Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

:thumbup: :thumbup: Spoken like a dedicated photographer who is also a bird lover!

Wonderful images, really enjoyed them Al.

Al FR-153 Loc: Chicago Suburbs

Thanks Linda. We feed and enjoy them all, but my favorites are at the extremes in size.,... The Common Loon (from up your way) and the Hummer. Both are migratory so the photo-shooting is short. Then when you get benched for an injury, it makes for long winters. :(

Bill MN Loc: Western MN

That would work much better on a gimbal. I use one all the time. Gimbal is much faster finding the bird. I use a blind all the time and tried just about everything.

Photog8 Loc: Morriston, FL

Where there's a will...well worth the wait. Nicely done, thanks for sharing your technique. ;-)

Al FR-153 Loc: Chicago Suburbs

A gimbal is on my shopping list Bill, but it is hard to justify when you don't use the tripod that often. I prefer to hand hold and use natural light even though I have both tripod and flash. My issue with the wasted shots were more like those below.

Although the hummer will use EXACTLY the same twig, it doesn't necessarily present himself to you, the light is wrong for his bright ruby iridescent gorget to show, or he decides to do the Hokey Pokey just as you pop the shutter.

Not Until You Quit Calling Me A Redneck


Hokey Pokey

Al FR-153 Loc: Chicago Suburbs

Thanks Photog8....The will was there, so I had to find the way. :lol:

fosgood11 Loc: oil city, La.

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

Al FR-153 Loc: Chicago Suburbs

Thanks for looking and the thumbs up Fosgood11

Bill MN Loc: Western MN

I live in the country so I built a 4x6 blind. I have a built in counter top where I set my gimbal. I attached it to a 10lb. plate, about 6"x10" 1in. high weight from a weight lifting machine. I put felt pads on the 4 bottom corners so I can slide it around on the counter. Its very stable. That would work in a house with a small sturdy table by the window. It is very fast to find the birds but don't wait for the perfect pose just shoot in burst mode. It's nothing for me to take 500 pictures in a couple of hrs. if there are a lot of birds around. Warblers are tough to get into the open. They are fast. If you can get them then you are getting real good. That's were a gimbal works the best. Just have it on a sturdy base and table. From my blind I see many props I set up. Put a dead branch close to the feeders position it right and get that perfect shot. This spring I got a great picture of a indigo bunting. Without that setup and shooting in burst mode I would not have gotten him, yes it was the beautiful male. I use quick release plates on the gimbals. I had a couple of gimbals for sale, sold one but still have the other for sale. Do a search and you should find it. It's new, never needed it. Make me an offer. I use my other two all the time. Hummers are easy to get just keep trying. Try this if they always go to the same branch, cut it off and take a few leaves away from a different branch. You are the traffic cop.