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Hummingbirds
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May 10, 2018 12:46:26   #
speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho
 
BristolDave wrote:
I have set out 2 hummingbird feeders and am looking for settings advice to capture these birds feeding. I will be using a Canon T5i with an EFS 55-250 Lens. Conditions this week are due to be sunny. As it will be afternoon I will be watching, the sun should be behind me and I will be shooting from a covered porch. I am newer to DSLR photography so any help would be appreciated.

They are usually easy to shoot handheld, because they are not skiddish, but I prefer setting the camera on a tripod and shooting them remotely,(that way, I can be far away and enjoy a cold one, or something like that). Sometimes its just nice to be lazy!

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May 10, 2018 12:47:48   #
tomad Loc: North Carolina
 
Kingman wrote:
My most successful hummingbird photos at feeders were done after first watching the birds behavior over a particular location at the feeder You will note the birds with dart into feeder to feed then have a hover position just off the feeder by a few inches. This is where I prefocused the location and waited to shoot. The advantage of this was that I was able to exclude the feeder in the images. Following hummers around in flowers is worse than following butterflies! Let the hummers come to you for a specific shot & location, if possible. Also determine the best time of the day to achieve the optimal lighting, such as having the birds in full sunlight and a darker background. Shooting at minimally at 1/1000 is fine. Stopping the wings are not that important. Getting in focus their beak and sometimes the tongue and eyes & head will make for an effective image. Good luck!
My most successful hummingbird photos at feeders w... (show quote)



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May 10, 2018 14:57:25   #
GED Loc: North central Pa
 
jeep_daddy wrote:
GED (Glen Davis) images are very sharp and expert looking. I'm sure he has invested in some really expensive glass for those images although he removed all the EXIF information so that we can't see his settings and equipment models so I'm not 100% sure.

I too am a stickler about shooting hummers with feeders in the picture. Put the feeders near trees or other flowers so that when the hummers come to feed, they will be attracted to natural flowers or perhaps wait on a nearby tree branch while it waits it's turn to feed at your feeder. You can also try putting cut flowers near your feeder and add sugar water, as someone else already pointed out, and get some more natural images while they feed from real flowers.

You may not get the same results with your kit lens as GED has shown you, but after you have done this for a while, you might be inclined to upgrade your lens if this winds up being something you decide to stick with. Good Luck with your pictures of hummingbirds.
GED (Glen Davis) images are very sharp and expert ... (show quote)

jeepdaddy I have not removed anything to prevent someone seeing what I use to photograph. One of the main reasons I look at this forum is to try and help others. All you have to do is ask. I recently have been photographing hummers with both a 300 or 400mm lense as I stated. I use Nikon equipment and right now am using either a D810 or D850. There are no secrets just homework. You can get similar results with a 300mm f4 lense of course with not quite as smooth a background and depending on your lighting conditions your ISO may be one stop higher. Most of the DSLR or mirrorless cameras people are using on this sight can take nice hummer shots with a half decent lens. The faster your autofocus it will be a benefit to you. Whatever camera you use make sure you disable the auto view of photos after you take a picture, it's better in my experience with any camera if it isn't processing previews and trying to take bursts at the same time.
I also use a tripod with a gimbal head, and my f stop is 2.8 or 4.0 depending on light. The best information I can share is to actually get out in the field learn about your subjects so you can get close, equipment is only a part of the equation, someone can have the best equipment available and if they can't find or get close to their subjects or learn proper technique they will not be happy with the results. As most photographers know lighting is everything, on a bright clear sky day shooting hummers I am done at 9:00 am, if it is bright overcast I can shoot much longer, this is another advantage of the 2.8 aperture, not that you can't shoot with an f4 you will just need a higher ISO and will get a little more noise. If my area was situated for afternoon light I would shoot the last few hours when the sun is low in the sky.
I use Lightroom 6 stand alone version for processing, when I export photos it is not set to export anything other than copyright. I am more than happy to share what I know with others so please don't make assumptions I am trying to hide something that is just not true!

