Post your best bird shots!

This was a very good morning for shooting hummers:

7d, 500L, 3 430's and 1 580 speedlights set @ 1/32 ( 1 on background, 3 on the bird)
printed background of a natural background
1/250th, ISO 200, F16

http://rwilliamsimaging.com/img/s4/v...86839374-5.jpg

This one is a blackbackground

http://rwilliamsimaging.com/img/s4/v...86854720-4.jpg

http://rwilliamsimaging.com/img/s1/v...86853518-5.jpg

http://rwilliamsimaging.com/img/s4/v...86841262-5.jpg

More of them Here: http://rwilliamsimaging.com/hummingbirds

Thanks for all of the encouragement,

Bob

WOW! WOW! WOW! Absolutely jaw-dropping gorgeous shots, Bob!! Nothing like ending the season on a wonderful note like this!!

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Originally Posted by ddt0725

WOW! WOW! WOW! Absolutely jaw-dropping gorgeous shots, Bob!! Nothing like ending the season on a wonderful note like this!!

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Thanks Denise, but the season ain't over yet, I have 12 more shots that I need shoot and post on my website-----But I have about used up all of my ideas and most of the flowers are gone----any ideas??

And another one:

http://rwilliamsimaging.com/img/s4/v...86842470-5.jpg

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Originally Posted by bob williams

Thanks Denise, but the season ain't over yet, I have 12 more shots that I need shoot and post on my website-----But I have about used up all of my ideas and most of the flowers are gone----any ideas??

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I know you may not like it much but sounds like a little photoshop magic might have to come into play on a few of the last ones:confused: They won't be as wonderful as the au naturale beauty you have going but it might save a few that you might otherwise toss.

@bob williams
last one would be perfect if only the top bird was completely in the frame :(

Not anywhere near as beautiful as Bob's but definitely better than the garage siding that was the background for this shot!

The flowers were from a tabletop photo I took this past winter with a TS-E 90mm I used to own. I added a texture overlay at on about 10% to improve exposure and added an OnOne frame.

Not great but it was fun practice playing around with it!
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8460/7...ebab1be6_z.jpg
Ruby-throated hummingbird by Denise Trocio ( www.dtrociophotography.com), on Flickr

Thats pretty cool DD. I have yet to figure out how to do that in photoshop. I have one currently of two hummers at the feeder and I would love to be able to replace the feeder with a flower---Perhaps something else I can put on my to-do list.

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Originally Posted by ogrec

@bob williams
last one would be perfect if only the top bird was completely in the frame :(

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I know, I do have several more wih more than one bird in them, but this one had both birds in focus---But I'll have an opportunty to try again tomorrow.

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Originally Posted by Mark Elberson

This is fantastic Bob! I hope you plan on making an enlargement of this if you have not done so already!!

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Thanks Mark---No printing yet; I'm going to see what else the weekend brings.

Those hummingbird photos are really really good! All the practice pays off I see;) I would normally prefer natural light, but the light of the flashes is well done, not that artificial at all.

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Originally Posted by Sheiky

Those hummingbird photos are really really good! All the practice pays off I see;) I would normally prefer natural light, but the light of the flashes is well done, not that artificial at all.

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Thanks Jan, I don't like it either when the flash is too overbearing or artificial looking.

Here are some more from this AM. Not quite as good as yesterday----I am running out of different kinds of flowers, perhaps its time for a run to the garden store.

I normally don't like to post feeder shots, But I couldn't help myself in this case:

http://rwilliamsimaging.com/img/s4/v...88490052-4.jpg

http://rwilliamsimaging.com/img/s4/v...88490854-4.jpg

http://rwilliamsimaging.com/img/s2/v...88492648-4.jpg

and one more---sorry, no flowers

http://rwilliamsimaging.com/img/s4/v...88489438-4.jpg

I really like the second one in the series.....perfect angle with the bird facing toward the camera, awesome!!!!

Thanks Joel, BTW, I really like working with the printed background, so much easier to light. I even ordered another print today---this one is primarily green bushes, with no blue, yellow or red flowers. Hopefully I'll be able to shoot with it tonight or tomorrow..

