Broad-billed Hummingbird

[Gus Hallgren]

Captured this female Broad-billed Hummingbird in our garden this morning under clear blue skies.

Olympus E-3, Zuiko 70-300mm @ 316mm equiv.

1/1250s, F/10, ISO 400, 0.00eV, CWB, CWA, Fill flash, FL50r, FP TTL Auto, 9.3 - 36.4 ft.

Comments always welcome

Gus

BTW: Will my old peepers I'm always concerned about sharpeness? A redo always welcome

[Gus Hallgren]

Is this any better, or worse? Added a smidge of Smart Sharpening, and cropped a bit.

[Ravi Hirekatur]

Hello Gus,
Great action-stopping photo! Nice iridescent colors. The bird is in good focus throughout. Just a little cramped for space on the left for my novice eye. Could add a little canvas on the left and crop a little on the right. Looks sharp enough for me, but the extra sharpening has brought out a little more noise on the wings. I would like to see what other say.

[pat lillich]

wow Gus, this one is incredible!!! she really is like a little jewel. I like the extra sharpening on the body, but i like the wings better without it. i like the first crop better than the second. really beautiful!

[Gus Hallgren]

Hi Folks:

Thanks for your kind words.

Pat, I agree with you on the sharpening, and composition on Hummingbirds something I'm try to get a grip on. One pro believes that they look better in a square. However, that's my next project.

Best regards

Gus

[Richard Stern]

Hi Gus,

To me the crop looks fine. I think #2 looks a bit over-sharpened, and I wonder if applying selective sharpening to the eye and the top of the head, and slightly darkening most of the bird, might work a little better.

Richard

[nancy hazen]

Beautiful hummer Gus. I like the first image best. I think you had good detail and the second one looks a bit too sharp. However, I am viewing on a laptop and it is not always the best judge of sharpness. Your hummers are great!

[Gus Hallgren]

Hi Folks;

Thanks for looking and your kind words. You answered my concerns. Much appreciated.

Hi Richard;

Passed through your fair city circa `43 on my way over to fly in Bomber Command.

Bet it has really grown up.

A fellow Canuck from Vancouver circa `24 . . . eh.

Gus

[Kerry Perkins]

Hi Gus, this is one of your best hummers, like it a lot. I felt that the original was a tad over-sharpened (seeing a few speckles in the highlight areas) so the redo was not needed IMO. Good light on this one, always a challenge in bright sun! Took me a bit to figure out that CWB = custom white balance and CWA = center-weighted average...

[Gus Hallgren]

Thanks again for all your kind words. Kerry, you figured them out. Next post will be with a EPL1, new mirrorless Olymus.

Best regards

Gus

BTW: Australian open Men's final Awesome, one stroke either way was the winner.