Home · Register · Join Upload & Sell

Moderated by: Fred Miranda

FM Forum Rules
Nature & Wildlife Posting Guidelines

FM Forums | Nature & Wildlife | Join Upload & Sell

Archive 2013 · 1st Hummer portrait (edited)

John Webb
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · 1st Hummer portrait (edited)

Had been waiting all summer for a chance at photographing a Hummer. Saw one in late spring , But not until several days ago did we see him again. In the last couple of days he has visited the feeders quite a bit. I decided to try and get a image. I was fortunate in that he decided to pose on a branch near the feeder and was able to get this portrait. Unfortunately I have not been able to get him in flight. Not sure if the flash is frightening him but it seem just as I press the shutter he bails backwards so that all I get is a shot of his breast with wings out of focus.

re-edited original image and added one inflight approaching the feeder.

Edited on Sep 03, 2013 at 07:35 PM · View previous versions

Sep 03, 2013 at 03:14 PM

morris
Offline
• • • • • • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · 1st Hummer portrait (edited)

You have a great capture John. You might want to back off on the sharpening to avoid all the noise

Morris

Sep 03, 2013 at 05:02 PM

douter
Offline
• • • • • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · 1st Hummer portrait (edited)

Congrats on a first John! Knocking back a little on the saturation will help also in my opinion. Looks like it was captured in vivid.
Douglas

Sep 03, 2013 at 05:28 PM

psharvic
Offline
• • • • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · 1st Hummer portrait (edited)

Well captured, John. A very nice first. Agree that it seems a touch over processed on my screen but your judgment is the one that counts. Thanks for posting.

Sep 03, 2013 at 05:37 PM

John Webb
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · 1st Hummer portrait (edited)

Thanks all...image captured as neutral but I was a little heavy handed in with the vibrance slider. Have toned down sat slightly in viveza as well as the sharpening. Have also added one in flight approaching the feeder. Wish the feeder wasn"t in the image or else far enough away that I could eliminate through the crop. Image was a little underexposed and Ihave backed off on the processing

Sep 03, 2013 at 07:35 PM

Tim Kuhn
Offline
• • • • • • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · 1st Hummer portrait (edited)

Congrats on capturing this speed demon

I would suggest backing off on the contrast in the first, it is a bit overdone. Careful on the wing clipping

Tim

Sep 03, 2013 at 08:22 PM

KCollett
Offline
• • • • • • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · 1st Hummer portrait (edited)

Good effort on your first hummer shots John. Getting good images of these is a real art (and one I have not mastered at all). Some really good advice in the comments above.

Sep 03, 2013 at 10:26 PM

surfnron
Offline
• • • • • • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · 1st Hummer portrait (edited)

Congrats on getting your shots John ~ Ron

Sep 04, 2013 at 06:11 AM

birdied
Online
• • • • • • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · 1st Hummer portrait (edited)

Very nice first shots! They are a lot fun to try and get photos. Warning, it can become almost addicting

Birdie

Sep 04, 2013 at 08:18 AM

John Webb
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · 1st Hummer portrait (edited)

Thank you all...One area that I do need to improve on is the post work, get a little heavy handed at times. Going out again this am to se if my little friend returns !

Sep 04, 2013 at 08:23 AM

Genes Home
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · 1st Hummer portrait (edited)

Nice shots.

One trick when using flash units is to let the bird come in to the feeder first. They will generally hover, move in and feed, and then back off for a second before re-approaching (they are looking for threats). When they feel safe on the re-approach you can press the shutter and they will have a much smaller tendancy to "flinch" away.

Second, especially if you are using only a single flash, be sure NOT to use it on TTL or automatic mode. In TTL mode there is a short pre-flash before the main flash and the hummers (and other animals) WILL react to this strobing effect. Shoot in manual, with the flash at the smallest (lowest power) setting that gives you a correct exposure. The shorter the flash, the less opportunity for the hummer to react to it.

PM me your email and I will forward some articles we use in our photo club that cover this issue for hummer photography.

Gene

Sep 04, 2013 at 09:50 AM

cadman342001
Offline
• • • • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · 1st Hummer portrait (edited)

Great advice and great shots, practice makes perfect but you're already on the way.

I would suggest using quickmask in photoshop and you will be able to remove the feeder no dramas.

Andy

Sep 04, 2013 at 09:55 AM

John Webb
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · 1st Hummer portrait (edited)

Thanks Gene, did have the flash set to manual with the power between 1/16 and 1/32. Was also concerned that having the flash fire "Rear Curtain Sync" might be startling the hummer I changed it to "Front Curtain Sync". Also turned off any focus assist lights.

Pm on the way.

Thanks

Sep 04, 2013 at 09:57 AM

mallardg500
Offline
• • • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · 1st Hummer portrait (edited)

#1 for me John. Nice shot!

Phoo

Sep 04, 2013 at 01:33 PM

David Leask
Offline
• • • • • • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · 1st Hummer portrait (edited)

Well done John, these are great

David

Sep 04, 2013 at 02:33 PM


FM Forums \| Nature & Wildlife \| Join Upload & Sell

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.