Tufted Coquette

Gallery: AvianPosted March 8, 2014270 views13 comments

Photographing this tiny little hummingbird was one of the highlights of our recent tour to Trinidad and Tobago. I used my 300F4 on this shot and quite a few of the images that I took at Asa Wright Nature Center as the shooting locations at the feeders and flowers were often close and tight.

Canon 5D3 300F4 1/1250 F5.6, iso 1600, 580ex at -1.3, handheld

Comments

13 comments

Comment posted by Jerry Austin on March 8, 2014 at 7:21 PM

Never seen one of these before. Very pretty little guy. Very nice composition. Thanks for sharing.

Registered on January 6, 2012, 651 Posts, 3448 Comments

Comment posted by John Neukirch on March 8, 2014 at 7:59 PM

What an exquisite looking little hummingbird. So delicate and is stunning next to that wonderful flower/plant.

Registered on July 9, 2012, 207 Posts, 1476 Comments

Comment posted by Max Waugh on March 8, 2014 at 8:00 PM

I love coquettes. Beautiful profile of this one. Interesting choice of composition, with all the action happening left of center. The background flowers provide just enough balance, I think, to make it work.

Max

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

Comment posted by David Haynes on March 8, 2014 at 9:51 PM

Spectacular looking hummer Nate. Love the tufted orange head feathers and the black dots along the flanks. Perfect exposure and nice muted lighting conditions. That 300 F4 lens is working really good for you. Looking forward to seeing more from your trip.

Registered on February 20, 2010, 110 Posts, 1511 Comments

Comment posted by William Bickle on March 9, 2014 at 8:47 AM

Hello Nate

You seem to be doin things right and this capture really proves it.

very cool character. :( !

Even at 1/1250 there is significant wing movement and I like the look!

I enjoy the clean muted background. Is this a significant crop?

In your techs...is the 580ex a flash unit?

Bill

Registered on June 13, 2011, 183 Posts, 1702 Comments

Comment posted by Hans Overduin on March 9, 2014 at 8:50 AM

Exciting species well photographed. No nits from my side, just sheer awe

, Cheers, Hans

Registered on August 31, 2011, 491 Posts, 3807 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on March 9, 2014 at 9:50 AM

Thanks for your comments everyone. Bill, the 580ex is a flash unit and this is a good sized crop.

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

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on March 9, 2014 at 12:32 PM

Very attractive and interesting species. Nice active photo of it as well.

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

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on March 9, 2014 at 2:07 PM

Wow, can't ask for much more, the flowers and beautiful wavy shapes in the background augment the stunning hummer. Flash is almost imperceptible, and the exposure is excellent.

Registered on January 28, 2005, 879 Posts, 12098 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on March 13, 2014 at 6:54 AM

Fantastic Nate - what a magic bird

Registered on November 8, 2003, 617 Posts, 8267 Comments

Comment posted by Martin Dunn on March 13, 2014 at 9:08 AM

what a gorgeous little bird Nate. I've never seen one before.
Exposure looks to be excellent. My only niggle - and it's a personal point of view of course - is that I don't really like the composition. For me the additional OOF flowers on the right are just a distraction. Obviously I don't know how much you've cropped but I'd be interested to see a vertical composition without the flowers on the right.

Registered on February 20, 2013, 198 Posts, 1011 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on March 13, 2014 at 9:31 AM

Thanks for your comments everyone. I will also try a vertical comp, but I must say I like this composition a great deal, the oof flowers on the right balance the bird on the left nicely and mirror the in focus flowers on which it's feeding.

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

Comment posted by Simon Bennett on March 15, 2014 at 2:45 AM

An exquisite image Nate.

Registered on February 4, 2007, 350 Posts, 4614 Comments