Hummingbird wing blur tips

[Paxonator]

I've done some searching on here on how to get the kind of shots I want. Which would be to have the wings showing motion to the point at which they are just a blur but the body remains sharp.

I think you use a shutter speed of 1/250 or so to achieve this. Now for those who do these kinds of shots do you use a tripod or monopod to help get crisp shots? or can you handhold a lens like the 100-400 at this shutter speed to get the shot?

I'll be out at someone's cabin soon who has hummingbirds visit and I won't have lots of chances to test and chimp.

Any tips are greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Travis

[Kevin Hall]

Take that 580EX II and set yourself up for rear-curtain sync. Then give yourself enough aperture for DOF depending on how close you will be shooting from. Shutter speeds from 1/50th to 1/250th should work fine - you will get some shots and plenty of unacceptable ones. The flash will stop a lot of action for you but you will still be somewhat dependent on the bird not moving during the exposure.

[Duane N]

I have taken pictures of Hummingbirds at 1/1600"-1/2000" and the wings are still blurred. I think 1/250" is too slow.

Hummingbird wing beats are so fast the only way to freeze them is by using multiple flashes or getting real lucky without the use of flash...and it's pure luck to freeze the wings without a REAL high shutter speed or use of a flash.

If I were you I would try to maintain the highest shutter speed possible and keep a good dof to get the whole bird in focus...you will get the wing blur you're after.

[Paxonator]

Thanks Kevin and Duane, both your portfolio's are fantastic! I agree Duane that the wings are still blurred in yours and they are still great shots, but I would like the wings to be very blurred. Both your pictures seem so crisp as well. I just recently received my 100-400 and maybe have only gotten one or two really sharp shots.

And thanks Kevin I will write this down and debate which way I will try first. As I'm maybe thinking I should attempt to get a sharp shot with higher shutter speeds first. Then move onto getting my desired wing blur with slower ones.

By the way I'm jealous of both your portfolio's.

[Kevin Hall]

Absolutely, give them both a try. You'll probably get more keepers with high shutter speeds and that is the more common approach. My way is not a popular method but it produces a very distinctive image with detail in the blur.

Have fun.

[Tom Reichner]

Paxonator, I do believe that 1/250 second will give you the results you are after, although even slower shutter speeds may work better for you. You should be able to get the body very sharp even at 1/125th of a second if the hummer is hovering in front of a feeder.

Good luck!

[Paxonator]

Thanks Tom, I'm thinking I better bring my tripod for the slower shutter speeds. Although my tripod is far from fantastic.

Wish I could find some around here so I could try all this out.