Ruby Throated Humming Bird
Apr 11, 2020 18:55:57 #
kenievans
Loc: Dallas
My best catch so far on this little guy. He wasn't as sharp as I wanted but I also caught the bee coming in behind him. I did not composite him in. You don't realize in photo's just how small they are until you see them in context with the bee. Other than cropping and some minor adjustments in PS to bring out as much detail as I could I decided that since the bird was a little soft I would run it through Topaz to give it more of a painted look. Not the best but I am happy I did the best I could do with what I had. I am determined to get a better shot of this guy.
Apr 11, 2020 19:17:15 #
The bee makes the photo cool. Keep shooting and you'll get him sooner or later
Apr 11, 2020 19:30:32 #
For me this one is all about the bee 
A great challenge for you during these dark days, Keni. I'm enjoying following this new journey!
A great challenge for you during these dark days, Keni. I'm enjoying following this new journey!Apr 11, 2020 21:11:09 #
kenievans
Loc: Dallas
Linda From Maine wrote:
For me this one is all about the bee A great challenge for you during these dark days, Keni. I'm enjoying following this new journey!
A great challenge for you during these dark days, Keni. I'm enjoying following this new journey!It has been fun trying to get this guy and its pushing my abilities. Shooting in manual mode. He seems to favor the feeder that is backlit most of the day. I have to catch him early in the morning or late in the afternoon. I have already whined about my bargain lens. š
I'm happy for the challenge to keep my mind occupied.
Apr 11, 2020 22:52:21 #
kenievans
Loc: Dallas
Curmudgeon wrote:
The bee makes the photo cool. Keep shooting and you'll get him sooner or later
Thanks Jack! I got nothing but time.
Apr 12, 2020 07:47:29 #
It looks like your focus lock was on the feeder and not the hummer or the bee. One possibility is to get a focus lock on exactly the spot that the birds will be landing on then switch off Auto Focus on the lens. Another possibility is to keep the aperture small to give you some leeway where DOF is concerned. If that's giving you a problem with ISO, place the feeder somewhere that's better lit.
Apr 12, 2020 08:18:51 #
!!Apr 12, 2020 10:34:06 #
kenievans
Loc: Dallas
R.G. wrote:
It looks like your focus lock was on the feeder and not the hummer or the bee. One possibility is to get a focus lock on exactly the spot that the birds will be landing on then switch off Auto Focus on the lens. Another possibility is to keep the aperture small to give you some leeway where DOF is concerned. If that's giving you a problem with ISO, place the feeder somewhere that's better lit.
RG how did you get to know so much?
Yes I did have the focus locked on the feeder but I had my focus set to AI Servo hoping it would pick up on the movement of the bird. So....that didn't work. My Rebel doesn't have a lot of focus points. So if I understand you, if I turn AI Servo off, put the camera on a tripod and focus only on the far left edge of the feeder then wait to shoot when he hits that spot. I dont know where else I could set the focus since everything behind the feeder is 20 feet away. Maybe if I set something on the feeder to focus on then remove it? I dont want to move the feeder because it is in the perfect spot to align with my chair at the patio table. I like my chair and my spot. š
I always appreciate your comments and knowledge.
Apr 12, 2020 10:45:45 #
Apr 12, 2020 10:53:57 #
kenievans wrote:
.....Maybe if I set something on the feeder to focus on then remove it?...
If it's predictable which part of the feeder the birds will come to (or if you can make it predictable) then doing what you said should work.
Auto focus will tend to focus on the nearest contrasty edge it can find, which in this case will be the near side of the feeder. If AI Servo is the same as continuous auto focus, the camera will keep a focus lock even when that object moves, but you have to get the focus lock onto that object in the first place, which in this case could be tricky. As far as I know (I don't own a Canon), AI Servo isn't motion-triggered.
You could find out how to do that and acquire the necessary skills through practice. It would involve having the camera hand-held and tracking the bird as it comes in, but those little ones do tend to flitter, don't they? Larger birds are better subjects for continuous autofocus.
Apr 12, 2020 11:01:44 #
kenievans wrote:
My best catch so far on this little guy. He wasn'... (show quote)
Hi Ken - Great shot. As I am trying a new app (Easy Photo Unblur) I put your photo through it - result attached.
Apr 12, 2020 16:49:07 #
Keni, if you don't want to reposition your feeder, could you cover the holes that you don't want him to use? Would that help the backlight problem?
Apr 12, 2020 20:12:10 #
kenievans
Loc: Dallas
Delderby wrote:
Hi Ken - Great shot. As I am trying a new app (Easy Photo Unblur) I put your photo through it - result attached.
Nice job Delderby! Thanks for the top. I am always interested in new toys. I will have to check it out.
Apr 12, 2020 20:15:33 #
kenievans
Loc: Dallas
LolaPL wrote:
Keni, if you don't want to reposition your feeder, could you cover the holes that you don't want him to use? Would that help the backlight problem?
LolaPL we ended up having to move it. It was getting swarmed by bees at least 30 of them and it was right next to the patio. Now I have to figure out their new pattern and find another vantage point. Back to square one. Good thing I I have the time but thank you for the suggestions. š
Apr 12, 2020 20:46:53 #
Iām sorry about that, but you might have a better outcome anyway. :-)
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