P.S. Norma and I just bougt 80 lbs of fresh roasted green chile; i'll be bagging and freezing them this afternoon:o

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Originally Posted by bob williams

Thanks Joel, BTW, I really like working with the printed background, so much easier to light. I even ordered another print today---this one is primarily green bushes, with no blue, yellow or red flowers. Hopefully I'll be able to shoot with it tonight or tomorrow..

P.S. Norma and I just bougt 80 lbs of fresh roasted green chile; i'll be bagging and freezing them this afternoon:o

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Lovely shots, Bob! Hard to decide which I like best ...I love them all!!

Printed backgrounds? Could you elaborate? Are these large size shots that you have taken and printed or something else?

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Originally Posted by bob williams

Thanks Mark---No printing yet; I'm going to see what else the weekend brings.

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Bob, Adoramapix has a great sale right now on prints. I believe 16x20s are $5.

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Originally Posted by ddt0725

Lovely shots, Bob! Hard to decide which I like best ...I love them all!!

Printed backgrounds? Could you elaborate? Are these large size shots that you have taken and printed or something else?

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Thanks DD, and your right, I went out and took some blurry pictures of bushes, flower plants, trees etc just anything that would look like a real (but OOF) background. I picked my favorite out of the bunch and had it printed at staples (use matt finish if available). The first one I printed was 24x36, but I realized it doesn't need to be that big if shooting at 400 or 500 mm. The one I printed today is only 18x24 and half the price. I paid a little extra to have it printed and picked up in one day, but I think Zenfolio, Costco or any of the big box stores are cheaper if you don't mind waiting. I also bought a black foam core board to mount the background on, so I put my big print on one side and two smaller prints on the other---that way I have 3 or maybe 4 different background on one board.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Jayson

Bob, Adoramapix has a great sale right now on prints. I believe 16x20s are $5.

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There ya go DD, Thanks Jayson, great tip.

Does this count???? I think I counted 24 Vultures on my neighbors house one morning last fall.

I don't take too many pictures of birds, so this is my best :)

Attachment 1363

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Originally Posted by Busted Knuckles

Does this count???? I think I counted 24 Vultures on my neighbors house one morning last fall.

I don't take too many pictures of birds, so this is my best :)

Attachment 1363

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WOW! Buzzards everywhere. Is there a dead elephant in someone's backyard?

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_Z23Hm9Uxc...27540+copy.jpg

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EUp6r4FLzW...558+c+copy.jpg

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Busted Knuckles

Does this count???? I think I counted 24 Vultures on my neighbors house one morning last fall.

I don't take too many pictures of birds, so this is my best :)

Attachment 1363

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Knuckles, This certainly counts. My only question is whose yard was the body buried in:confused:

Jayson, Is that a Juvi Great Blue Heron?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by bob williams

P.S. Norma and I just bougt 80 lbs of fresh roasted green chile; i'll be bagging and freezing them this afternoon:o

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Oh boy! I'll bring the American Honey:)

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Originally Posted by bob williams

Knuckles, This certainly counts. My only question is whose yard was the body buried in:confused:

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He kept on saying something about Hoffa?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by bob williams

Jayson, Is that a Juvi Great Blue Heron?

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I have no clue. I have only seen 3 or 4 in my life up close, so it may well be. He did have a little trouble fishing from the other pictures I captured that day.

A Couple more from my weekend with the Hummers----I know, I need a life

http://rwilliamsimaging.com/img/s2/v...92249142-4.jpg

http://rwilliamsimaging.com/img/s2/v...92248768-4.jpg

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Originally Posted by bob williams

A Couple more from my weekend with the Hummers----I know, I need a life

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Bob, if I could do this everyday I would be enjoying myself thoroughly. I will trade you for a week :D

Great captures by the way! I agree with the others, I would blow up a couple of these either on canvas or print!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Jayson

Bob, if I could do this everyday I would be enjoying myself thoroughly. I will trade you for a week :D

Great captures by the way! I agree with the others, I would blow up a couple of these either on canvas or print!

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Thanks Jayson, But I really don't get to do this everyday; I just took a 4 day weekend, so it only seems like I do it every day. As far as the prints, I do plan on having a couple done----it seems I give my zenfolio site more business than anyone else:(.

