like the lighter BG area directly behind the hummer.
It works very well to define and set-off the birds silhouette :toast: :toast:
Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments
Comment posted by Jaymes Dempsey on August 1, 2012 at 9:05 AM
A real stunner, Keith. I love the wing detail, and the silhouette is perfect.
Jaymes :toast:
Registered on June 28, 2010, 47 Posts, 590 Comments
Comment posted by Butch Lama on August 1, 2012 at 10:26 AM
Speechless!!! With so many hummer images out there, this will always standout in memory for me. :toast: :toast: :toast:
Registered on July 23, 2010, 42 Posts, 316 Comments
Comment posted by Soubhik Patranabis on August 1, 2012 at 5:11 PM
Excellent !! :toast:
Registered on January 25, 2010, 54 Posts, 610 Comments
Comment posted by Simon Bennett on August 1, 2012 at 5:35 PM
A most striking silhouette and wonderful backgound colours.
Registered on February 4, 2007, 350 Posts, 4614 Comments
Comment posted by Ken Archer on August 1, 2012 at 5:36 PM
A Beauty Kieth :cool: Excellent composition, the light through the wings puts this over the top for me. Perhaps this is a technique you could create on purpose in the future.

Ken Archer
Registered on October 28, 2004, 222 Posts, 6683 Comments
Comment posted by Jim Hackley on August 1, 2012 at 7:06 PM
Well this is something you do not see very often, a hummer silhouette. I like this because in looking at the larger image the silhouette/dark edge lines are sharp, no blurring effect so this really adds to the image for me. Well done accident.
Registered on September 17, 2009, 302 Posts, 5535 Comments
Comment posted by Randy Bacon on August 1, 2012 at 9:04 PM
Keith, I absolutely love this shot - stunning!
Registered on November 24, 2008, 56 Posts, 492 Comments
Comment posted by Mike Milicia on August 2, 2012 at 2:33 PM
Very cool ... love it! :toast:
Registered on July 25, 2005, 145 Posts, 302 Comments
Comment posted by Dennis Plank on August 2, 2012 at 8:56 PM
A happy accident indeed, Keith. Beautiful image.

:toast:
Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments
Comment posted by Christine Adams on October 2, 2012 at 7:54 PM
Pleasing to me also! VERY nice!
Registered on January 24, 2006, 119 Posts, 1871 Comments