Capturing Hummers

[Dave Throgmartin]

I'm exciting to give taking hummingbird photos a try, but expect lots of trial and error during the learning process. I'd be very interested in your setup. I'm curious how this will work only using one flash.

Dave

[conropl]

Bob - I would be very interested in reading about how you get so many great shots of HB's. Your set up gives me something to strive for... although I do not think I can afford your set up (at least not right now with three kids in college). If you have some suggestions on how to get better shots with less flashes, and how to attract more HB's that would be great; but I think degrading your set up would only serve to diminish the great quality that you manage to get with your shots.

[bob williams]

Do you sit in a bird blind or have a large lens?

Thanks James------No, I usually don't sit in a blind unless I am shooting song birds and Yes, I do have a 500. But I have shot several of my H-Bird shots with a 100, so your 70-300 should work fine for hummers. Hummingbirds seem to be very tolerant of flashes and other close equipment so distance is normally not an issue. The problem with wider lenses is that you have more background to light which introduces more challenges depending on what your intent is.

[Bill W]

Good morning Bob....although I don't have any experience creating a blog, I think starting a blog for the HBs is a great idea.

I'd like to read about your experiences shooting w/flashes, although you know our style of shooting HBs is diametrically opposed.

I started my HB season a couple of weeks ago; removal of 7 trees in the back woods area that were (perilously) hanging over the house. Besides the feeling of safety; not having a tree drop thru the roof, the tree removal also increases the (winter) light in the backyard area. I'm really interested in how much light time the garden will have gained when summer arrives and the affect on my background. Previously to the tree removal, the shade was really limiting in both plant selection and shooting in natural light.

I'm still 6 to 8 weeks away from HB season, but I'm ready to get started.

Go forward w/the blog.....count me as an interested reader. Just leave some room for natural light shooting comments Bob.

Regards
Bill

[bob williams]

I am wondering if it is safe to assume they will arrive slightly earlier this year(?)

DD, I am wondering the same thing---and hopeful we may see some activity a little earlier. I saw a pair of songbirds building thier nest this weekend which is what motivated me to start the h-bird preps. Good luck with your setup design, sounds like it might work pretty good--I look forward to seeing your shots. When you get your setup like you wanted it, make sure and take photo's of it as well and please do share. I always enjoy seeing how other people approach this craft.

[bob williams]

Your set up gives me something to strive for... although I do not think I can afford your set up

Thanks Conropl, but I will be the first to admit some of my favorite shots were taken with a $20 shoplight tiewrapped to a ladder and one canon flash.

but I think degrading your set up would only serve to diminish the great quality that you manage to get with your shots.

Conropl, I didn't understand this comment, could you explain

If you have some suggestions on how to get better shots with less flashes, and how to attract more HB's that would be great

Yes, I do have suggestions for both---time is short this morning, but I will try and offer some suggetstions this afternoon or this weekend when I start working on the blog.

[bob williams]

Go forward w/the blog.....count me as an interested reader. Just leave some room for natural light shooting comments

Bill, You bet, all methods of h-bird shooting is welcomed and encouraged. Infact, I saw some great shots last year of h-birds drinking and playing in a garden waterfall----all natural light and beautiful shots---Almost made me break out the shovel and start digging.

Thanks

[Bill W]

Bob and Denise;

Here's a link to follow the HB 2012 spring migration; http://www.hummingbird-guide.com/hum...on-submissions

Here's to everybody having a great HB season.

Bill

[ddt0725]

Wow! Thanks for the link, Bill! That will be very helpful!

[conropl]

Originally Posted by conropl
but I think degrading your set up would only serve to diminish the great quality that you manage to get with your shots.

Originally Posted by bob williams
Conropl, I didn't understand this comment, could you explain

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.