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Waiting for Dinner
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Waiting for Dinner

by Jim Zablotny

Gallery: AvianPosted August 11, 20183,300 views7 comments
My hummingbird shots are improving, but they still need your help in getting everything setup to my satisfaction.  The BG is too flat and too blue and am in the process of redoing the BG for future endeavors. Focus, pose, and comp turned out well. I need some additional tweaks to the position of the flashes as the lighting is quite flat. I used 5 flashes (1 SB800 mounted off camera as the trigger; 1 SB-26 on the BG, 3 SB-26's on the hummer).  All flashes were set at 1/32 power.  Each flash was around 24 inches from the subject.   My guess is that I need to move several of the flashes away from the bird to get some subtly shadowing produced. I appreciate your comments and critiques. Thank you. D500 600 mm f5.6 + 1.4x TC manual exposure settings (1/200 sec at f18, Iso 800). Full frame, levels, Brightness & contrast, reduction of saturation of cyan 2 and yellow...........................Jim

Comments

7 comments
Comment posted by Keith Bauer on August 11, 2018 at 9:30 AM
Jim:

I think this is a pretty good effort and that you self critique is accurate.  The image does seem flat with monotone lighting.

Sounds like your flash setup is OK, but flash placement is everything.  You have to be careful of flash spill from one flash affecting the lighting another flash is creating.  Getting the flashes different distances from the subject will allow more shadowing and it will feel more natural.  Experiment with turning one of the bird flashes off and you might be able to tell where the overlap is causing flat lighting.  Doing these image is tough to get a really natural look.  I think you're on a good path.  
Registered on November 20, 2003, 458 Posts, 4836 Comments
Comment posted by Dennis Plank on August 11, 2018 at 11:51 AM
Excellent progress, Jim.  You could probably play with it in post and get it less flat looking.  I don't do multi-flash yet, but I've been considering it.  There's a guy named Joe McDonald that has an ebook on high speed flash and triggering devices that seems to have some good information on relative flash powers and distances, though I suspect as Keith says, it's mostly trial and error.  You might pick up a plastic hummingbird somewhere and put it where you want it, then fine tune your setup without having to worry about getting a real subject in the frame.
Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments
Comment posted by Keith Bauer on August 11, 2018 at 1:39 PM
Saw the reference to Joe McDonald.  I'm sure Joe knows a bit about using Multiflash, but I would not use him a reference for hummingbirds.  When he teaches his workshops, he shoots the hummingbirds hovering off of feeders, then composites in a flower later.  I think that's pretty lame.  Hummers go to flowers (if you use the right ones) and I just don't get not getting it right in the camera in the first place....... 
Registered on November 20, 2003, 458 Posts, 4836 Comments
Comment posted by Peter J. Morrissey on August 11, 2018 at 1:51 PM
Hi Jim
I think your flash work looks really nice.
Peter
Registered on July 3, 2011, 188 Posts, 969 Comments
Comment posted by Allen Brooks on August 12, 2018 at 9:31 AM
My first thought was that this is very nice.  After reading your comments and the others, and comparing this to Keith's photo, I wonder if more variation in the background would help.
Registered on July 27, 2011, 262 Posts, 2597 Comments
Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on August 12, 2018 at 7:14 PM
Critiquing this for flash use is beyond my pay grade, but I assume the hummer is waiting for the hornet to leave?
Registered on July 24, 2006, 2741 Posts, 12349 Comments
Comment posted by Gary Minish on August 13, 2018 at 1:55 AM
You're getting pretty good at this flash photography also, Jim!  The bee is a nice bonus in this shot!

 
Registered on February 4, 2006, 625 Posts, 3583 Comments