Aggressive hummer

[Diane Miller]

These little guys have no idea how small and cute they are! They think they are Ninja warriors.

Canon 5D3, 300mm f/2.8 IS, ISO 800. f/14, 1/160 sec (flash sync speed -- 2 flashes on the birds, one on the BG). Attracted to a feeder.

Basic tonal corrections in LR 5 then into PS for a little bit of Detail Extractor and NR.

[Sanjeev Aurangabadkar]

Awesome in-coming pose Dianne. I like the eye contact, the splayed tail feathers and the DOF and IQ.

[christopher galeski]

well captured,nice detailed and light,great pose.

[Randy Stout]

Diane:

The lighting is excellent, doesn't appear flashed, which I appreciate. The flared tail, angle in frame, sharpness, all good.

Comp works well.

Cheers

Randy

[Karl Egressy]

Excellent pose captured of this little cutie, Diane.

[Lorant Voros]

I like especially the pose in this one. Nice detail and eye contact. Well done image.

[Ivan Ellison]

Nice image, great feather detail, have been doing a little flash work myself. Do these birds stay still (have seen them in Dom rep- they seemed awfully quick there) as the shutter speed is low or is the use of two flashes required to freeze the movement. All advice appreciated.

[Juan Carlos Vindas]

Such cute little fellow!
Nice light and love the fanned tail.

[Diane Miller]

Thanks, everyone!

Ivan, the flashes are for freezing movement. They are close, at 1/16 power, which gives ~ 1/15,000 sec I think. Could move then closer and go to 1/64 to get 1/30,000 sec max. Flash power is duration. Ambient light is -3 stops or less so isn't registering significantly. The flashes are also for a better quality of light -- I can mold shadows and highlights enough with just two light heads, and one on the BG to prevent ghosting.

They are little bullets, but they halt briefly. This one hesitated a split second while trying to intimidate another one -- they were fighting over a feeder. The best way to start is to take one of the footrests off the feeder and tape over the other ports. Every few seconds the one feeding will back off a few inches, check the territory, then go back to the feeder. I have good success getting them in that split second, but the wing position is pure chance. That's gotten boring so now I'm trying to get more interaction. You need excellent AF (fast and accurate), on AI Servo or Continuous, with the center focus point chosen (focus will start at that point and you don't have time to change it).

You don't need a long lens -- they will get used to you sitting right there -- 200-300mm on a full frame is enough.

[David Salem]

Great looking frame Diane. I love the detail and the pose. Nice flash work also as it looks like it was shot in natural light. Well done

[Grace Scalzo]

Beautifully lit, nice pose, sharp and well processed. As long as you have cooperative birds, would you consider adding a flower, a vine, ?? Something to give it a little added pop.

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Diane, great work with the flashes, its evenly dispersed. I like the fanned tail showing off the iridescence, and if anything, I would move the little guy back to the left a touch in the frame.

[Dave Spates]

Great image, and appreciate you sharing how the shot was made with flash setups

[Diane Miller]

Thanks, everyone! I have tried adding flowers, and even when shot in the same light, they look phony to me. Someday I'll get one that works, though.

I need to put the flower there, at the same time, and put sugar water in it (just as an added bonus) and try it that way. The next challenge!

[Satish Ranadive]

Excellent image. Very nice settings. Beautiful pose, colors and details in the feathers.

Regards,
Satish.

[Richard Flack]

Wow, awesome detail on this one Diane. Cool flight pose! TFS

[Diane Miller]

Thanks, everyone! Wish I'd gotten a little fuller wing position but that's a matter of milliseconds. I'll be shooting more of them if they don't eat us out of house and home first. I'm having to refill the feeder twice day, half a cup of sugar each. Wonder if the stuff comes in 50-lb bags...