Almost Got the Hummer Shot. :(: My local hummer only comes around every hour or two, gets a quick drink, then he's gone in twenty seconds. I got situated where I could catch him...

OddJobber Loc: Portland, OR

My local hummer only comes around every hour or two, gets a quick drink, then he's gone in twenty seconds. I got situated where I could catch him approaching the feeder with out of focus honeysuckle in the background and waited. When he finally made his appearance he got to the feeder before I could lock focus. :( Ah well, thought I'd post one anyway since I haven't posted for a while. And will let you know if i ever get this one.

cmc65

OddJobber wrote:

My local hummer only comes around every hour or two, gets a quick drink, then he's gone in twenty seconds. I got situated where I could catch him approaching the feeder with out of focus honeysuckle in the background and waited. When he finally made his appearance he got to the feeder before I could lock focus. :( Ah well, thought I'd post one anyway since I haven't posted for a while. And will let you know if i ever get this one.

HORRAY!!! They are fast little things and a great way to force us to think about shooting. I have hundreds of clicks and only a couple that barely pass muster. I'm bound and determined to stick with it. I found that using Vicky's formula of one cup sugar to four cups water keeps them coming back about every 10 minutes at least.

OddJobber Loc: Portland, OR

Thanks for looking and commenting, cmc65. I think my guys live a couple of blocks from here so I have to wait. I use the same sugar water formula except a half cup of water with two tablespoons of sugar lasts several days here.

I've also read that if you have natural flowers handy you can spike some of the blooms with an eyedropper and sugar water, since they'll pass up flowers whose nectar has less than 10% sugar. Have fun. We'll get them! :)

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Stop complaining and keep clicking.
You got a twofer, hummer and bee.

Might I suggest the old fashioned way. Prefocus with all manual: aperture for enough depth of field for a small hummer; ISO high enough for a fast shutter speed (or even with flash) clamped on a tripod and a remote release using silent burst and time it (with prayers and a plea to Murphy).

OddJobber Loc: Portland, OR

I'm not complaining, Robert, more of a status report. And I will get this little b*st*rd. :XD:

I'm prefocused in manual, DOF is with the highest ISO I could manage with early light. Flash is out of the question. Some hummers tolerate it but at the first flash this guy was gone "in a flash".

This was shot with a D7100 but next try will be with a D750 with wifi set up for burst mode so I can monitor and trigger from inside (I hung the feeder 1 foot from a window.

And Murphy be damned, we're going to get this one! :)

moose19

:thumbup: :thumbup: awesome shot,nice going

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

OddJobber wrote:

I'm not complaining, Robert, more of a status report. And I will get this little b*st*rd. :XD:
...
And Murphy be damned, we're going to get this one! :)

You are doomed, you have spoken ill of Murphy, he will get even.

OddJobber Loc: Portland, OR

robertjerl wrote:

You are doomed, you have spoken ill of Murphy, he will get even.

He did. He did.
I was still getting set up when this kid showed up (female this time).
Camera was in the wrong place and bracketing was turned on so the shutter speed was floating all over. I just stood to the side and held the shutter button down in continuous mode.

Tomorrow's another day. :| :XD:

sailorsmom Loc: Souderton, PA

That's a good shot, Larry! I haven't been able to get one yet!

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

OddJobber wrote:

He did. He did.
I was still getting set up when this kid showed up (female this time).
Camera was in the wrong place and bracketing was turned on so the shutter speed was floating all over. I just stood to the side and held the shutter button down in continuous mode.

Tomorrow's another day. :| :XD:

At least you got a picture.
The first time I took my 7DmkII out to the Riverwalk Parkway I was taking shots of an egret with the Tamron 150-600 but nothing was flying, looked like the egret was asleep so I decided to try my new 10-24 mm for a few shots of the whole pond. Put the big lens in its case, had the UWA out in my hand, camera around my neck and then the egret takes off and flys right to left at very slow speed just below my eye level about 50-60 feet in front of me. I think I managed to do my cussing silently in my head, at least the two families with little kids didn't call the cops.

GWR100 Loc: England

I think thats quite a trigger finger you have there Larry, I'd be over the moon with this shot,

Geoff

OddJobber wrote:

My local hummer only comes around every hour or two, gets a quick drink, then he's gone in twenty seconds. I got situated where I could catch him approaching the feeder with out of focus honeysuckle in the background and waited. When he finally made his appearance he got to the feeder before I could lock focus. :( Ah well, thought I'd post one anyway since I haven't posted for a while. And will let you know if i ever get this one.

OddJobber Loc: Portland, OR

Here's a quick hack hack chop paste version of what I want. May just have to catch a flight to Ecuador. :roll: