If you want to shoot hummingbirds
Sep 30, 2019 22:49:18 #
It is very difficult for me to take good pictures of hummingbirds in flight. Unpredictable, fast, small, and at times, poor contrast for the AF to work well. I have found that, for me, it helps to be somewhere where there are lots of hummingbirds. At least you get lots of opportunities. This is one shot; not perfect (soft focus) but it does show some of the action one can expect in a place where there are lots of different species. This was taken at the Birdwatcher's House, a lodge in NW Ecuador. There are feeders here, but also lots of native flowers that attract the birds. In fact, there are more hummingbirds than flowers. That always leads to conflict. I attempted to capture that conflict. There is a Collared Inca and a Violet-tailed Sylph disagreeing about who should go to the flower first.
Kept 42 shots and culled over 1000.
Shot with a Canon 5D4, 100-400 II lens at ISO 3200, f/11, SS 1/1600 with flash at -3 FEC off a tripod.
Kept 42 shots and culled over 1000.
Shot with a Canon 5D4, 100-400 II lens at ISO 3200, f/11, SS 1/1600 with flash at -3 FEC off a tripod.
Sep 30, 2019 23:41:46 #
Oct 1, 2019 01:45:32 #
Oct 1, 2019 01:47:34 #
Oct 1, 2019 02:00:50 #
foggypreacher
Loc: Dickinson, Texas
Bobnewnan wrote:
42 out of 1000 is a very good ratio.
The photo you posted is really nice. Even if they are a little soft, as you say, the composition is great and the drama of the scene is wonderful.
I do not know the various species at this time. I will be planting a hummingbird friendly and butterfly friendly garden in the fall for this coming spring and beyond. Perhaps then I will get to know their names.
thank you for sharing.
Oct 1, 2019 03:33:30 #
Oct 1, 2019 04:18:52 #
Great shot of the two varieties. It is very difficult to get that kind of capture up here in North America.
But if you sit for a morning in a yard that has a feeder and/or a garden with appropriate flowers, you will find that hummers can be quite predictable. Once they find a food source, they will linger and return often. In between feedings, the dominant male will often sit on a nearby branch to keep watch for interlopers. Not bothered by humans, however.
You might try increasing your shutter speed. I use 1/2500, and still occasionally get blur on the wings (some people prefer it). I also use auto ISO, to take that worry out of the settings. And, yes, I shoot at 10fps and get a lot of images to sort through to find keepers.
Thanks again for sharing.
But if you sit for a morning in a yard that has a feeder and/or a garden with appropriate flowers, you will find that hummers can be quite predictable. Once they find a food source, they will linger and return often. In between feedings, the dominant male will often sit on a nearby branch to keep watch for interlopers. Not bothered by humans, however.
You might try increasing your shutter speed. I use 1/2500, and still occasionally get blur on the wings (some people prefer it). I also use auto ISO, to take that worry out of the settings. And, yes, I shoot at 10fps and get a lot of images to sort through to find keepers.
Thanks again for sharing.
Oct 1, 2019 08:34:41 #
Oct 1, 2019 08:53:56 #
olemikey
Loc: 6 mile creek, Spacecoast Florida
bajadreamer wrote:
It is very difficult for me to take good pictures ... (show quote)
I use "reflected sunlight " instead of flash when I can. Great job! and 42 out of 1000, also not bad!!
Oct 1, 2019 10:26:16 #
NMGal wrote:
Absolutely gorgeous. These are two varieties I have not seen before.
Thank you. These two species are rather localized in Ecuador, but within their range they are common. Ecuador is the "land of hummingbirds" with over 130 species. I had a tendency to think of hummers as "tropical" birds, but in Ecuador the higher you go in altitude, the more hummers you see.
Oct 1, 2019 10:27:04 #
robertjerl wrote:
Thank you. From your past posts I know you are a hummer aficionado also.
Oct 1, 2019 10:28:22 #
Bobnewnan wrote:
42 out of 1000 is a very good ratio.
Yes, that is a reality of doing this. I have not processed any of the others; I think there are other shots much better than this one, but there are also many that will eventually be in the trash can.
Oct 1, 2019 10:30:04 #
foggypreacher wrote:
The photo you posted is really nice. Even if they are a little soft, as you say, the composition is great and the drama of the scene is wonderful.
I do not know the various species at this time. I will be planting a hummingbird friendly and butterfly friendly garden in the fall for this coming spring and beyond. Perhaps then I will get to know their names.
thank you for sharing.
I do not know the various species at this time. I will be planting a hummingbird friendly and butterfly friendly garden in the fall for this coming spring and beyond. Perhaps then I will get to know their names.
thank you for sharing.
These species are not endemic to Ecuador, but they are Neotropic species. Depending on where you live, the species available to you will likely be more limited. No matter; they are still fun and challenging to watch, photograph and enjoy. IMO.
Oct 1, 2019 10:33:51 #
angler wrote:
Excellent shot.
Thank you. From your previous posts I know you enjoy photographing birds also. No hummers in the UK though.
Oct 1, 2019 10:37:58 #
MrBumps2U wrote:
Great shot of the two varieties. It is very diffi... (show quote)
Thank you. I also use Auto Iso when I am using only ambient light. When I attach the flash I have to designate a specific ISO; otherwise the camera defaults to ISO 400. I also shoot at 7-10 fps, depending on which camera I am using; the flash does not cycle that fast so only about 2-3/10 shots have flash even at -3 FEC.
Yes, where I live (coastal So Cal) we typically have only two species, but they are still fun to watch, photograph and enjoy. Not quite as colorful as some of the Neotropical species, but beautiful none the less.
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