My Verion of a Ruby-Throated Hummer

[Stephen Stephen]

Canon 40D, Sigma 50-500mm @ 500, ISO 400, 1/1250, F6.3 handheld and cropped to about 40% of full frame.

While visiting my parents in New Brunswick two weekends ago I was able to photograph this male who kept perching on my Dad's apple tree in between trips to the feeding. The light had been bad all day but in the late afternoon it finally cleared. I thought that I was using fill flash but the flash was not sitting fully on the hotshoe. I didn't notice it until later. :( I should also have increased the F-Stop for more DOF but this is still one of my best hummer shots to date.

[Gus Cobos]

Nice image Stephen,
I like the colors on your bird. and the soft pale background. My only suggestion is to take the perch and move it up or to the left of your frame intersection. :D

[Alfred Forns]

Hi Stephen I'm sure the flash would have made a difference. The light seemed to be from your right rendering the left side a bit dark. Did you try before the light became brighter? Lots of contrast here !!!

I'm sure some PS work will make a difference. Would select the bg and try some shadow highlight then some selective areas !!!

[Stephen Stephen]

Thank you Gus and Al. Al, I was faced with terrible lighting late in the day. The apple tree was right up against the deck and I couldn't more further to the right. I had hoped that the flash would have helped compensate but as I noted the flash wasn't firing.

I'll try some PS adjustments to see what I can do with this.

[Judy Lynn Malloch]

Hi Steven.

Superb detail in this image and great pose. They are not easy subjects to capture but you did well and Alfred has made some wonderful suggedtions with th lighting. Thanks for sharing !