joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois

Light augmented with on camera flash.

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ClarkJohnson Loc: Fort Myers, FL and Cohasset, MA

Very nice! I have only recently started to consider using a flash for capturing birds, so could you kindly elaborate a bit on your gear and technique for this shot?

joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois

Always glad to share. Read my post several pages down on the link provided and it will answer some of your questions.


https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-614626-1.html


I use Sony camera and lenses but any brand will due.

My flashes are Godox and if you don't already have a powerful speed light, I recommend the Godox 685 or V850. There is a letter at the end of the model number that designates the OE brand it matches; i.e., S=Sony, N=Nikon, C=Canon. The former model uses 4 AA batteries where as the latter uses a single Lithium battery. The V850 recycles a little quicker and provides about twice as many flashes per charge, other wise they are the same. GNs are 197 feet (60meters) at 200mm.

I have used Both models in Sony and Nikon versions; they have all the features of the top end brand models and cost $110 and $175 respectively.

Flash extenders are almost a necessity. I am aware of three brands and have used all of them. MagMod has one and I do not recommend it, its too heavy and there are reports of it damaging the flash. I use Harbor Freight Digital which I have modified. I like it for its short length for use in a blind. My photo at the link will explain. The third is Better Beamer. I think this is the best for most people. Its light, collapsible and cost less than the other two. They all work about the same.

TTL-1 or -2 stops words well for most lighting conditions but manual and HSS (high speed sync) can work as well. HSS robs the flash of its power so the working distance will be shorter. TTL is the most flexible when distance and light changes. In photography there is always more than one way for just about every thing.

One thing to remember about flash photography. The aperture controls the exposure on the subject and the shutter affects the background (mostly). The flash duration is what stops the movement, but make sure that the shutter speed is sufficiently short to prevent ghosting.

Its seems complicated but once you have it figured out its not. Hope this answers most of your questions.

d2b2 Loc: Catonsville, Maryland, USA

I almost always use flash for humming birds. I hate to do it, but to get the detail in the bellies, I have difficulty without. Nice photo. Great detail! I do tend to try to use the strobe off of the camera, however.

joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois

Some times I use a speed light off camera but its limited to a specific location as opposed to on camera. I have multiple locations in the yard that have different ambient lighting and usually I shoot all of them while sitting in a fixed position. Plus there is no set up.

I prefer flat lighting for birds as a starting point in processing. Its tough to beat for getting uniform detail on the bird.

ClarkJohnson Loc: Fort Myers, FL and Cohasset, MA

Thanks so much for the detailed response! Gives me a lot to think about, but that’s part of the fun. Thanks again.

d2b2 Loc: Catonsville, Maryland, USA

Good explanation - thank you. My feeders/flowers are on a deck, with a forest in the background. I like to isolate the hummingbird in the shots, so I angle the camera to use the shaded parts of the treeline behind the bird. This makes the background totally black when using the flash, like in the ones below. My shots are also from a stationary position, with the camera on a tripod. I have a second tripod for the strobe. The reason for keeping the flash off the camera is essentially to make certain it does not illuminate the background at the same time as the bird.

Your shot has a background that is also almost solid looking, so it also isolates your subject extremely well. It is a great photo!

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joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois

I like the male. If you like dark or black backgrounds just use a faster shutter. HSS if you have the capability.

J-SPEIGHT Loc: Akron, Ohio

topcat Loc: Alameda, CA

Nice capture.