Since most of this fighting takes place in the early morning and I need a fairly fast SS and good DOF with no flash, I've been playing with cranking up the iso. I did add some noise reduction to the background.
Hard to get it perfect with those requirements, but all around pretty good. Love the action, a touch brighter might have been nice, dust bunny middle right edge, top hummer rotated toward you would have been super. Great catch.
Amazing captured moment. Details looks good Might consider boost color or contrast on the bottom bird a little and selective sharpen around the eye of bottom bird. Overall great image
You say "With no flash"...is it because you don't have an external one, or because you don't want to use it? You can nicely freeze action with the use of flash (as main light, without having to crank up the ISO so much). Way wicked pose on the bottom bird, wish the top one's face were more visible.
Last edited by Daniel Cadieux; 08-13-2009 at 08:10 PM.
Thanks everyone! Daniel, I can get away with using flash on single birds that are perched or perhaps feeding, but whenever I try using flash when they're fighting it causes them to react and I end up with a lot of "running away" photos. Also, to get a few decent frames I usually need a quick sequence of ten or so frames during the action. If they react to the flash on the first frame then I'm done. I'm trying to come up with some other more permanent illumination for this perch area. Maybe some steady spot lighting from a few directions. I think they'd get used to that. Anyone have any ideas on lighting?
Excellent shot, love the details. I agree colors are a bit muted, it should be very easy to pop saturation in PS. I also wish the top hummer was facing the camera.
Lovely action Charles. I also wish to see the top bird more side on, but this is very good even like this. Your idea of some strong spotties sounds pretty feasible. they would look awesome with some nice lighting. THanks for sharing. :)
Anna's Hummingbirds
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