Capturing Hummers

[bob williams]

Rich, don

[Bill W]

Bob....nice pix and I'm jealous. Before I went on vacay, 2 weeks ago, I saw my first HB at a feeder. I thought I'd have a good shot posted by now, but our wx has been terrible; windy and gray.


I had one good day to shoot, Friday, but I'm still in the winter doldrums (i.e. shooting static, slow moving raptors, herons) and I missed several opportunities to capture a male RTHB w/his gorget flaming. Also this would have been my first captures using the 500 for the HBs.


Nice capture of the black-chinned, but I have to say the background colors are, to my eye, an intrusion....but I know this will improve as the season matures....other wise the 2nd one is a stunner.


BTW.....over the winter I built myself a blind using PVC and a camo sheet to use this summer for HBs. It allows me to move a few feet closer to my HB garden and the HBs don't seem to notice me. The only modification I've made since this pic was taken was to cut a 2 foot horizontal line in the sheet....this allows me to move the lens east/west to cover the garden.


Can you see me now?


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LMAO!!

[ddt0725]

Heehee! This is awesome!!! My neighbors would absolutely have a gossiping field day if they saw me sitting behind this in my yard! I love it!!


For hb

[bob williams]

Bill, Great blind---I too often use PVC in my "engineering projects"---But I am curious--why do you need a blind for hummers----Mine are so used to people ---they buzz around me and my equipment when I shoot them---often within a 1 or 2 feet----But my feeders are on my patio where my wife and I spend a great deal of time---so maybe a good idea for garden shooting.


Again, Great Blind---and the self portrait is certainly an Award Winner---[]





Bob

[bob williams]

Here are a couple from yesterday with and without background---the flower shot was a dud because the bird has his eye half closed----but----I was also chasing back grounds and trying to keep equipment weighted down in 35 mph wind---so not much to brag about---just some more experiments.


This one was shot with 3 lights---Low left, high from the back of the bird and one camera mounted with better beamer all at 16th power





two lights--one low under the bird and one camera mounted---barely cought a little glimpse of the purple fringed gorgett








I have to remind my models to keep their eyes open

[DLS]

Wow.....all your shots are really great Bob. Professional stuff indeed. This may be a dumb question but if you have a flash on the camera, does that mean your fastest Tv is 1/250th for these shots?

[bob williams]

Wow.....all your shots are really great Bob. Professional stuff indeed. This may be a dumb question but if you have a flash on the camera, does that mean your fastest Tv is 1/250th for these shots?

DLS, Thanks for the compliment, and yes, the highest I go is 250 on the shutter to make sure the flash and shutter sync. In fact, I will often reduce my shutter if I need more light and still get the same effect. The trick is the duration of the flash---this is what freezes the motion---or in my case, freezes most of the motion but still leaves a little wing blur to show movement---for my taste 1/16 flash power usually does the trick---here is a little recipe I gave to Denise on another string:


1. Shoot manual everything---Start out at 100 ISO, 120-250 Shutter
speed at f16-22---even in daylight, this should give you a dark enough
shot so only the bird is lit with flash. (if you want to light a back ground, use more flashes)


2. Remember, motion is stopped with fast flash duration, not high
shutter speed. 1/16 flash power should give you a tack sharp bird with
just a little wing blur---most that have commented on my shots find this
more pleasing than a "frozen bird"


3. Set your camera up on a tripod with a remote shutter
release---manually focus (live view x 10) on a spot just in front of
your feeder. ( I actually stick a small glasses screwdriver in my
feeder and focus on that---I have even had the birds try and take it out
while I am trying to focus)


4. Next, park your lawn chair within reach of your shutter cable,
grab a glass of ice tea and wait---when the birds approach shoot away.
after a few shots, make adjustments then try again---Remember: flash
power is paramount, 1/16th seems to be the key for me---so if your shot
is too dark move the flash closer or add another flash---also aperture
at or above f/11, but preferably at f/16 or higher---you need as much
depth of field as you can possibly get.


My 100-400 worked well last year, but I am going to try my 100L
macro this year, you should also give your 135 a shot----Even though I
am only two weeks into the season, the birds are very tolerant of my
presence and the equipment presence around the feeder---sometimes they
even land on the flash or the camera lens-


Bob

[ddt0725]

Truly beautiful, Bob!! I shot a few photos today but didn

[DLS]

Thanks a lot for the tips Bob. I have shot a few hummingbird photos but had to handhold and shoot through double-paned glass......bummer. I haven

[Bill W]

My HB garden is some 35 feet from the back porch and, especially this early in the season, they