Capturing Hummers

[bob williams]

Bob I think the iridesence of the gorget is sort of like a mirror .... you have to flash it with light that reflects back to the camera. So the flash has to be low and aimed at the gorget with bird angled toward the camera. You could try facing the target flower away from the camera so the bird has to face you in order to feed, then place one of the speed lights below the flower aimed up at the bird's position.

Actually, I had planned to do this exact thing this weekend, but the birds just weren't hitting very often---It was basically all I could do to get them to hit the feeder, much less a "loaded flower"----Which is also a problem with this idea---with a downward pointing flower, the sugar water runs out which means I may get one or two shots and they lose interest---But I am going to try it anyway in hopes of getting a different perspective and maybe lighting the gorget.

But I did have another engineering brain storm you may like. I am thinking about getting a small used IV bag (250ml) and microdrip setup. cut the tubeing to desired length and attach a small guage needle to the end. Then I can just slide the downword pointing flower on to the needle and maybe clamp the flower on it with a small alligator clip---this should allow me to keep the sugar running at a slow but adjustable rate. It would also work with an up pointing flower.

So, Have I lost my mind????????????

Wait, I'm not done, thanks to you Joel, I had another epiphony. I was frustrated with the difficult operation and unsightliness of my PVC contraption seen below:


So I started thinking of a replacement---and came up with this (thanks to Joel and his many other talents):



A simple microphone stand. Heavy base, 30-60 inch telescoping, 19 inch flexible gooseneck with a clamp attached to the end of the gooseneck---Total cost---$21.00 New. You could probably find a used one at a music store or pawn shop for $10 bucks. This is only a couple of dollars more than what I had invested in the PVC contraption----Lesson learned---If it doesn't have "Photography" attached to the name or nomenclature, it's 1/3 the cost.

Anyway this microphone stand allows me to hang a feeder or hold a flower in almost any position. The heighth is adjustable and it doesn't blow over when the wind does. Finally, it doesn't look tacky and my wife is more accepting of it sitting on the back porch and I don't even need her Christmas tree stand.

Happy Humming,

Bob

[Joel Eade]

Actually, I had planned to do this exact thing this weekend, but the birds just weren't hitting very often---It was basically all I could do to get them to hit the feeder, much less a "loaded flower"----Which is also a problem with this idea---with a downward pointing flower, the sugar water runs out which means I may get one or two shots and they lose interest---But I am going to try it anyway in hopes of getting a different perspective and maybe lighting the gorget.

But I did have another engineering brain storm you may like. I am thinking about getting a small used IV bag (250ml) and microdrip setup. cut the tubeing to desired length and attach a small guage needle to the end. Then I can just slide the downword pointing flower on to the needle and maybe clamp the flower on it with a small alligator clip---this should allow me to keep the sugar running at a slow but adjustable rate. It would also work with an up pointing flower.

So, Have I lost my mind????????????

Wait, I'm not done, thanks to you Joel, I had another epiphony. I was frustrated with the difficult operation and unsightliness of my PVC contraption seen below:


So I started thinking of a replacement---and came up with this (thanks to Joel and his many other talents):



A simple microphone stand. Heavy base, 30-60 inch telescoping, 19 inch flexible gooseneck with a clamp attached to the end of the gooseneck---Total cost---$21.00 New. You could probably find a used one at a music store or pawn shop for $10 bucks. This is only a couple of dollars more than what I had invested in the PVC contraption----Lesson learned---If it doesn't have "Photography" attached to the name or nomenclature, it's 1/3 the cost.

Anyway this microphone stand allows me to hang a feeder or hold a flower in almost any position. The heighth is adjustable and it doesn't blow over when the wind does. Finally, it doesn't look tacky and my wife is more accepting of it sitting on the back porch and I don't even need her Christmas tree stand.

Happy Humming,

Bob

Love it !!! ( I still need to send you some CD's )