Humming bird...been a while.. a little rusty

Just thought I'd check in and say hi since I have something new to share.

It's been a long time since I shot any birds but happened to have a chance at these hummers on a visit to northern Michigan and couldn't resist. The lighting wasn't so great. The bird was mostly in shade while the background had sun light. I had to have the lens wide open so the DOF isn't where I would like on a couple and I had to add some positive EC but it was fun shooting.

Hope you enjoy and will gladly take some C&C on how to improve these shots with some extra PP. EXIF should be intact. I've been looking at them too long!

Those are sweet shots... You should get rusty more often... lol

Stormin_24 wrote in post #6208899
Those are sweet shots... You should get rusty more often... lol

Hey Thanks Norman...

I'm a little rusty with the birds... I've been shooting some sports and other stuff but have been away from the birds. The hummer is a little different in getting a BIF... they just sort of hover and alow you to bang away with the shutter..as I'm sure all the birders know.

I appreciate the comments

Henry

Love the first shot, I would be very chuffed if I managed to get this shot. I hope you don't mind but I did a little tweaking with curves, brightened up around the eye area and cloned out the white section to the right.

Nice shots Henry, you haven't lost the touch.

futura wrote in post #6209460
Love the first shot, I would be very chuffed if I managed to get this shot. I hope you don't mind but I did a little tweaking with curves, brightened up around the eye area and cloned out the white section to the right.

Thanks for the comments and I don't mind at all. I like you're enhancements. I'm not the greatest, or most patient when it comes to PP. I never like to take the time to clone.. it tends to drive me nuts trying to paint in the cloned out area with the brushes. You've done a great job. I tried to bring out more aroung the eye myself with the curves. I'll try again. I assumed you just brought up the lower to mid tones with the curves?

Henry

canonloader wrote in post #6209500
Nice shots Henry, you haven't lost the touch.

Thanks Mitch... It looks to me like you've really gotten that 40D to sing for you.. Assuming you used the 40D..couldn't get my exif to work.

Henry

Yes, using the 40D and can't wait for the new 50D to be released. Now that looks like it's going to be a birding camera.

HWP wrote in post #6210223
Thanks for the comments and I don't mind at all. I like you're enhancements. I'm not the greatest, or most patient when it comes to PP. I never like to take the time to clone.. it tends to drive me nuts trying to paint in the cloned out area with the brushes. You've done a great job. I tried to bring out more aroung the eye myself with the curves. I'll try again. I assumed you just brought up the lower to mid tones with the curves?

Henry

Actually I used one of favorite photoshop actions - its called Digital fill flash and its part part of the Kubota artistic packs. I don't mind spending the time creating layers etc but the Kubota actions are really good.

canonloader wrote in post #6210588
Yes, using the 40D and can't wait for the new 50D to be released. Now that looks like it's going to be a birding camera.

What!?! You mean they're already trying to make my 40D obsolete? How dare they! I'm not giving in... I'll stick with the 40D to the end.. Hmmm.. that's what I said about my 30D.. I probably am going to have to stay with the 40D.. I just bought an expensive guitar...yikes!!

Henry

futura wrote in post #6210718
Actually I used one of favorite photoshop actions - its called Digital fill flash and its part part of the Kubota artistic packs. I don't mind spending the time creating layers etc but the Kubota actions are really good.

I've only used DPP because it's fast and easy and usually gives good results as long as the photo is good to begin with. For me it's just too much time spent fixing not so good pic's.. that's just me.. I'm lazy that way.

I have been playing with the trial version of Light Room 2 which I'm not going to keep. I treid these with it and ended up going back to DPP. I found with so many "knobs" to turn I ended up over doing it and when I came back after a while to re look at the results I wasn't pleased so...back to DPP. That's just me.. I know most others have great results... You have the knack for sure.

I will try to enhance the first shot as you did by adding some extra fill light in LR2. If I feel real ambitious I may try to clone out the white.

Thanks again
Henry

Excellent shots with the first one being my favorite. Very well done indeed.

Sindri Skulason wrote in post #6215289
Excellent shots with the first one being my favorite. Very well done indeed.

Thanks for looking in Sindri. And thanks for the comments. It's good to hear from you.

Henry