Capturing Hummers

[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.

[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.

[Bill W]

one of my favorites from last season....the attachment came out darker than the original....resulting in loss of head details.

Bill

[bob williams]

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.

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:

This was shot with natural light only:



and this one was shot with one speedflash and a shoplight on the background:

[conropl]

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.

I have one flash and a 100-400mm L. I am thinking about getting a "Better Beamer".

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.


Hummingbird by westmichigan, on Flickr

And one w/o flash:


Hummingbird2 by westmichigan, on Flickr

[bob williams]

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.

[bob williams]

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

[Jayson]

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 saw that they are starting to migrate to your area via birds & blooms. Get ready!