one of my favorites from last season....the attachment came out darker than the original....resulting in loss of head details.
Bill
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one of my favorites from last season....the attachment came out darker than the original....resulting in loss of head details.
Bill
That's a really good one! How's the set up coming along for this year?
Thanks Joel...we're still 6 to 8 weeks away from HB sightings. We still have a few inches of snow on the ground, so other than looking at new plantings and trying to anticipate how the increased light will affect the HB garden....its just a waiting game for now and shooting the backyard birds.
I've been pretty much confined to the house for the past 8 weeks....we're fostering a family of Chow Chows; i.e. mother and 7 pups...now down to 4 pups; 3 have been adopted w/a 4th possibly adopted this wkend. Flickr link to see some puppy shots; http://www.flickr.com/photos/29409592@N03/
Backyard Grackle, attached, showing off iridescence.
Regards,
Bill
Conrople, don't let my set-up influence you, you can get great h-bird shots with far less equipment and a little garage engineering. Her are a couple of examples:Quote:
What I meant was that the quality of your HB shots are awesome:), and I am looking to get good results with a lesser set up. In the end, I realize that you cannot point me in a direction that would be a down grade of your set up and still get pictures of the quality you produce:(. However, I would be very happy to learn more so I can do better with what I have... with the realization that I am not going to reach your level of quality shots without putting more money into flashes and glass. Basically, you are out of my league, but I would like to get better.
This was shot with natural light only:
http://rwilliamsimaging.com/img/s5/v4/p1065667702-4.jpg
and this one was shot with one speedflash and a shoplight on the background:
http://rwilliamsimaging.com/img/s10/...24223741-4.jpg
.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bill W
We are in the same time frame for HB's returning, all the other local birds are really active now. I am looking forward to see what you end up building for your outdoor studio. I want to get some backgrounds. I am a procrastinator but I'll tell you about that later.....
I have one flash and a 100-400mm L. I am thinking about getting a "Better Beamer".Quote:
Originally Posted by bob williams
I still am interested in a blog or any tips to get better, although I think I still have 2-3 months before I am going to see any HB's.
Here is my best from last year using a flash. I have a ways to go , and need to work on the back ground and sharpness.
http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6061/6...43b84640_z.jpg
Hummingbird by westmichigan, on Flickr
And one w/o flash:
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5029/5...185e3d17_z.jpg
Hummingbird2 by westmichigan, on Flickr
Nice shots Conropl, I never really appreciated my 100-400 until I started shooting humming birds. It is capable of very sharp shots when manually focused---And...Although its a little heavy, Its still my favorite walk around lens. The better beamer is also a very good investment, I think Joel recently mentioned that it is "the best bang for the buck" It really does help a great deal and works very well on the hummers and other birds where distance might be a problem.
Also, I just started writing the intro to my blog so I am hoping to finish and post something this weekend.
They all flew away in September, and it is now March----I am going through withdrawls, where are all of my little friends???? Six months of preperation, some new equipment and a newly constructed H-bird studio, But no birds:(
I have been processing my photos from vacation (Costa Rica). I liked these three of hummingbirds:
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7225/6...1667cb42_b.jpg
Small-3711 by kayaker72, on Flickr
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7279/7...bc0fd250_b.jpg
Small-3011 by kayaker72, on Flickr
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7080/6...ea672aa4_b.jpg
Small-3030 by kayaker72, on Flickr
Thanks for viewing.....Brant
Brant----I'm Jealousssssss. These birds are wonderful. Have you by chance identified them?
Spectacular shots, Brant!! The first one is my favorite!!
It has gotten cold here again so I don't think I will be seeing any hb's for awhile yet!
I saw that they are starting to migrate to your area via birds & blooms. Get ready!Quote:
Originally Posted by bob williams
Thanks Bob....I am sure your feeders will be chirping very soon.....Quote:
Originally Posted by bob williams
As for the IDs; I am not sure about #1. I find several that look close (bronze tailed plumeleteer, green breasted mango, green breasted brilliant, etc), but nothing that looks exactly like #1. But I am pretty sure #2-3 are a violet crowned wood nymph.
THE HUMMERS ARE BACK, THE HUMMERS ARE BACK--:D. I put my feeders out about three weeks ago. Last weekend I thought I caught a glimpse of a hummingbird zipping by, but wasn't real sure. Just in case, the wife and I went out and bought some potted plants and other goodies in preparation. Yesterday, I was sitting on my patio and we had a little blackchin show up and sample the menu, he came back for seconds and this morning he showed up for breakfast. So I guess my long awaited humming bird season has offically began. I really want to go out and set-up to shoot, But I also want them to get adjusted to the surroundings before I start terrorizing them with popping flashes---Patience Bob, Patience:cool:
LOL! Can't wait to see those shots, Bob!! Patience Denise, Patience!
Which plants did you buy that worked so well for you??
