Ruby-throated Hummingbird
As pretty as can be!
As pretty as can be!
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Jun, 2014Views
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Superb Composition
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Outstanding Creativity
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One Of A Kind
Exceptional Contrast
Virtuoso
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Behind The Lens
Location
Crystal, Colorado is still a ghost town in an awesome Colorado valley, even though the folks who own the mines and the crumbling shacks have revitalized several buildings to provide pleasant lodging for a few friends during the Summer. To get to Crystal you drive I-70 and turn South at Glenwood Springs. Turn right at Carbondale, and allow the Crystal River to the town of Marble. From Marble it's 5 miles of nearly impassable 4WD road (plan for an hour or more) to Crystal. You can join a Crystal River Tours Jeep if you'd rather not drive yourself.Time
Late afternoon. One of the owners has placed several feeders outside her cabin, and I moved a lawn chair into the shade beside one of them as the sun was dropping behind the mountains.Lighting
The best lighting is the sun. That's what I used here - even though I had to move my chair a few times.Equipment
Canon EOS-1D X; Canon EF70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM, set at 200MM; f4 @ 1/640 with an underexposure of .67. ISO 640 - as it was a getting dark. No tripod, just hand-held.Inspiration
We had been staying at Crystal for a week, and each day when we returned from tackling 4WD drive roads like Schofield Pass, we were enchanted by the antics of the Hummers. Seemed like they were begging to be photographed.Editing
The photo has been copped about 50%. Too bad I was not able to fit my 300MM lens into the Jeep.In my camera bag
Canon EOS-1D X, Canon 5D MKIII, Canon EF70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM, Canon EF24-70mm f/2.8L II USM. Canon 2x tele-extender. Multiple batteries. The 300MM 2.8 if it is safe to bring it along.Feedback
Patience is a gift. However, a thin depth of field is also crucial. Plan your location so it includes an uncluttered (shaded) background. Watch the Hummers until you know their patterns and then move your lawn chair into position and set up. Back to that Patience thing again...
