Mr. & Mrs. Ruby-throated

Harv

I decided to relax out on the deck for an hour today so I set up my camera and waited for the hummers to arrive. I really wish we had more than the one and only species in this part of the world.











Thanks for looking.

denisegoldberg

Fabulous! The fourth shot is my favorite.

--- Denise

Elaine

Amazing!!!! Really terrific! Thanks for sharing!

Harv

Thanks very much. I really appreciate the kind words.

Bud1880

Harv wrote:

I really wish we had more than the one and only species in this part of the world.

I've thought that too sometimes but I really think you could shoot these amazing birds every day for a year and come up with something totally unique each and every day.

Beautiful shots Harv! Like the ruby red in the 3rd shot, light has to be just right to get that to show. Perfect!!!

Just curious, have you ever gotten a 'head on shot' of a female with her white tipped tail feathers fanned? I seen it many times but never have been able to capture that pose.

Bud

dbaker1221

sensational captures Harv!!

Maestro

Love hummers. We starting to see more and more around my neck of the woods. So far this year, they have been shy. Great shots.

riddim_maker

Now, this is a good idea.
I think I'll try this tomorrow, relax on my deck with camera in hand.
hopefully i can be as successful as you were in capturing these beauties

Patti

They're lovely!

Harv

Bud1880 wrote:

I've thought that too sometimes but I really think you could shoot these amazing birds every day for a year and come up with something totally unique each and every day.

Beautiful shots Harv! Like the ruby red in the 3rd shot, light has to be just right to get that to show. Perfect!!!

Just curious, have you ever gotten a 'head on shot' of a female with her white tipped tail feathers fanned? I seen it many times but never have been able to capture that pose.

Bud

Thanks, Bud. Yes, I've seen that pose and grabbed the odd shot. I've never gotten one that I felt was focused well enough and so I've never kept any.

Harv

dbaker1221 wrote:

sensational captures Harv!!

Thanks a lot, Dave.

Harv

Maestro wrote:

Love hummers. We starting to see more and more around my neck of the woods. So far this year, they have been shy. Great shots.

Thanks very much, Stephen. Just be patient, and keep your camera handy.

Harv

riddim_maker wrote:

Now, this is a good idea.
I think I'll try this tomorrow, relax on my deck with camera in hand.
hopefully i can be as successful as you were in capturing these beauties

Thanks a lot, Russ. I'm sure you'll be every bit as successful but if not, at least you will have had a nice relaxing time.

Harv

Patti wrote:

They're lovely!

Thanks a lot, Patti.

Ric Grupe

All I've ever got out of trying to shoot hummers is a stiff neck and blurry images.

Very nice, Harv.

Harv

Ric Grupe wrote:

All I've ever got out of trying to shoot hummers is a stiff neck and blurry images.

Very nice, Harv.

Thanks a lot, Ric. It doesn't take a lot to do. Get a comfy spot within shooting distance with the light from the direction you need. Prefocus where you expect the birds to appear and be ready to push the shutter.

If you have a feeder with multiple feeding ports, put some tape over all the ports but the one you want the hummers to use, giving you the best vantage point. Use at least f/8, f/11 is better. This will give you some latitude with your DOF. You don't need terribly high shutter speeds. When the birds back away from the feeding port, they are almost always motionless except for the wings. I have used shutter speeds as low as 125, 200, 250 and 320. Adjust your ISO as needed.

Good luck.

Ric Grupe

Harv wrote:

Thanks a lot, Ric. It doesn't take a lot to do. Get a comfy spot within shooting distance with the light from the direction you need. Prefocus where you expect the birds to appear and be ready to push the shutter.

If you have a feeder with multiple feeding ports, put some tape over all the ports but the one you want the hummers to use, giving you the best vantage point. Use at least f/8, f/11 is better. This will give you some latitude with your DOF. You don't need terribly high shutter speeds. When the birds back away from the feeding port, they are almost always motionless except for the wings. I have used shutter speeds as low as 125, 200, 250 and 320. Adjust your ISO as needed.

Good luck.

Thank you, Harv.

This is good to know. To me, this is what a photog forum should be about. The exchange of tips based on experience and proven with the images themselves is invaluable.:D

Harv

Ric Grupe wrote:

Thank you, Harv.

This is good to know. To me, this is what a photog forum should be about. The exchange of tips based on experience and proven with the images themselves is invaluable.:D

Ric, there is much more I don't know than do know. However, what little I have learned I am happy to share. I just hope it helps.

Ric Grupe

Harv wrote:

Ric, there is much more I don't know than do know. However, what little I have learned I am happy to share. I just hope it helps.

The more you know...the more you realize what you don't know.

I was a lot smarter 20 years ago.

Harv

Ric Grupe wrote:

The more you know...the more you realize what you don't know.

I was a lot smarter 20 years ago.

You and I both. wink

Shasoc

Very good job capturing those little buggers, Harv.

Harv

Shasoc wrote:

Very good job capturing those little buggers, Harv.

Thanks, Socrate. Appreciate you looking in.