Hummingbirds are one of those subjects that are a challenge to photograph in flight. The best way I've found to get a good shot of a hummingbird is simply to take a whole bunch of pictures. My only other tip is to stake out the bird feeders and wait for that perfect shot while taking multiple pictures per second. The auto focus setting is practically useless since the hummingbirds move like lightning through the air. To capture the hummingbird pictures below I used the manual focus. Out of the 30-40 pictures I took only a couple that I would call "keepers" although several of them are fun shots to look at. The three at the end are the best.
The Dance
The Dance Continues
In tandem.
Through the garden.
More Dancing
Acrobatics
Around the pole
"Who's Looking at Me?"
"I'm one handsome bird!"
In Flight
Still in Flight
It was fun following them around with the camera as the 5 or more hummingbirds zoomed through my parent's backyard. Aiming the camera at the birds while attempting to get a well focused shot reminded me of skeet shooting (not that I've ever done it), with a much less destructive outcome! For which I'm sure the hummingbirds are grateful and my parents for that matter, there's no telling how much damage I would do with a shotgun!
Great shots, Dave. They truly are elusive little critters. :)
ReplyDeletePole dancing hummingbirds! What is the world coming to?
ReplyDeleteAre they really dancing friendly-like or are they chasing each other in the territorial way?
Sure looks like dancing hummers. Which reminds me I need to get some feeders out. It seems there have been more and more around lately.
ReplyDeleteGood shots, Dave...It takes a lot of patience and precision...
ReplyDeletehttp://www.theurbanbalcony.blogspot.com/
You certainly captured them well Dave....and I'm sure your parents neighbors are also glad it was a camera and not a shotgun!
ReplyDeleteDear Dave (the noises have stopped .. I know you must be relieved ? wink wink ). That type of thing is what I do .. take a lot of shots because by odds alone there has to be at least one beautiful take !
ReplyDeletehave you ever seen hummers fight ?
It is shocking to see such a tiny sweet bird go at it so violently with others .. now there would be awesome scary pictures ? LOL
Great job !!
Great shots! I've been taking photos of these little guys all season. I love them!!! Sadly they'll be gone soon, and I'll no longer see little birds looking in the window at me telling me to fill their feeders.
ReplyDeleteI'm seeing more activity at my feeders lately. I'm going to miss them when they leave. They are so difficult to photograph; great job!
ReplyDeleteGreat shots Dave, you've done much better than me. I never seem to have my camera at the right moment. :)
ReplyDeleteGreat tips for photographing these quick boogers! And you've got a MALE! I've only ever seen one male in my life and that was early last year. All the rest have been female.
ReplyDeletepatience pays off. last summer i spent a lot of time sitting still near the feeder to get photos. it's tricky. if i could, i would use a tripod with zoom from a distance and rely on auto focus and auto advance but since i rarely drag out the film camera these days, i sit still and hope for the best. you got some beautiful shots, better than any of mine!
ReplyDeleteYou got some great pictures of them in flight. What pretty birds. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteGreat shots, Dave, so clear and the colors so sharp! How fun to see several at one time too. You did a great job. It is a bit like pulling a trigger, I imagine. I wouldn't know, having never done it either, but it seems the same hope for the best kind of deal. :-)
ReplyDeleteFrances
simply beautifully captured shots....lovely!
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