Need help with Hummers' wings
Jun 27, 2012 16:11:55 #
I'm having trouble get sharp definition on the hummer's wings. I've done it before using the Sports mode on my Nikon D90, but now I'm holding myself to the M mode and so far I've been able to shoot and reshoot to correct a problem. Also when I used the Sports mode the color and exposure weren't nice.
My settings for the posted photo were:
WB sunny (it was almost high noon sun)
ISO (on auto) 3200
F/14
Shutter 1/2000
My settings for the posted photo were:
WB sunny (it was almost high noon sun)
ISO (on auto) 3200
F/14
Shutter 1/2000
Coming in for a Landing
Jun 27, 2012 16:19:28 #
donrent
Loc: Punta Gorda , Fl
To me, the action that you still see in the wings really tells the whole story - the hummer is comming in for feeding !... To stop the action in my opinion would lose a lot... Think about it .... If the wings WERE stopped, then you have really no story in the picture... You only have a picture of a hummer...
As I see it, you have a very, very good picture...
As I see it, you have a very, very good picture...
Jun 27, 2012 18:08:28 #
If you want to stop the wings, you have to use flash at a very short burst, maybe 1/10,000th of a second.
Jun 27, 2012 20:25:07 #
I took pictures of hummers last week and stopped the wings at 2500 sec.
Jun 27, 2012 20:38:24 #
Jun 27, 2012 20:49:16 #
Donrent,
Thank you for your kind words and, more important, another way to look at the photo...a photo is not all camera technique. At least that's what I think you were telling me.
Thank you for your kind words and, more important, another way to look at the photo...a photo is not all camera technique. At least that's what I think you were telling me.
Jun 28, 2012 01:47:29 #
It looks to me as though there's quite a bit of noise. I don't know how the D90 handles noise at ISO 3200. The shot was taken at 300 mm. the maximum for that lens (Nikon 70-300 mm), and there may be some effects at the full zoom. And your focus seems a little sharper on the feeder than on the hummer.
Have you looked into how the camera sets when in Sports mode? There's usually an explanation somewhere in the manual.
Donrent makes a good point. Freezing the action of the wings gives a sharp, dramatic picture, but it's static, and if nothing else, hummers are dynamic little critters!
Have you looked into how the camera sets when in Sports mode? There's usually an explanation somewhere in the manual.
Donrent makes a good point. Freezing the action of the wings gives a sharp, dramatic picture, but it's static, and if nothing else, hummers are dynamic little critters!
Jun 28, 2012 09:08:48 #
Donrent makes a good point. Freezing the action of the wings gives a sharp, dramatic picture, but it's static, and if nothing else, hummers are dynamic little critters![/quote]
Agree totally.
Agree totally.
Jun 28, 2012 10:28:41 #
Fergus wrote:
I'm having trouble get sharp definition on the hummer's wings. I've done it before using the Sports mode on my Nikon D90, but now I'm holding myself to the M mode and so far I've been able to shoot and reshoot to correct a problem. Also when I used the Sports mode the color and exposure weren't nice.
My settings for the posted photo were:
WB sunny (it was almost high noon sun)
ISO (on auto) 3200
F/14
Shutter 1/2000
My settings for the posted photo were:
WB sunny (it was almost high noon sun)
ISO (on auto) 3200
F/14
Shutter 1/2000
I use the S mode set to 1/2000 and flash. Usually works fine.
Here are a couple of examples. Keep practicing.
Jun 28, 2012 10:33:20 #
Greymule,
"dynamic little creatures" made me laugh. Sometimes they are totally skittish; any little movement makes them dart away. Another time, another bird and the are bold and brazen as was a male a few days ago. I was sitting on my back deck when Mr. Bold zoomed by, halted and came back. He stopped right in front of my face and hovered there not 15" away. The hum of the wings was loud that close to me and I could feel the air movement. I guess I passed inspection because he backed away to the feeder. Gotta love them.
"dynamic little creatures" made me laugh. Sometimes they are totally skittish; any little movement makes them dart away. Another time, another bird and the are bold and brazen as was a male a few days ago. I was sitting on my back deck when Mr. Bold zoomed by, halted and came back. He stopped right in front of my face and hovered there not 15" away. The hum of the wings was loud that close to me and I could feel the air movement. I guess I passed inspection because he backed away to the feeder. Gotta love them.
Jun 28, 2012 10:37:38 #
JAClowers,
Beautiful shots. Maybe I'll try leaving manual for a couple of shots. You must live in the southwest. All we have are Ruby throated here.
Beautiful shots. Maybe I'll try leaving manual for a couple of shots. You must live in the southwest. All we have are Ruby throated here.
Jun 28, 2012 11:28:27 #
Fergus wrote:
JAClowers,
Beautiful shots. Maybe I'll try leaving manual for a couple of shots. You must live in the southwest. All we have are Ruby throated here.
Beautiful shots. Maybe I'll try leaving manual for a couple of shots. You must live in the southwest. All we have are Ruby throated here.
Nope. Tacoma, WA. We mostly have Anna's and Rufous here. Our Anna's usually winter over with us.
Jun 28, 2012 11:33:58 #
Lucian
Loc: From Wales, living in Ohio
you don't need f14 since the area they will be in is no wider than the feeder. Go lower f stop and increase shutter but maybe also lower ISO 3200 for a D90 is too high, they are not that good in low light. A D7000 could handle it though.
Jun 28, 2012 12:43:04 #
GAClowers wrote:
Nope. Tacoma, WA. We mostly have Anna's and Rufous here. Our Anna's usually winter over with us.
Fergus wrote:
JAClowers,
Beautiful shots. Maybe I'll try leaving manual for a couple of shots. You must live in the southwest. All we have are Ruby throated here.
Beautiful shots. Maybe I'll try leaving manual for a couple of shots. You must live in the southwest. All we have are Ruby throated here.
Nope. Tacoma, WA. We mostly have Anna's and Rufous here. Our Anna's usually winter over with us.
You might consider leaving ISO at 3200 (seems high) and increasing aperture (lower number) to get more shutter speed that might stop the wings. However, as already stated, is that what you really want to do? I am going to try shooting hummers and butterflys today and I will use a wider f-stop and ISO of 800 (maybe) to get the shutter speeds I want.
Jun 28, 2012 12:55:15 #
chapjohn wrote:
quote=GAClowers quote=Fergus JAClowers, br br B... (show quote)
Here, I am using ISO 800. I am not really trying to completely stop the wings. I prefer the very slight blurring to enhance the effect of motion in the picture while still getting a clear image of the body.
If you want to reply, then register here. Registration is free and your account is created instantly, so you can post right away.