First Hummers

scottVscottV Registered Users Posts: 354 Major grins
edited September 6, 2007 in Wildlife
My first try at shooting these little guys. It was in a shady area with my 100-400 lens, no flash. This one was sitting on the branch and allowed me to get within about 2 meters. What techniques are used to get the frozen in flight shots? I had to set the iso to 400 just to stay in the 1/100 range, any movement or slight breeze would blur everything.
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http://scottvickers.smugmug.com

Comments

  • dbaker1221dbaker1221 Registered Users Posts: 4,482 Major grins
    edited September 6, 2007
    teriffic captures Scottclap.gif . great colorthumb.gif
    You're gonna need good light to stop their wings.. I shot some of mine at 1/2000 & still have motion. I'm thinking 1/4000 will do it but i'll need to do it with my 200mm 2.8.
    **If I keep shooting, I'm bound to hit something**
    Dave
  • HarvHarv Registered Users Posts: 1,105 Major grins
    edited September 6, 2007
    Nice captures. Gorgeouos colours on these little guys.

    I don't think you will be able to freeze the wings of a hummingbird with shutteer speed alone. You will likely need to use flash with a very short flash duration. Here is a link to thread that will give you the information that you need...

    http://www.pixel-shooter.com/forum/showthread.php?t=129

    I hope this helps.
    Harv
    Cobourg, Ontario, Canada

    http://www.highpointvizslas.com
    http://harveyg.smugmug.com
    http://www.pixel-shooter.com

     Some Canon stuff :D
  • ShasocShasoc Registered Users Posts: 691 Major grins
    edited September 6, 2007
    Very nice captures with lovely color. thumb.gif
    Socrate
    "Natura artis magistra"
  • schmooschmoo Registered Users Posts: 8,468 Major grins
    edited September 6, 2007
    Those guys have legs? I thought I'd read that hummingbirds couldn't walk because they barely had legs or something like that.

    Anyway, great captures and sitting on the branch like that they almost look like "normal" birds. :D
    SmugMug Editor / News Flash!
    Photos that don't suck / 365 / Film & Lomography
  • scottVscottV Registered Users Posts: 354 Major grins
    edited September 6, 2007
    thanks everybody, and thanks for the link Harv... going to try it out this weekend.
    http://scottvickers.smugmug.com
  • goofrygoofry Registered Users Posts: 103 Major grins
    edited September 6, 2007
    The best shots I have gotten lately have been shot at 3200 iso, 1/2000 or 1/4000 along with my 430ex flash set to high speed mode. I know the 1/4000 is much faster than the flash, but it does help. Even at those speeds, I have seen a little blur from these guys.

    I love the colors on the little guy you captured. All I keep getting lately is the females with less color. They are so agressive, the male only comes around for a very short period and then I don't see him for hours.

    Nice shots!
    Goofry

    http://www.spotlightpicture.com

    A bunch of Canon Stuff.
  • MaestroMaestro Registered Users Posts: 5,395 Major grins
    edited September 6, 2007
    Awesome captures of a very colorful hummer! thumb.gif
    Stephen
    www.capture-the-pixel.com

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