Anna's Hummingbird (male)

Migratory species heading south, though many may become year-round residents. This male was guarding some territory it had proclaimed. It would, on regular intervals, go from perch to perch and start vocalizations defining the range. Very cooperative for images.

Conditions March / cool / damp
Location: Bolsa Chica Estuary

EXIF:
Camera: Canon 20D
Lense: Canon EF 500 IS L / f 4.0 + 1.4 T/C; effective focal length 700 mm
Mode: Apeture priority
Metering: pattern
Exposure 1/250 @ f 8.0; exp comp + .33
ISO: 200
White bal: custom 5500 K
Monopod

Workflow: Lightroom 1.4 ; CS2

Stunning BG, Mark. I love the two tones that echo colours in the plumage. Really emphasizes the iridescent gorget. Nice delicate perch. DOF well managed to keep bill sharp. Woud prefer a shot with the head turned a little to give more of a profile view but this is very good with lovely soft light.

Nice light, puffed up plumage and BG. Maybe a tad more contrast and a bit less sharpening. I might crop a bit off left and right.

Nice pose on a interesting branch and good, soft BG. The lighting on the body and neck is great, however, the dark zone on the face detracts from the image. Perhaps the use of fill flash would have helped.

Fantastic... terrific! Great soft light and, wow, what a great BG! the details are stunning and the iridiscence feathers on the head are too good to be true. Superb eye contact too. I suggest to crop a little bit at the left. Big congratulations for such a fine image like this one!

Super sharp and nice lighting...i would like to see a vertical crop if you had one...great backround...nate

Ooh, I really like this alot. I would only present it as a vertical instead, but everything else looks great from my end!

Nice BG, nice composition with the branch leading in, and very good DOF on the bird. Well done.