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May 10, 2018 15:01:49   #
GED Loc: North central Pa
 
tracs101 wrote:
Glen, those are fantastic shots of Hummers. I'm going to try the blind and telephoto plan that you use. It makes a lot of sense. If the are larger in the frame they are easier to photograph. Thanks for sharing that.


Thank you tracs101

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May 10, 2018 15:02:49   #
GED Loc: North central Pa
 
SpyderJan wrote:
Those are some beautiful hummer shots Glen. Great advice too. Thanks.


Thank you SpyderJan

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May 10, 2018 16:18:42   #
jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ
 
GED - I meant no disrespect with my comments. I simply don't see any EXIF when I try to view it and see what kind of equipment you used. I could have been more accurate when making suggestions to the OP if I could really have said with certainty what great lenses or camera bodies you are using.

When I started out with a kit camera with a kit lens, I couldn't get images of hummers like yours but as I got more and more into photography I upgraded to professional lenses and camera bodies and my hummers have really improved. It took time to learn and gain the needed experience and money to buy the equipment. It didn't happen overnight.


GED wrote:
jeepdaddy I have not removed anything to prevent someone seeing what I use to photograph. One of the main reasons I look at this forum is to try and help others. All you have to do is ask. I recently have been photographing hummers with both a 300 or 400mm lense as I stated. I use Nikon equipment and right now am using either a D810 or D850. There are no secrets just homework. You can get similar results with a 300mm f4 lense of course with not quite as smooth a background and depending on your lighting conditions your ISO may be one stop higher. Most of the DSLR or mirrorless cameras people are using on this sight can take nice hummer shots with a half decent lens. The faster your autofocus it will be a benefit to you. Whatever camera you use make sure you disable the auto view of photos after you take a picture, it's better in my experience with any camera if it isn't processing previews and trying to take bursts at the same time.
I also use a tripod with a gimbal head, and my f stop is 2.8 or 4.0 depending on light. The best information I can share is to actually get out in the field learn about your subjects so you can get close, equipment is only a part of the equation, someone can have the best equipment available and if they can't find or get close to their subjects or learn proper technique they will not be happy with the results. As most photographers know lighting is everything, on a bright clear sky day shooting hummers I am done at 9:00 am, if it is bright overcast I can shoot much longer, this is another advantage of the 2.8 aperture, not that you can't shoot with an f4 you will just need a higher ISO and will get a little more noise. If my area was situated for afternoon light I would shoot the last few hours when the sun is low in the sky.
I use Lightroom 6 stand alone version for processing, when I export photos it is not set to export anything other than copyright. I am more than happy to share what I know with others so please don't make assumptions I am trying to hide something that is just not true!
jeepdaddy I have not removed anything to prevent s... (show quote)



GED - I just reread my thread and never said that you purposely removed anything or hid anything for any purpose. Only that it's been removed. And, by your own admission you are only letting us see your copyright. So you really are omitting the rest but I make no assumptions as to why you do that. I guessed correctly that you use good glass.

I use Lightroom 6 stand alone version for processing, when I export photos it is not set to export anything other than copyright.
I am more than happy to share what I know with others so please don't make assumptions I am trying to hide something that is just not true!

***********************************************

The EXIF viewer I used shows no EXIF so I couldn't tell the OP what your equipment was but I guessed that you were using good glass.
The EXIF viewer I used shows no EXIF so I couldn't...
(Download)

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May 10, 2018 17:48:16   #
kbatschke Loc: Chicagoland-west
 
BristolDave wrote:
I have set out 2 hummingbird feeders and am looking for settings advice to capture these birds feeding. I will be using a Canon T5i with an EFS 55-250 Lens. Conditions this week are due to be sunny. As it will be afternoon I will be watching, the sun should be behind me and I will be shooting from a covered porch. I am newer to DSLR photography so any help would be appreciated.


