Sword-billed Hummingbird

[Ondrej Prosicky]

Autor: Ondřej Prosický | NaturePhoto.cz, Canon EOS 7D, Canon EF 500mm f/4 L USM, (EQ35mm): 800 mm, Gitzo, f / 4.0, 1/320 s, ISO: 2500, -2/3 EV, November 22, 2009, Guango, Papallacta, Ecuador

[Randy Stout]

Ondrej:

Razor sharp on bill and flower, like the drips on the flower, well exposed.

I have mixed feelings about the closer flower. I like the symmetry, but it is bold enough that it can distract from the bird. You could try a version with the luminosity toned down on that flower to see if it reduces its impact.

How was this lit? Natural light?

Cheers

Randy

[Daniel Cadieux]

Man, the subject is quite sharp. Love the pose, and I find you have the right amount of blur in the wings. I'd probably tone down the darker BG patch just in front of the bird.

It's hard to tell if that OOF flower is actually closer or farther! I have mixed feelings about it, with a feeling that I would have preferred it not there. Still a very appealing image, well done!

[Arthur Morris]

I like the o-o-f flower. And the image design. I think that the dark tones of the bird need to be opened up.

Been to Guango; great place. If yes, did you set the flower up? Did you add sugar water to it?

[john jackson]

Very nice image Ondřej.

Thanks for the link to your website. Lots of great photos there that I will come back to and admire over again.

I am going to guess that this is not a set-up. It has a natural feel to me. And that makes me think the dark tones are OK. We are so used to multi-flashed hummingbird set-ups that it gets hard to recall that this is a dark-coloured bird in a shady place.

[Arthur Morris]

I am going to guess that this is not a set-up. It has a natural feel to me. And that makes me think the dark tones are OK. We are so used to multi-flashed hummingbird set-ups that it gets hard to recall that this is a dark-coloured bird in a shady place.

Two things: I am guessing that is is a set-up. I have been to Guango and nothing there that I saw grew in the open.

I have, however, been wrong before. Just not a lot.

As for your comment on darks, that would be your choice of course but leaving images like this with the detail in the mid and dark tones lacking would seem to me to be a poor choice as with digital capture all the detail is there for the taking.

Just back from taking a second look at the image and noting that the flower is properly exposed as is the background. I cannot, therefore, understand why you would suggest leaving the underexposed dark and middle dark tones underexposed.

[Ondrej Prosicky]

Semi set-up Flower on the tree and I used only two flash. For hummingbird photography I prefere nature light and background, even if it is very difficult (I need use high ISO)

[Arthur Morris]

Ondrej,

When you say, "flower on the tree" do you mean that you cut the flower and put it in place on the tree by attaching it somehow or was the flower growing naturally on the side of the tree. :)

[Patrick Sparkman]

I like the second flower, and overall this is a great image. I went to your web page, and must say that to me, the second image is much better. It shows the remarkable bill this guy uses to feed, and the oof flower is smaller and more balanced. Is there a reason you chose to post this one?

[Arthur Morris]

Yes, great images on the web site.

[Arthur Morris]

ps: there are no semi-set-ups. Doing a set-up is like being pregnant. You either are or you ain't.....

So whatever the case John, you were wrong and I was right :)