Posted by Geoff Shapiro on December 15, 2008 at 12:36 AM
I just can't seem to get away from taking images of these resident hummingbirds. It is always amazing to me how these little guys can decide to stay in our area through the winter, but especially now with this cold spell... wow! They were especially active today as they were buzzing back and forth from our feeders. I can believe they were warmer in their down feathers than I was standing out there waiting to get a decent photo...
Posted by Cliff Dodge on December 15, 2008 at 1:14 AM
Beautiful shot of this colorful bird. When they were around my house i tried getting good shots of these and didnt come out with anything as bright and colorful as yours. Better get my flash out. My feeder was in the shadow of the eave overhang, will have to change that and maybe put a feeder out to see if they are still around? Like yours. :)
Posted by Joseph Campisi on December 15, 2008 at 4:35 AM
One of the coolest hummingbird shots I've ever seen! Love the way his foot is still in contact with the branch. Great capture!
Posted by Rick Lamb on December 15, 2008 at 7:15 AM
Geoff you do this sooooooooooooooooo well! How far from this guy were you?
Posted by Geoff Shapiro on December 15, 2008 at 11:11 AM
Thanks for the comments.
Cliff - The flash definitely helps this time of year. I prefer the non-flashed hummer images but winter in Oregon doesn't produce the best lighting so you gotta do what you gotta do. Putting our a feeder or two at this time of year "might" attract some Anna's hummers to them, but probably only if they are already sticking around a few feeders that your neighbor's may have put out.
Rick - I was about 6 feet away from this one. This crop is about 60% of the original frame. Even given that, this image could still be printed at 13x19 and look quite good. While I was standing there taking shots, 2 or 3 of these would zip by my head at about a foot distance, then hover 2 feet or so from me, and then zip off. I am not fast enough (nor is my 20D) to capture the birds when they are doing that! You know, I have taken literally thousands of images of these hummers over the last 1.5 years, so practice definitely does help
Posted by Marc Dilley on December 15, 2008 at 1:19 PM
Perfect timing for a shot even non-bird watchers can really appreciate.
Wow, Geoff, this is really cool! The flash really caught some of the irridescence in the colored feathers. Just a great capture, with excellent timing, of this tiny flier! Hat's off to you.
Discussion
6 replies20D, 300/4 + 1.4x, 1/250 @ f8, -1/3 EC, ISO 400, 580EX flash @ -2/3 EC
Cliff - The flash definitely helps this time of year. I prefer the non-flashed hummer images but winter in Oregon doesn't produce the best lighting so you gotta do what you gotta do. Putting our a feeder or two at this time of year "might" attract some Anna's hummers to them, but probably only if they are already sticking around a few feeders that your neighbor's may have put out.
Rick - I was about 6 feet away from this one. This crop is about 60% of the original frame. Even given that, this image could still be printed at 13x19 and look quite good. While I was standing there taking shots, 2 or 3 of these would zip by my head at about a foot distance, then hover 2 feet or so from me, and then zip off. I am not fast enough (nor is my 20D) to capture the birds when they are doing that! You know, I have taken literally thousands of images of these hummers over the last 1.5 years, so practice definitely does help