Long-billed Hermit

[Doug Brown]

Here's a Costa Rican hummingbird species that you don't see a lot of; the Long-tailed Hermit. Most multiple-flash hummingbird photography in Costa Rica is done at a couple of well-known lodges; the downside is that there are quite a few species that most people never get to see. Greg Basco has been working with a lodge in the lowland rainforest (translation: hot and humid ) to create a multiple flash opportunity at the lodge. During my September trip to Costa Rica, Greg and I broke out the multiple flash gear for the first time at this lodge and were rewarded with looks at some seldom-photographed (at least when it comes to multiple flash) hummingbird species. We'll be paying a visit to this location on my 2012 and soon-to-be-announced 2013 workshops with Greg.



Canon 1D Mark IV, 70-300mm L @ 176mm, f/14, 1/200, ISO 320, 4 flashes, hand held

[Mital Patel]

Now thats a Doug Trick here man. Absolute amazing species to see and photograph. Did really well with this . We find hard freezing 1/3000 with 500 for normal size birds without falsh. and you you nailed this at 1/200 that too i suppose worlds most fastest flipping birds.

Bravo man one day i would sure love to attend to one of your setup workshops.

Want little more USM Doug. It'll bring more value for screen looking.

[Xander Sales]

Wow, what a cool picture! Amazing shot...

[Doug Brown]

Did really well with this . We find hard freezing 1/3000 with 500 for normal size birds without falsh. and you you nailed this at 1/200 that too i suppose worlds most fastest flipping birds.

Thanks Mital! Would love to have you attend a workshop someday. The trick with multiple flash photography is that you are actually using the burst of flash as your effective shutter speed. The camera is set to underexpose by 2-4 stops so that it produces a black frame in ambient light. The only light that the sensor sees is from the flashes, and that pulse of light only lasts for about 1/10,000 second. This is how you freeze a hummingbird's wings at 1/200.

[MohsenVahedipour]

Excellent composition & pose. Perfect freezing. Like the setup & BG. TFS

[Greg Basco]

You suck! I spent a lot of time getting this place set up and you get the best shot of the day? I'm glad we'll be able to include this place in our workshops together. It sure is fun to get a look at new species.

I guess I should refrain from commenting too much on lighting and BG but the image looks just great. And perfect timing to catch this pose -- congrats on a really fine image.

Cheers,
Greg

[girisholeti]

Hi Doug,

Your Costa Rica pictures are a class apart. They are really tempting. Hope to join your Costa Rica tour in near future. Already started saving for it

[arash_hazeghi]

this is one of the best hummer shots I have seen. cheers!

[Dan Brown]

Sweet, Doug! You guys are really fine tuning things, Love it!

[Petros Petrou]

Very nice composition. Beautiful bird and flower!

[Richard Unsworth]

Beautiful frame sir; walking in the garden this morning I was checked out 3 times by long Tails, and a Green Hermit?
The long billed is quite special!

Things going pretty well here in Puerto viejo but cant post as no photoshop lol
Already have some cool stuff like White necked Puffbird, Whiskered Puffbird, Amazonian Pygmy Kingfisher etc
Spent the day chasing Red capped Manakin/White collared Manakin and several antbird specials - not sooo easy lol
Hope you dont mind me posting here Doug

[bishancm]

This is one of the finest shots that I have seen of a Hummer.
Regards

[Randy Stout]

Doug:

Lovely, great plant, like the timing with bill in flower, nice BG.

In a perfect world, wish there was a bit more light on the face/eye area, is just a bit shaded.

Lets see, 2013. If I skip two Starbucks per week and hold off on the D400, that should about do it!!

Really fun to see the different species.

Cheers

Randy

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Doug, having seen a lot of your multiple flash photography on these guys, each image is unique in its own way - and of course, you nail them each time. Interesting leaf with the two visible flowers top and bottom. I presume due to the lack of the colours, this is a female. I like the sweptback wing position.

[Doug Brown]

Thanks everyone for having a look and taking the time to comment!