Hi, here is an image from my latest multiple-flash hummingbird experiments. I'm trying for two things: first, soft yet dramatic light similar to what we get when the sun breaks through the mist in the cloud forests here in Costa Rica and second, a more environmental and less sterile feel in terms of the image composition. To that end I wanted more leaves and other plant parts, with some in focus and others not, to make it look nice and natural.
I'll be interested to read what people think as I've not seen any multiple-flash hummingbird images done in this style before.
Tech info: Canon 5D, Tokina 80-200 mm f2.8 lens, f11, 1/200, ISO 400, multiple Canon speedlites. For post-processing I had to clone out one very small extra catchlight in the hummer's eye and a couple of sensor dust spots. I also ran a bit of noise reduction on the background but other than those things this is basically straight from the RAW file.
By the way, this is a vine in my front yard. Does anybody know what this is? I've looked all over but can't find any info!
I like the fact you are striving for a different hummer image! :) I like this for that alone. Would love to see the bird off center more and maybe a LR ROT intersection point with the bird posed this way would look unreal! What do you think? I do think the plant on the right balances nicely, just the (almost) centered bird is a little off balance, if you know what I mean. Thanks for sharing Greg. :)
I really like the direction you're going with your hummingbird photography, and look forward to working with you in Costa Rica in April! Very natural looking. I only wish the bird occupied a slightly larger portion of the frame. I might feel differently if the image was posted at 1024 pixels wide instead of 750. Not sure how I feel about the partial leaves in the middle on the right side of the canvas.
Hi Greg: I think you've achieved your goal of an environmental shot. This feels very natural to me. The light feels a bit on the flat side to me. I can't put my finger on what it is. Soft yes, dramatic hmmm... The composition is interesting but I find my eye working back and forth between the hummer and the flower hanging down on the right side of the image. I'm sure by the time we get there in April, you'll have this technique mastered and we'll all have the opportunity for more terrific images.
Hi Greg. I like the idea! I think that this would have more impact at a larger size and I also find my eye going back and forth from the bird to the right hand flower. So, I have hacked your image up a little to see what I could come up with in composition that would maybe stop my eye from wandering! My attempt seems to balance things (although it's a bit crowded!) and also creates a triangle with the added flower and the extension of the original. Just my 2 cents. Wish I was joining you all next spring!:o
The partially central placement of the HB works fine for me, and I dont mind the flower hanging on the RHS - it frames the HB nicely. What Im trying to visualise is how big or small he is, as the leaves of the vines seem to dwarf him. Either that, or the vines in Costa Rica are very, very beeeeg. Good detail and colours captured on the HB. Well done Greg.
Thanks to all for your comments. This is definitely the kind of image that is shot less for forum presentation but rather with large prints in mind. It's really tough to light this kind of image compared to the more standard shots we normally see and/or take. Keith, on the dramatic, perhaps we have different ideas of dramatic :-) When viewed large, however, the light does look dramatic to my eye as there is some nice directional and backlighting while still soft.
Dan, thanks for the repost with the added flowers. Since you know me, you of course know that I'll leave this image as is but I think you have some good ideas for future experiments. The hard part is clamping and plamping everything into the precise position for composition and so that the hummingbird comes in as planned by me! Maybe someone will invent some sort of Vishnu plamp with multiple arms.
Stuart, this guy is about the size of a ruby-throated hummingbird (I see you're in South Africa so I don't know if that helps!). Actually part of my intention was exactly to show the hummingbird as part of its habitat, and these guys really are pretty small.
And Akos and Doug, thanks for giving me marks for the degree of difficulty and attempting something a little different!
Anyway, for those interested, I will post a larger version later.
Cheers,
Greg Basco
Last edited by Greg Basco; 11-26-2009 at 08:14 AM.
Reason: typo
Hi, Doug. On my desktop monitor the color looks good but on my laptop, there does indeed seem to be a bluish cast, and there your repost looks much better. I'll check this before I print it at some point.
Rufous-tailed hummingbird in action
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