Ruby-Throated Hummingbird

[Trojansoc]

The hummingbirds have returned this week. I've seen a couple of fly-bys the last couple of days, but finally got a chance to shoot one this morning through my patio door. I had to open up the ISO all the way to 1600 (then use Noiseware) and the Phoenix 100-400 was at 6.7 at 400mm....still couldn't get as fast of a shutter as I would have liked.



This guy has as large of a red patch as I've ever seen.

[No_Pro]

I can't wait until the hummingbirds arrive up here. I like how the second photo shows the nectar splashing at the tip of his bill. These little guys are really difficult to photograph and you've done a nice job. Have you tried deliberately underexposing by 0.5 to 1 stop, then trying to bring it back using PP? I have to admit, the idea just came to me, and I've never tried that.
Dan

[thepusher]

Very Cool!! Keep up the good work...................

[bigdawg]

Wonderful Paul. They are here but I've not tried shooting them yet...Need to move the feeders just a little closer for really good shots with the Bigma!

Dawg

[Trojansoc]

No_Pro wrote:

I can't wait until the hummingbirds arrive up here. I like how the second photo shows the nectar splashing at the tip of his bill. These little guys are really difficult to photograph and you've done a nice job. Have you tried deliberately underexposing by 0.5 to 1 stop, then trying to bring it back using PP? I have to admit, the idea just came to me, and I've never tried that.
Dan

style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #000000"Thanks for the nice words. There are a couple of things that I'm going to do to try to get a fast enough shutter to freeze the wings. The first is simply a faster camera. I'm hoping my K20d will be back in from exchange in a week or so. Then, I'll be able to bump up the ISO further without having significant noise problems. More importantly, though, the 14.6 MP sensor may allow me to work with a smaller usable crop area and maybe even be able to shoot with my DA*50-135 f2.8. The distance to subject is only about 10 feet. Even with the K10 I used on these, I will be able to gain a half-stop by going to the Tamron 70-300 and shooting at f5.6.

[robar]

to stop the wings i think you'll probably need to use flash..

i just saw two of these doing their mating dance. it's quite interesting.. the last time i saw it was in phoenix 10 years ago. right place/right time

roy

[PinonMesaJon]

Hummers - another one of my favorite subjects.

You don't need flash to freeze the wings. 1/1000 and up can do it.

Here's the shotfrom whichI made my avatar:



This was taken with an old Pentax-A SMC 70-210mm f4 lens, at 1/2000sec, f/4 and (this is where I discovered the ISO half steps!) ISO 280, IS off, probably 210mm. Lots of these great lenses out there on eBay cheap!

I've got more I'll post when I've got a chance.....

[PinonMesaJon]

I posted a continuation of this topic under the Pentax Lenses Forum; I wanted to comment on the lens I used and had started a thread on this back when I was considering buying it.........


http://forums.steves-digicams.com/fo...mp;forum_id=94

[Rodney9]

Terrific in-flight shots.

[Lyrics51]

Nice shots, Paul. I like the uncluttered background.

Glenn