Meives Loc: FORT LAUDERDALE

[quote=chuck barker]Always when you ask a question click on "store original" so we can see camera exif files. David

agillot

to freeze wings , you need to shoot at 1/2000 sec , now , you need a lot of light for this , another trick is to use a flash .

OonlyBonly

:thumbup:

bdk Loc: Sanibel Fl.

So for the birds in your pic I would have set the camera to 800 to 1000 shutter speed. I would not use a flash as, first you may be shooting thru glass and that just doesn't work too well, second , you wouldn't get a second shot as the birds would take off. If your not sure how to set up your camera, select S on the wheel, then turn thedial to 800 and let the camera select all the other settings....

Scoutman Loc: Orlando, FL

Who doesn't need advice from time to time. Specificity, please. What was your real question? My advice is to follow the "Rules."

"Try to use descriptive titles when creating new topics. Instead of something like "Please Help", write a title that briefly states the nature of your post. That way, people who know the answer or are interested in that particular topic would be more likely to click on it to read it and post replies."

Beercat Loc: Central Coast of California

Without having the data it's hard to know your distance form subject, if we knew that we would be able to know what flexibility there was when the DOF is known.

Based on the type of birds a shutter speed in the 1/1200 - 1/1600 range will freeze the wings. Knowing that and you DOF will give you the ISO setting you should be firing at.

With a 3200 your limited with the ISO. Above 800 and you will loose detail ........

So you might have some limitation with the equipment you have.

To really get spot on pictures you might want to consider off-camera flash. This will allow you to shoot at a lower ISO, increase your f/stop for a better DOF and still get enough light on the subject(s). Remember the lower the manual power of the flash the better stop action you will get on the wings ............ best time to snap with flash will be 10 minutes before the sun sets and the 10 minutes just after.

Here is an example of good stop action on the wings ..... flash was 1/64 power, 2 feet away to the right and slightly underneath ...... what stopped the wings was all flash as the shutter was set to 1/250.

(Download)

brokeweb Loc: Philadelphia

It's all about shutter speed & light. Throw away dof, throw away iso just shutter speed.

Beercat Loc: Central Coast of California

You can never shoot at a high enough speed to freeze hummer wings in flight, occasionally you will get lucky with the right angle and the wings at their extensions, but to really do it right, if freezing the wings is the mission, it's all about the flash. Go look at the data on the picture above ....... shutter was 1/250 ;)

When you get real close, like the picture above, about 4 feet away, DOF is important, I try and shoot toward the sweet spot of the lens, in this case about F/11. Notice with flash I was able to keep the ISO low ..........

But as always the journey can be different for each of us .......... just sayin' what works for me and then showing an example

DavidPine Loc: Fredericksburg, TX

Many humming bird photographers set up a strobe light to freeze wing movement.

Frank2013 Loc: San Antonio, TX. & Milwaukee, WI.

Your gonna get in trouble with peta for over feeding these little guys. HaHa

davidrb Loc: Half way there on the 45th Parallel

Using the shutter is far simpler. 1/4000 will show a wing in whatever position it is in, be it reversed, or inverted. It will be stopped.

R.G. Loc: Scotland

I have seen a shutter speed of 1/1000 being used to good effect, leaving just a suggestion of motion blur at the wing-tips.

The required shutter speed varies depending on how close the birds are (the closer they are, the more the movement is accentuated), what kind of birds they are (small, medium or large) and whether they are flying or gliding.

Beercat Loc: Central Coast of California

I do get a kick out of all the responses ..........

Each situation is different and can require a different setup

FYI, most expert hummer photographers typically use flash and use 1/64 or 1/128 manual settings. This is because the lower the power the shorter the flash. The shorter the flash the more stop action you get out of the flash.

I was going to say something snarky but I'll refrain. I'll simply say show us examples. Pictures speak louder than words :wink:

jerrymac

Too Blur or not to blur, that is the question. From what I've read from the advise given I think you have gotten excellent technical advise regarding freezing or blurring the bird's wing. Artistically the decision to do so is a matter of objective and subject appeal. Personally, with this photo I think much greater interest is derived by this bird blurred wings. He immediately attracts the observers glance and incites imagination. Is he coming or going. Is he moving to get a better eating spot or what. This story is better told with blurred wings. I like the photo just as it is.

Jules Karney Loc: Las Vegas, Nevada

Well said.