38mm extension tube Natural Lighting Only Cropped about 75% from the original
I captured this image of a Ruby-Throated Hummingbird sitting on an old rusty piece of bailing wire I had attached to a tree near a feeder for a perch. I guess he liked his new perch . I was fighting strong lighting and dark shadows so my main tweaks in LR were, highlights -100, shadows +69, whites +26, blacks -43, contrast -5 and heavy cropping.
I'm not sure about the eye, should I try cleaning it up a little?
You were close!! Look at those tiny feet. Lots of nice details, good choice of aperture to get the subject sharp from bill-tip to tail end. Now that you know it likes to perch there you can try replacing the perch with something natural. As to your question about the eye, yes, I would clean it up some.
Good comments from Daniel. Very effective DOF, the image stood up pretty well to the cropping, the rust helps downplay the wire, but I agree with Daniel, and would replace it with a more natural looking perch.
If possible, try working on days with some haze or overcast to soften the light, and early or late in the day for the same reason. Some folks will position their feeders in open shade so that the light is softer as well.
Thanks you Daniel and Randy for the great suggestions, I have since replaced the wire with a similar sized branch but so far I haven't had much time to play.
Yes I was close, maybe 9'. I had to use an extension tube and was a tad under the MFD for that lens. I had tried earlier with my 100mm L macro really up close and personal but he was a bit nervous of the lens in his face, although these guys are so friendly, I can easily get them to land on my finger while they drink nectar or hover a couple of inches away staring me in the face.
Rusty Ruby
. I was fighting strong lighting and dark shadows so my main tweaks in LR were, highlights -100, shadows +69, whites +26, blacks -43, contrast -5 and heavy cropping.
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