First Hummingbirds of the season

[Parson]

Here are a few shots of the first hummingbird that has taken to frequenting our garden this year.

All were shot with the 20D using the 100-400L and 580EX flash with -2 exposure compensation dialed in on the flash. Shot at 1/500 sec in shutter priority with high-speed sync enabled. Backlit with late evening sun.

Comments/critiques always welcome an appreciated

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v430/dahat/_MG_6071web.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v430/dahat/_MG_6120web.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v430/dahat/_MG_6130web.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v430/dahat/_MG_6155web.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v430/dahat/_MG_6167web.jpg

Hope you enjoy this little female Ruby Throat hummer as much as we do!

Dave H.

[KartGirlsMom]

#4 is my favorite. They are very cool photos.

[Parson]

Mine too!

Thanks!

Dave H.

[Paul A]

Beautiful, looking forward to seeing the male soon!!

[Leorooster]

Great shots. Love the last one.

[condyk]

I LOVE Humming birds and have since I was 10 years old and saw my first. These are very nice. I like 4 and 5 best. Anyone have a link to the best Hummer shot EVER?

[Blue Deuce]

Nice pictures. I just never seem to see any in central Florida. :cry: :cry:

[scrumpy]

You people over on your side of the Atlantic have all the luck! we don't get humming birds. I like all of them. I thought, why not up the speed a little and stop those wings. Then I see you had in #4 and I thought - no I like the blurred wings best. Anyway, great shots - well done.

[Parson]

Thanks, Scrumpy.

As to the "blurred" vs. "stopped" wing effect -- that's usually just a matter of luck, even when using an extremely high shutter speed. Even at 1/2000 there will almost always be some blurring of the wings with these little speed demons. Bottom line, I'm like you -- I actually prefer a bit of blurring to keep the impression of the speed at which these tiny wings are beating.

Glad you enjoyed them.

Dave H.

[LazyPhotographer]

Cool shots..

[PhotosGuy]

VERY nice shots!

[sparker1]

Outstanding shots.

[witchy]

wow! very nice!

[dkord]

They are so cool, I like the 4th one best.

[BtBam]

Beautiful shots dude.

[Parson]

Thanks to all! These beautiful little birds are way fun to photograph! I just wish we had a larger variety of them here in Arkansas.

Dave H.

[guitarman3]

Great work Dave! I'm envious!

[chemicalbro]

great photos all of them.but my favourite has to be #5....... i'm not sure if its the birds posture or the contrasting colours of the flower and bird.......... its just most pleasing to my eye :)

Scrumpy we still have some VERY cool birds in the uk (i've been on the hunt for a hovering kestrel for weeks now but can never seem to find one when i have the camera............ of course i see em all the time when the camera is at home :)... also in the highlands of Scotland (not too far from me) we have the biggest population on earth (per land mass) of the daddy of all birds (the golden eagle)...
I'm planning an eagle hunting trip within the next few weeks so hopefully i'll get some good ones

[Beeclose]

Brilliant, wish we had those birds over here.