Hummingbirds...No Happy Dance Yet!

Wish we had them over here. Great set of captures Sandy.

Red Dexs wrote in post #17085327
Wish we had them over here. Great set of captures Sandy.

Thank you Red! We only have the one kind here, but glad to have them!

Very nice sandy, remember the great humming bird images you see on this site are rarely taken walking around the yard but setup like a studio setting knowing we're the bird will approach a flower that has been set in a way as to give the light and background is very much different from the way a person would do it walking around the garden. If you can imagine a studio shoot just past focusing distance ?? That is how you get great humming bird images Me I just luck into them once every year or so as I still don't use a flash. Bret is one to never use a flash and likes a very slow shutter. Try that some time. It may well give you nightmares !! This year I have no humming birds to speak of and they come into the yard so few times a day that anything I do get is purely by fluke. So if you want the shot ...set the stage. Or raid the neighbor's garden in good light. Wish I had a neighbor with a garden!!!!

Pondrader wrote in post #17085579
Very nice sandy, remember the great humming bird images you see on this site are rarely taken walking around the yard but setup like a studio setting knowing we're the bird will approach a flower that has been set in a way as to give the light and background is very much different from the way a person would do it walking around the garden. If you can imagine a studio shoot just past focusing distance ?? That is how you get great humming bird images Me I just luck into them once every year or so as I still don't use a flash. Bret is one to never use a flash and likes a very slow shutter. Try that some time. It may well give you nightmares !! This year I have no humming birds to speak of and they come into the yard so few times a day that anything I do get is purely by fluke. So if you want the shot ...set the stage. Or raid the neighbor's garden in good light. Wish I had a neighbor with a garden!!!!

Great advise Sandy. I will never and have never used a flash. As far as SS, play with it. IMO, you will get more blur and I am not talking about wing blur than with faster ss.

Keep 'em coming.

Pondrader wrote in post #17085579
Very nice sandy, remember the great humming bird images you see on this site are rarely taken walking around the yard but setup like a studio setting knowing we're the bird will approach a flower that has been set in a way as to give the light and background is very much different from the way a person would do it walking around the garden. If you can imagine a studio shoot just past focusing distance ?? That is how you get great humming bird images Me I just luck into them once every year or so as I still don't use a flash. Bret is one to never use a flash and likes a very slow shutter. Try that some time. It may well give you nightmares !! This year I have no humming birds to speak of and they come into the yard so few times a day that anything I do get is purely by fluke. So if you want the shot ...set the stage. Or raid the neighbor's garden in good light. Wish I had a neighbor with a garden!!!!

TedEllis wrote in post #17085960
Great advise Sandy. I will never and have never used a flash. As far as SS, play with it. IMO, you will get more blur and I am not talking about wing blur than with faster ss.

Keep 'em coming.

Thanks Jeff and Ted. The majority of my "Hummingbird" flowers are in planters and hanging baskets that can be easily moved. I try to cluster them together in good light, and then sit and wait. Time of day is critical in my yard, but not always an option...darn it (always have to work when the light is the best!) Sometimes I put the planters near the planted flowers, but with this group of shots, one of the planters was sitting on top of an old milk-can which worked quite well.

Keep the tips coming....I love them!

These are really nice Sandy. You are doing a wonderful job!

butterfly2937 wrote in post #17086483
These are really nice Sandy. You are doing a wonderful job!

Thank you! I appreciate the vote of confidence!

H***, I'd be dancing-at least, a medium fast two-step. Excellent clarity in the last one and nos. 3 and 4 are pretty darn good. C'mon, at least tap your toe a bit.

ardeekay wrote in post #17087728
H***, I'd be dancing-at least, a medium fast two-step. Excellent clarity in the last one and nos. 3 and 4 are pretty darn good. C'mon, at least tap your toe a bit.

Ha-ha...thanks Rog! I was smiling then, and again after reading your post!

Im still waiting for the video, lol it is coming

I think these are looking pretty darn good Sandy!
I too like the perspective(s) in #'3 & 4 and it's pretty safe to say your red Salvia looks a lot better than mine too. I got a good chuckle out of the perched images. These guys have such great personalities. I'd also agree w/Ted that this looks like a 1st year male bird. Treat him right and maybe he'll be back next year. Other than that, just keep after `em......after all it's a numbers game just like photographing other birds.

Pondrader wrote in post #17088214
Im still waiting for the video, lol it is coming

Soon Jeff...I'm waiting for perfection!

CamFan01 wrote in post #17088216
I think these are looking pretty darn good Sandy!
I too like the perspective(s) in #'3 & 4 and it's pretty safe to say your red Salvia looks a lot better than mine too. I got a good chuckle out of the perched images. These guys have such great personalities. I'd also agree w/Ted that this looks like a 1st year male bird. Treat him right and maybe he'll be back next year. Other than that, just keep after `em......after all it's a numbers game just like photographing other birds.

Thanks Steve. Some bugs certainly love chewing on the leaves of the Salvia, but I'm trying to keep them fertilized, and hope that helps combat the pest damage.

Most birds you can take a few minutes and go grab a few shots, but not with the Hummingbirds! Hope to find time to go practice again soon...