A tip from a Horticulturist - if you want to avoid having a feeder in the background, plant Hummingbird flowers. Anything in the Salvia, Digitalis or Penstemon genus are magnets, especially Salvia. I've shot hand-held as well as with a tripod. Tips on using center focus point are spot-on. Take a lot of shots. I've been able to get some good shots with the lens you've mentioned although not the shots below. Use feeders to bring them to your yard and set up containers of their favorite flowers with pleasing backgrounds for your shots!

Hummer and Penstemon barbatus
Hummer and Penstemon barbatus...
(Download)

Hummer and Salvia nemorosa
Hummer and Salvia nemorosa...
(Download)

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May 10, 2018 18:56:47   #
GED Loc: North central Pa
 
kbatschke wrote:
A tip from a Horticulturist - if you want to avoid having a feeder in the background, plant Hummingbird flowers. Anything in the Salvia, Digitalis or Penstemon genus are magnets, especially Salvia. I've shot hand-held as well as with a tripod. Tips on using center focus point are spot-on. Take a lot of shots. I've been able to get some good shots with the lens you've mentioned although not the shots below. Use feeders to bring them to your yard and set up containers of their favorite flowers with pleasing backgrounds for your shots!
A tip from a Horticulturist - if you want to avoid... (show quote)


Bristoldave

kbatschke's advice is spot on, plant what he's saying and you will have lots of great hummer photo opportunities. We have all those and some others in our garden.

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May 11, 2018 02:13:28   #
DanInPhx
 
I had good luck freezing the wings at 1/2000, which was fastest film camera could support, I look forward to further experimentation now that I have a quality DSLR and no longer have to wait for developing.

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May 11, 2018 07:11:07   #
joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois
 
GED wrote:
Dave when I shoot hummers I try to be within 10 to 15 ft of where they are feeding (generally in gardens), even though the birds come quite close when I am just standing there with no equipment once I go out with tripod and gear they are much more cautious of coming in close. I prefer a fast lens f2.8 as it allows the shutter speed usually around 1000th sec at a lower ISO and also gives a cleaner out of focus background. The hummers will return regularly to particular plants if you watch them you know where they will come, I set up to shoot the first two hours of morning light when the light quality is nice and gives a direct light with minimal shadows. A typical morning 2hrs will usually net me about 10 to 20 good shots. I also work from a blind. I use the center point autofocus, matrix metering, and my camera allows me to let the ISO float and maintain a minimum preset shutter speed usually around 1000th second. By trying to stay within 10 to 15 ft of my subjects I've found it allows me to shoot with a 300 or 400mm lens and is easier to keep the focus dot on the bird because they are larger in the viewfinder. I find it much easier to find and pick up the birds as they dart around the garden with the 300 and 400mm compared to a longer focal length. Here are a few shots using the methods I described. Best of luck to you I look forward to seeing some of your work.
Dave when I shoot hummers I try to be within 10 to... (show quote)


Your hummer images are some of the best I have seen. Very well done!

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May 11, 2018 10:40:24   #
GED Loc: North central Pa
 
joer wrote:
Your hummer images are some of the best I have seen. Very well done!


Than you very much Joer

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May 16, 2018 18:09:54   #
stenojj
 
BristolDave wrote:
I have set out 2 hummingbird feeders and am looking for settings advice to capture these birds feeding. I will be using a Canon T5i with an EFS 55-250 Lens. Conditions this week are due to be sunny. As it will be afternoon I will be watching, the sun should be behind me and I will be shooting from a covered porch. I am newer to DSLR photography so any help would be appreciated.


I have had my DSLR now for 2 years. I have a Canon Rebel T6s and with that I use a 100-400 L IS II lens. I was about 10 feet away from this hummer yesterday with my camera on a tripod and using a wired remote and back button focus. These were shot at 1/1250. I was standing in the shade and the sun was shining right on the feeder. The creamy bokeh background is actually the siding on our house.


(Download)


(Download)

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May 18, 2018 09:44:07   #
DanInPhx
 
Great shots, love the “creamy bokeh” too.
I use my smart phone to activate my T6 remotely and it works great and you can view the shot right on the phone before taking it.

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