Hummingbird grand finale

[J.E. White]

Great shots. I always enjoy seeing your shots included in the weekly email.

[gmom]

These are exquisite. How are they lit, and what is your backdrop?

[Hank Williams]

Those are some wonderful shots. I think the black background is an interesting twist.

I was going to upload a few that I have taken, but this is my first day as a member and I can't seem to get it to work. It's just a fairly small jpg file (448 KB, 1000x717 pixels) named hummer1.jpg - but the messages comes back that it "is not a valid image file."

What am I doing wrong, please?

[coldcreek]

Hank,
If you have it on a photo sharing site( flickr, photobucket, ect.), just click on the photo and copy the url then paste it into the message box. I hope that makes sense.

[PrimeTime]

Thanks everyone for the great comments!

There are quit a few question as to how i took these...........................


My gear is a canon 40D and 300 f/4L IS lens + 1.4x TC (420mm) + Monopod

Lighting is natural sunlight, somewhere between 9:30 and 11:00 AM. The light is a cross light coming from right side and forward (quartering in from the front and right)

Background is a row of pine trees about 10 yards behind the birds. Background is NOT in the light.

I am shooting over a feeder from about 8 to 10 feet with a 420mm lens on a monopod. Shots are timed so i can crop out the feeder. If you cut the little landing rings off the feeder, they will feed with an in and out motion allowing you to take the shot when they are away from the feeder far enough to crop it out of the picture.

I hang the feeder off a wire so the subject is just slightly below line of sight.

I'm shooting Aperture Priority mode---spot metering---aperture somewhere between f/8 and f/13 depending on the light and shutter speed (because of being so close you really need about f/11 or more)---ISO is between 800 and 1250---histograms are checked and exposure comp. set accordingly--- In the camera menue, focus search is turned off. This allows you to get the focus close manually and then the auto focus will take over for a very short range. This will allow you to focus much quicker (and you'll need it on these fast little guy's)--- IS is turned on and i'm shooting off a monopod .

I'm shooting in direct sunlight. The subject is in the light and the background isn't. When you expose for the subject, the background goes darker.(almost black)


Editing is done with a combination of DXO, lightroom, and PS

[Barbara V]

These belong in an Audobon book or something. So impressive!

[Vinam]

Hiyas Bud,

I know, where have I been ? .. been doing other stuff of late,, but I stopped by to take a look at what's happening .. I saw this post and had to go back and view all the posts in the series .. all of the photos show some real dedication and talent, split second timing in the captures and really beautiful irridesence colors.

It's great to pop in and see this stuff .. I've gotta get out and shoot , I miss sharing and viewing, especially when it's my good buddy and such amazing images.

/highfive

Vin

[Hank Williams]

Thanks for your quick reply; that's nice to see!

I do have some things on FlickR . . . the earlier hummer pics are at
Hummingbirds - a set on Flickr

I took some more yesterday with a little softer focus, more motion blur of the wings. The sun wasn't on them, so there are less screaming details but it's a different look. Will put them up asap.

//Hank

[fstopMike]

PT, wonderful as always!!! These are amazing shots and I know a lot of time and effort were spent in getting these. Thanks for the how-to, and I'll be looking forward to seeing your next subjects.

[KPB Menon]

speechless - what sharpness! very very well done!