Denise
Well, he really liked the Fushia plants and hit them several times yesterday. We also bought Columbines, Canalilies and Astromeria, but those were on the ground so I am not sure if they like them yet. Unfortunately, my trumpet vines haven't come back yet, I am starting to think that they didn't survive the winter:(Quote:
Originally Posted by ddt0725
I hope to see the results soon.Quote:
Originally Posted by bob williams
I was shooting frost yesterday... so for me, I think Hummers are out of the question for a while yet.
I just got permission to add a couple of references to my H-bird blog "in the side bar". Ben Clewis and Doug Gardner have some great videos on H-bird photography for which I have learned a great deal. Both are also phenominal wildlife photographers. Links to thier work are here: http://rwilliamsimaging.com/blog In the side bar. OK, Sorry if this looks like a pitch for my website, but.... these videos really are worth watching if you are inetrested in H-bird photography; and its is easier to post one link vice four here.
Enjoy,
Bob
'Quote:
Originally Posted by conropl
Not so fast Conropl---there is always the possibility of catching the infamous "snow hummingbird" which is famous for sipping the nector from last year's flowers and pulling frozen mosquitoes from the snow....you can see one here: http://www.geekologie.com/2011/09/da...-on-camera.php
Bob - Well we had a little snow falling today... so maybe I have a better chance of seeing the elusive Snow Hummer, but I always thought the Snow Hummer looked like this: http://www.hummerguy.net/hummer-news...un-in-the-snow ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by bob williams
Touché ConroplQuote:
Originally Posted by conropl
Well, Here it is, My first hummer of the season. I still have to be very patient because the birds aren't hitting the feeders often enough to get good opportunities. I do like my new studio box and having enough flashes to completely eliminate ambient light.
7d, 500L, Tripod, remote shutter release, 4 flashes set to 1/32nd (two on the bird and two on the background
ISO 200, F9, 1/250th manual settings, manual focus
http://rwilliamsimaging.com/img/s3/v41/p33752740-4.jpg
Wow Bob... that is a great one, and for that to be the first of the year is amazing.
Fantastic Bob!
Awesome start!!! Love that BG, is it a print or real flowers?Quote:
Originally Posted by bob williams
Fantastic Bob!!
Agreed. Amazing shot!
Hooray! I was just thinking about this thread today when a hummer checked me out on the patio for a second or two. Happy to see that they came back to your yard
Need to change your copyright to 2012 :)
oops---thanks for catching that---fixed.Quote:
Originally Posted by Joel Eade
Bob, would you mind posting another photo of your setup here as it is now for this first shot out of the box?Quote:
Originally Posted by bob williams
Denise
Here is another one from today's shooting---I think this my be my best to date---What do you think?
DD---I have some shots of my setup but haven't downloaded them yet, Hopefully, I will get to that tomorrow.
http://rwilliamsimaging.com/img/s3/v44/p946745443-5.jpg
Bob, great start into a new season
Thanks Ahab.
Denise, here are a few shots of my setup:
Attachment 941Attachment 943Attachment 942
Love the colors, and it is great to catch them engaged with a colorful flower. What aperture did you use?Quote:
Originally Posted by bob williams
I think you might be right ... the exposure and sharpness on this one is killer! No ghosting whatsoever. I might try to angle the flowers away slightly so the bird will feed angled toward the camera....man you're off to an incredible start with the new set up...congrats on a well thought out and executed plan.;)Quote:
Originally Posted by bob williams
Thanks for posting the set-up once again! Yes, I do believe that your latest hb shot is one of your best! You have most definitely perfected the art of hb photography and it looks like all of your hard work is paying off big time!
Congrats on it all working out so well for you!
Your right Joel. I might try that today. But the challenge is the depth of field. As you could see I was shooting at f9, if I rotate so the bird is facing me more, I will need more depth of field, say around f16 or higher and I am not sure I have enough flash power to get there---But I will definitely give it a try this afternoon. I think I am starting to get a handle on most of the technical aspects of this, Now I have to work on the creative side---Thanks for the suggestion---they are always appreciated.Quote:
Originally Posted by Joel Eade
That could be true, but if the head and eye are in focus it will still be dramatic, you could also go for just a side shot with the whole bird parallel to the camera.Quote:
Originally Posted by bob williams
I bet you can push the iso enough to get to f/11 or f/13 maybe. So many possibilities....you're gonna have hours and hours of fun (that is, if Norma lets you:rolleyes:)
I was impressed that you were able to get the flower and bird DOF just right. Which is where the aperture question came from. Sorry about the inane questions, but here are a couple more:confused:: In order to get the bird and flower focal plane parrallel to the camera sensor are you clamping a piece of the flower in your clamp system? And does that work consistently to draw the birds in for you, or are you skunked now and again?Quote:
Originally Posted by bob williams
Again, great shots. :)