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Jun 16, 2022 06:38:50   #
joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois
 
I placed a bunch of artificial flowers about three feet behind the where the bird would be relative to the feeding oriface on the nectar feeder. Temporarily deactivated the other feeders so the birds could only use this feeder.

At 400mm 5.6, distance about 10 feet the background is defocused. Late afternoon strikes the bird just right to bring out detail and colors. I like the exposure a little on the dark side for saturated colors.

Then I waited for a bird to show up. Sometimes it takes 5 minutes, other times 1/2 hour or any time in between. And just as often, it takes so long I just give up.

I shot from a blind on my deck, I think it gives me a slight edge. Some birds are spooky. The temperature was in the mid 90's.

Post processing consisted mainly of removing debre form the left wing, probably a spider web. The birds like to raid spider webs, picking off trapped insects...sometimes get dirty from it.

That is how I made this image.


(Download)

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Jun 16, 2022 06:48:10   #
Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis
 
joer wrote:
I placed a bunch of artificial flowers about three feet behind the where the bird would be relative to the feeding oriface on the nectar feeder. Temporarily deactivated the other feeders so the birds could only use this feeder.

At 400mm 5.6, distance about 10 feet the background is defocused. Late afternoon strikes the bird just right to bring out detail and colors. I like the exposure a little on the dark side for saturated colors.

Then I waited for a bird to show up. Sometimes it takes 5 minutes, other times 1/2 hour or any time in between. And just as often, it takes so long I just give up.

I shot from a blind on my deck, I think it gives me a slight edge. Some birds are spooky. The temperature was in the mid 90's.

Post processing consisted mainly of removing debre form the left wing, probably a spider web. The birds like to raid spider webs, picking off trapped insects...sometimes get dirty from it.

That is how I made this image.
I placed a bunch of artificial flowers about three... (show quote)


Great image!!!
Nothing wrong with creating a background especially when the available B/G is distracting and a plus is there are no feeders showing!!!

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Jun 16, 2022 06:48:16   #
randave2001 Loc: Richmond
 
Outstanding shot.

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Jun 16, 2022 06:57:44   #
dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida
 
What!! You contrived and planned ahead... yep, you did well and the Hummer got his meal and you got a well-staged realistic frozen-in-time photo. The photo construction is an excellent diagonal with future, empty space on the right,** and as Manglesphoto said, "no feeder shown"... only one subject the bird.

I find the positioning of the claws to be intriguing. In human photography, the hands are a make/break issue.

Joer, Time for you to sell your camera equipment and retire from photography... retire as a champ, your future photos can get no better!!

**Adhering to the left to right read principle of photo construction. "Our eyes are used to moving from the left to the right."
https://thelenslounge.com/photography-composition-left-to-right-rule/

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Jun 16, 2022 07:05:29   #
Stephan G
 
joer wrote:
I placed a bunch of artificial flowers about three feet behind the where the bird would be relative to the feeding oriface on the nectar feeder. Temporarily deactivated the other feeders so the birds could only use this feeder.

At 400mm 5.6, distance about 10 feet the background is defocused. Late afternoon strikes the bird just right to bring out detail and colors. I like the exposure a little on the dark side for saturated colors.

Then I waited for a bird to show up. Sometimes it takes 5 minutes, other times 1/2 hour or any time in between. And just as often, it takes so long I just give up.

I shot from a blind on my deck, I think it gives me a slight edge. Some birds are spooky. The temperature was in the mid 90's.

Post processing consisted mainly of removing debre form the left wing, probably a spider web. The birds like to raid spider webs, picking off trapped insects...sometimes get dirty from it.

That is how I made this image.
I placed a bunch of artificial flowers about three... (show quote)


Did you get the bird's signature on a model release?

Great shot.

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Jun 16, 2022 07:43:41   #
BurghByrd Loc: Pittsburgh
 
Your good planning and "setting the stage" paid off, nice shot.

