Defensive
May, 2017Views
341
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Awards
Winner in Hummingbirds doing their thing Photo Challenge
Peer Award
Superb Composition
Top Choice
Magnificent Capture
Absolute Masterpiece
Superior Skill
Outstanding Creativity
All Star
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Top 30 rankTop 20 rank week 1Categories
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Behind The Lens
Location
I took this photo late one afternoon in my front yard. On this particular day, I was celebrating the publication of my children's book, Attila the Hummer. Watching hummingbirds from my front porch swing had inspired the characters in this book. I was so excited to finally see my story in print, and later that evening, to have this photo in my possession as well!Time
It was late in the afternoon, probably around 6:30. I remember worrying about the lighting for this photograph because it was so shady. I fussed with different light settings on my camera body to determine which one worked best. When I saw the purple feathers on this Black-Chinned Hummingbird, I knew I had found the right setting.Lighting
Experiment, experiment, experiment! Hummingbirds are just not the type of subject matter for a manual photo shoot. So play with the pre-programmed lighting options on your camera and learn what works for you.Equipment
I used my Canon Rebel t6i, my Tamron SP150-600mm lens, my knee for a tripod, and a whole lot of patience! Getting these beautiful little nightmares in a well focused frame can be a struggle, but the end result is always worth it.Inspiration
I love all kinds of birds, particularly hummingbirds. I've been an avid bird-watched since I was about 7 years old, and no matter how long I spend observing these beautiful creatures, they never get old to me. I remember sitting on the porch with my camera, celebrating the first copy of Attila the Hummer sitting in my room, and I felt like I had come full circle with that story. It was like I was watching my characters dance off the pages of the book and into the air around me. Then, after I took this photo, I had to move my eye away from the viewfinder and just have one of those "WOW" moments. I knew even before I checked the image that it was a keeper.Editing
I did some cropping to adjust the composition of the image. Despite my best efforts, getting the image perfectly composed with such a close zoom on a speedy creature like this is practically impossible. I also did some color enhancement to bring out the purple in those chin feathers.In my camera bag
I keep my Canon Rebel t6i permanently attached to my Tamron SP150-600mm lens. I love the range and clarity of this lens! It has really elevated my photography to a whole new level. I also carry a Canon Rebel t5 with a wide angle lens attached for landscape images.Feedback
Don't lose your patience or temper when you're taking photos of hummingbirds. They are fast, they are erratic, and they are hard to follow with a heavy lens on your camera. However, when you get a good photo, you' will treasure it. Just don't give up!
