PRO+

catherinemelvin

Nectar Ecstasy

after landing to get a sip, this hummer seems to be enjoying her drink. notice the closed eye..lol!

after landing to get a sip, this hummer seems to be enjoying her drink. notice the closed eye..lol!
Read less

Canon EOS REBEL T3

settings

Aperture f/5.6 ISO 800 Shutter 1/2000

upload_date

Aug, 2013

Views

1948

Likes

+126

Awards

Superb Composition

+23

Peer Award

+21

Top Choice

+19

Outstanding Creativity

+13

Absolute Masterpiece

+11

Magnificent Capture

Superior Skill

All Star

Emotions

Impressed

Top Ranks

Top 20 rank

Top 10 rank

Top 10 rank week 1

Top 30 rank

Top 30 rank week 1

Top 30 rank week 2

Top 20 rank week 1

Top 30 rank week 1

Behind The Lens

Location

I took this shot from my backyard, from inside my house. I didn't want to disturb her. She seemed SO intent on filling her belly, she forgot about me and obviously, everything else.

Time

I believe it was around noon to half-past. Since my backyard was in a shadow, it was perfect!

Lighting

I wanted the focus to be the closed eye, and I really hadn't realized she had her eyes closed till I was editing the whole bunch. The sun was just starting to hit everything and I captured the glints on her feathers.

Equipment

Most of my work early was with my Canon Rebel T3. I was a newbie when I captured this. This shot really made my foray into Macro photography. I love the detail. I never really like tripods, unless it's a night shot. But, I usually am free handling my camera. I try to be as still as possible and have gotten quite good at it.

Inspiration

This shot was from the first hummingbird photos I took. I wanted to know what they looked like up close because the birds themselves are so tiny, I was hard to see what their detail was. When I snapped the shot of her eyes closed, I never knew they had lashes and was pleasantly surprised!

Editing

I use photoshop elements 11 for lighting and contrast. Picmonkey for copyright sign. This was my earlier method. I still use Picmonkey to this day with additional editing software, neat image for noise, and Nik collection.

In my camera bag

Canon Rebel T5 Tamron 55-250 mm lens 50-300mm Canon lens lens wipes lens covers plastic rain cover with pull tie to protect the body of my camera my monopod, just in case. extra batteries extra SD cards remote shutter release cord

Feedback

Patience is key. Have drinks, food set, and ready for yourself. Pace yourself. if you don't like hand-holding your camera, by all means, use your tripod, with a shutter release cord, if you are short like me! I like taking shots when they land and just keeping the camera on the movement of the bird and keeping steady. And above all, enjoy yourself! This is our passion, and it needs to be captured forever!

See more amazing photos, follow catherinemelvin

catherinemelvin

catherinemelvin

Nectar Ecstasy

after landing to get a sip, this hummer seems to be enjoying her drink. notice the closed eye..lol!

Behind The Lens

See more amazing photos, follow catherinemelvin

Share photos. Enter contests to win great prizes. Earn coins, get amazing rewards. Join for free.

Share photos. Enter contests to win great prizes.
Earn coins, get amazing rewards. Join for free.