A Dream Shot for a Long Time... Purple-crowned Fairy

[Glenn Bartley]

When I was in Costa Rica 6 years ago I witnessed something that was incredible to me. Hidden away along a shady rainforest stream was a place where several species of hummingbirds were coming in each day to bath. What a sight to behold!

At that time I didn't have the photographic equipment or skill to be able to capture what I was seeing through my binoculars. But ever since then I had dreamed about the day when I would return and try to capture this incredible spectacle in an image. I finally got my chance last month and was absolutely thrilled to be able to get some images that I am really proud of. If you can dream it...you can do it!

Glenn

Camera Model: Canon EOS 7D
Shutter speed: 1/100 sec
Aperture: 5.6
Exposure mode: Manual
Flash: On - multiple flashes off camera
ISO: 800
Focal length: 500mm + 1.4x

[Tom Rambaut]

This is stunning. The multiple flash is very effective. I would be interested in how this works i.e. set up etc. I'm still amazed that this is pin sharp and the shutter speed is so slow.

Not sure if I would try to remove those things in the BG.

[Ofer Levy]

You are the man Glenn! FANTASTIC !!!!

[Mike Milicia]

Perfect expsoure, excellent detail, and off the charts behavior/pose! Big congrats on this one!

Looks like it could use some CCW rotation?

[Dan Brown]

Great work!

[John Guastella]

Beautiful capture, Glenn. I love the fanned tail and the wing tips splashing the water and, of course, the gorgeous colors of this little bird. I wouldn't mind more room at the bottom, if you have it. Also wonder about removing the bright spots at the upper right.

John

[Alan Eicoff]

Spectacular!!!! Congrats.

[Stu Bowie]

Congrats on your dream shot, and it certainly is. Lovely iridescence on the HB, and I like how the wing tips are skimming the water.

[arash_hazeghi]

excellent action, great light with sharp details!

[Dumay de Boulle]

Lovely colors and the touching of the water really adds...Really sharp for 1/100...nice one Glen

[Thanaboon Jearkjirm]

Incredible, the unusual pose of dual wing touching the water is really making this for me. You really have a winner here, TFS.

As for me I'm still dreaming you must felt great when you took this shot

[Peter Hawrylyshyn]

Glenn
If this was taken where you infer (RN), what's most incredible is that you actually dared go for it.

The HB's only come to the pools 1-2 houirs before sunset, the stream is at the bottom of a 100' gorge accessible only by a steep, muddy trail and the setup would involve placing the flashes on tripods in the rocky ponds about 6-8'wide.

Amazing effort - congratulations

[Jon Saperia]

Glen, what an outstanding image - in so many ways. Congratulations.

/jon

[Steven Kersting]

Fabulous job, I would be very proud too.
I do find the yellow/green spots on the BG by the tail a bit detracting, and I would probably clone out all of the really small indistinct water drops which are not part of the primary splash. I also agree it could use about 5* CCW.

[Danny J Brown]

Spectacular shot and the tail up in the air makes it even more so. Fantastic work!

DB

[Don Lacy]

Amazing image Glen, love the iridescence on the feathers from the flashes.

[RakeshDhareshwar]

Total stunner !!

[Stephen Earle]

Congrats on this. Love the wings in the water.