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Jun 16, 2022 08:09:06   #
Retired CPO Loc: Travel full time in an RV
 
Really nice shot! In my experience, hummers are not as flighty as other birds. Wear a bright red shirt and they will flock around you. So much so that you won't be able to get a shot unless you are prepared for close up work! My Mom and Dad used to live in the mountains east of Albuquerque with a big deck overlooking the valley below. Mom always had feeders strung along the deck and we always had a large population of hummers hanging around. With a little patience and a bright red shirt, we could get them to perch on our fingers routinely.

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Jun 16, 2022 08:12:44   #
EJMcD
 
joer wrote:
I placed a bunch of artificial flowers about three feet behind the where the bird would be relative to the feeding oriface on the nectar feeder. Temporarily deactivated the other feeders so the birds could only use this feeder.

At 400mm 5.6, distance about 10 feet the background is defocused. Late afternoon strikes the bird just right to bring out detail and colors. I like the exposure a little on the dark side for saturated colors.

Then I waited for a bird to show up. Sometimes it takes 5 minutes, other times 1/2 hour or any time in between. And just as often, it takes so long I just give up.

I shot from a blind on my deck, I think it gives me a slight edge. Some birds are spooky. The temperature was in the mid 90's.

Post processing consisted mainly of removing debre form the left wing, probably a spider web. The birds like to raid spider webs, picking off trapped insects...sometimes get dirty from it.

That is how I made this image.
I placed a bunch of artificial flowers about three... (show quote)

Nicely done!

Reply
Jun 16, 2022 09:21:48   #
ecobin Loc: Paoli, PA
 
Nice background!

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Jun 16, 2022 13:37:11   #
joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois
 
Retired CPO wrote:
Really nice shot! In my experience, hummers are not as flighty as other birds. Wear a bright red shirt and they will flock around you. So much so that you won't be able to get a shot unless you are prepared for close up work! My Mom and Dad used to live in the mountains east of Albuquerque with a big deck overlooking the valley below. Mom always had feeders strung along the deck and we always had a large population of hummers hanging around. With a little patience and a bright red shirt, we could get them to perch on our fingers routinely.
Really nice shot! In my experience, hummers are no... (show quote)


Thanks.
I had the the shirt thing happen to me several times but too spontaineous to photograph.Their movements are too erratic and fast for me.

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Jun 16, 2022 13:38:19   #
joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois
 
Thanks everyone, I enjoyed the comments.

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Jun 17, 2022 05:37:27   #
J-SPEIGHT Loc: Akron, Ohio
 
joer wrote:
I placed a bunch of artificial flowers about three feet behind the where the bird would be relative to the feeding oriface on the nectar feeder. Temporarily deactivated the other feeders so the birds could only use this feeder.

At 400mm 5.6, distance about 10 feet the background is defocused. Late afternoon strikes the bird just right to bring out detail and colors. I like the exposure a little on the dark side for saturated colors.

Then I waited for a bird to show up. Sometimes it takes 5 minutes, other times 1/2 hour or any time in between. And just as often, it takes so long I just give up.

I shot from a blind on my deck, I think it gives me a slight edge. Some birds are spooky. The temperature was in the mid 90's.

Post processing consisted mainly of removing debre form the left wing, probably a spider web. The birds like to raid spider webs, picking off trapped insects...sometimes get dirty from it.

That is how I made this image.
I placed a bunch of artificial flowers about three... (show quote)

Nicely done Joe

Reply
Jun 17, 2022 06:25:26   #
steve49 Loc: massachusetts
 
Great shot.
What shutterspeed did you use... tough to freeze a hummingbird for sure.

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Jun 17, 2022 07:15:55   #
joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois
 
steve49 wrote:
Great shot.
What shutterspeed did you use... tough to freeze a hummingbird for sure.


I use 1/500s mostly, not that I prefer, light permitting I will go faster.

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Jun 17, 2022 07:35:48   #
foathog Loc: Greensboro, NC
 
I've often thought that your best friend was a taxidermist. LOL

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