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Hummingbird feeds her chick

Hummingbird feeds her chick
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cameraCanon EOS-1D Mark III

settings Aperture f/11.0 ISO 400 Shutter 1/100 

upload_dateSep, 2014

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7 Comments |
njkerosky Ultimate
 
njkerosky September 08, 2014
Stunning Capture!!!
trainman
 
trainman September 09, 2014
Beautiful photo excellent work
PhotosbyJLR Platinum
 
PhotosbyJLR February 18, 2016
Where did you find a nest? You lucky dog! WOW!
Rinkrat
 
Rinkrat June 15, 2016
In my backyard, Didn't have to leave the house ;)
davidsloan
 
davidsloan January 04, 2017
A beautiful capture, nature's very best.
beccapauley
 
beccapauley February 17, 2017
How long did it take to get this shot
Shutterbug_14
 
Shutterbug_14 March 16, 2017
Amazing how you captured such a beautiful moment in your own yard!! Such an awesome shot.
I don't mean to press you but if you're interested, join my challenge. :)
https:// viewbug.com/challenge/hummingbirds-photo-challenge-by-shutterbug-14/gallery.

Submitted to Photo Contests

Tags

#hummingbird #feeding #nature #Close up #birds #nest #mother
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Behind The Lens

Location

In my own backyard! I noticed a hummingbird building a nest just a few feet from my window and realized it would be a great photo opportunity. As I crept around, the birds got to know that I was not a threat and went about their business.

Time

6:03 PM

Lighting

I set up a remote flash just off the camera (see reflection in bird's eye) which helped to light up the shadow areas since the sun was coming hard from behind the hummer. This helped bring out the color and extreme detail in the bird's feathers. I have a fountain and a few hummingbird feeders so apparently the birds felt comfortable enough to raise a family in the tree.

Equipment

Canon EOS 1D-Mark III with a 70-200 2.8 Canon zoom and a Vivitar 285HV flash that was triggered with a pair of Pocket Wizard II's. The camera was placed on a Manfrotto tripod, with another pair Pocket Wizards triggering the camera. (Since this time I've upgraded to the new Canon remote flash system)

Inspiration

It's so great to be able to take photos in your own backyard, and when a hummingbird builds a nest (with 2 tiny eggs) for the first time since I moved here (20 years ago), I knew that I was going to make the most of the opportunity. I was very careful not to disturb the birds during the process, in fact I think they are still coming around and I'm crossing my fingers because I hear they build nests in the same place for multiple years!

Editing

Just a little Lightroom massaging, not much was needed, thanks to the flash.

In my camera bag

Since this shoot, I've gone from the 1D-Mark III to a new 1D-X and I'm loving it. I use a Canon 16-35 2.8 lens and a Lee "Big Stopper" for landscapes (which is my latest obsession). I pack a 70-200 2.8 zoom that has served me well for ice hockey, roller derby and other action shots (including this hummer shot). I also have a Canon 24-70 2.8 to fill the gap between the other two. With these 3 lenses I can cover most events or road trips. I recently switched to the new Canon 600 EX-RT flash (that coincidentally, I won for grand prize of Canon's "Canon in Action" photo contest) for shooting shots like this and it's way easier having auto exposure and also on-camera adjustments.

Feedback

For this kind of photography it's good to have a sturdy tripod and a way to remotely trigger an exposure on the camera from a remote location so that you don't spook the birds (either a cable or a radio remote). It was easy to focus on the spot where the mother would land, leave the lens on MANUAL focus and then sit and wait. I compare it to fishing because you can wait for quite awhile, but when the action starts, it's fast and furious until the next lull. (A few beverages can always make the waiting more fun!). You could go with no flash but having one really helps, and having it off the camera makes the end result look even better. When there is no nest, the same technique can be used by focussing near a hummingbird feeder or a popular flower for your own birds, butterflies or other wildlife.

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