Thanks again,

Bob

Nice work Bob....our Ruby Throats are so competitive they would never share a feeder like that.

The young Cardinals are molting into adult plumage and they are hungry! I had 6 at one time on the feeder today.

1D4
500mm
ISO 1600
f/4.0
1/400
580EXII + Better Beamer 1/32 power

http://joeleadephotography.zenfolio....92673534-5.jpg

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Originally Posted by Joel Eade

Nice work Bob....our Ruby Throats as so competitive they would never share a feeder like that.

The young Cardinals are molting into adult plumage and they are hungry! I had 6 at one time on the feeder today.

1D4
500mm
ISO 1600
f/4.0
1/400
580EXII + Better Beamer 1/32 power

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Love the shot Joel, But I have a question----Did you give up on ETTL? I noticed you shot at 1/32 flash vs -2 2/3---What prompted the switch?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by bob williams

Love the shot Joel, But I have a question----Did you give up on ETTL? I noticed you shot at 1/32 flash vs -2 2/3---What prompted the switch?

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Well....it was actually a boo-boo....I failed to check my settings beforehand and I had left the flash set on manual for the HB's. I shot a couple frames of the Cardinal without flash and it (the histogram) looked a little underexposed so I reached up and flipped it on and took a few more frames while it was posing nicely.

After the bird left I looked at the settings and it was on manual 1/32, it worked pretty well though:o

Hey Bob, I'm really loving the flowers, background and colors on those!

Joel, another great shot and I'm loving the mohawk!

A pair of Mourning Doves taken this morning

1DMKIV
500mm
ISO 1600
f/4.0
1/640
No flash

http://joeleadephotography.zenfolio....94598614-5.jpg

Downy Woodpecker from my backyard setup, rainy morning today so slower shutter speed and high ISO needed.

1D4
500mm
ISO 1600
f/4.0
1/160


http://joeleadephotography.zenfolio....94651992-5.jpg

Nice shots Joel, Looks like you have all kinds of youngsters in your back yard.

Here are some more hummers from this morning. I was trying to change it up a bit, so I combined natural and printed background and really stretched the imagination with the flowers----the flowers are almost all gone around here.

Both shots: 7D, 500mm, 1/250th, ISO 200, F16, 4 flashes @1/32nd power.

I didn't really care for this one, but this is the only bird that would come close to this flower:

http://rwilliamsimaging.com/img/s4/v...94771260-4.jpg

http://rwilliamsimaging.com/img/s4/v...94769308-4.jpg

And one with out flowers:

http://rwilliamsimaging.com/img/s1/v...94764560-4.jpg

P.S. I hit my 100. You can see the entire collection here: http://rwilliamsimaging.com/hummingbirds

Thanks for looking

Quote:

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Originally Posted by bob williams

P.S. I hit my 100. You can see the entire collection here: http://rwilliamsimaging.com/hummingbirds

Thanks for looking

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Bob that is one heck of a collection! Congrats on your 100!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Joel Eade

A pair of Mourning Doves taken this morning

1DMKIV
500mm
ISO 1600
f/4.0
1/640
No flash

http://joeleadephotography.zenfolio....94598614-5.jpg

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Joel

I don't how I feel about this one. It looks a little spooky

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Raid

Joel

I don't how I feel about this one. It looks a little spooky

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it's THE BIRDS:(

Quote:

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Originally Posted by bob williams

Nice shots Joel, Looks like you have all kinds of youngsters in your back yard.

Here are some more hummers from this morning. I was trying to change it up a bit, so I combined natural and printed background and really stretched the imagination with the flowers----the flowers are almost all gone around here.

Both shots: 7D, 500mm, 1/250th, ISO 200, F16, 4 flashes @1/32nd power.

I didn't really care for this one, but this is the only bird that would come close to this flower:





And one with out flowers:

http://rwilliamsimaging.com/img/s1/v...94764560-4.jpg

P.S. I hit my 100. You can see the entire collection here: http://rwilliamsimaging.com/hummingbirds

Thanks for looking

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Congrats Bob, great collection. Your flash setup gives incredible results, beautiful subject isolation in this series. Superb.