Quote Originally Posted by Bill W


Wickerprints;


Nice captures of the HB.


I've tried a few captures w/a flash, but I wash out their eye and need to do quite a bit of PSing to bring the eye back.


What do you do to avoid over exposing the eye with "catch light"?


40D, 100-400 IS are what I use and sometimes the 580EX ll.


Regards


Bill
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Thanks! All I can say about the use of flash in the hummingbird pics is that you can't use ETTL...it has to be manual. Depending on your ambient lighting conditions, you have to adjust your exposure and ISO accordingly. I've found 1/8 to 1/4 power on the flash works in my situation, but if your ambient light is low (e.g., very early or late in the day), then you may use even less flash power. I underexpose the background by about 1 stop, but again, you just have to play with it.


The recipe:
  1. Use manual mode and meter your scene. Set the exposure about 1 - 1.5 stops under, shutter speed around 1/200s.
  2. Set flash power to 1/4 in manual mode.
  3. Test it out. If you are using a feeder to lure the hummingbirds, review the image to make sure you're not overexposing the foreground by too much, no more than 0.5 stops or so. If you are, dial down the flash power accordingly.
  4. Also check the background exposure. It should be a bit dark but not black. If it is darker than you would like, set the exposure brighter by opening up the aperture or increasing ISO, in that order of preference. Don't slow the shutter speed too much because then you will blur the hummingbird.
  5. Here is a key secret. Place your feeder in the shade, and position your camera so that the background is brightly lit. That is, try to deliberately create a backlit situation. What this will do is increase your reliance of proper exposure of the bird on your flash. This will enable you to freeze motion. Also, if you can, get your flash off your camera.
  6. Experiment!