Quick Hummingbird Shot C&C Appreciated

[MystrE]

I went outside on the patio, turned on a fan, sat down and in less than 30 seconds, this hummer buzzed me. I had to work with the photo because I had set my ISO low for a photo taken the day before and forgot to raise it to work with the shutter speed I used on this shot. Hand held using a Nikon 55-300VR lens at 200mm focal length, ISO 320, 1/1250 second, F8 manual exposure. I processed this RAW image in IPhoto and converted it to a JPEG when I exported it to my desktop. Playing around with this photo using Photoshop Elements 12 gave me very similar results.

 

[baturn]

Pretty nice hummer in flight. I might crop it 4X5 leaving the most room on the left.

 

[MystrE]

I sat outside about 7:30 this morning and used my Nikon D5100's pop up flash to capture a shot of this skittish hummer. It's time to look at ordering an external flash that can utilize Nikon's ITTL and also work at reduced output power to hopefully freeze the action a bit more should I choose to do so.

 

[jeveretts]

Having tried and failed at shooting birds. I can appreciate these!

 

[MystrE]

I find hummingbirds to be very fascinating. Here is a Ruby Throated hummingbird I got a snapshot of this afternoon...

 

[MystrE]

I got this photo a few minutes after I took the one that's posted above. I did minimal processing using IPhoto and cropped it a bit.

 

[MystrE]

I managed to get this shot right before the afternoon thunderstorms hit. Used my Nikon D5100, pop up flash and 55-300VR lens.

 

[pjaye]

These are nice. I like the second one you posted best. I'd love to say I know how to shoot humming birds, except I *still* haven't seen one this year.

 

[randyphotoforum]

The bird is too small in the frame......hummers will let you get very close if you just stand there for a few minutes

 

[Msteelio91]

I find hummingbirds to be very fascinating. Here is a Ruby Throated hummingbird I got a snapshot of this afternoon...

View attachment 81512

This one is an absolute winner, fantastic shot!!!

 

[MystrE]

I have been using my 55-300VR lens which only allows me to get between 4 to 5 feet away from the subject. I'm also going a little over 200mm since I'm hand holding and using the camera's pop up flash. I wonder if I could get closer to the feeder using my 18-55vr kit lens? I think the male that's been hitting the feeder is getting used to me being around so I may be able to get a little closer, use the 18-55vr lens and try to fill a little more of the frame. It's worth a shot(pardon the pun).

 

[BillM]

As already mentioned, they are not a shy bird. Pull up a chair and be patient, they will get used to you real quick. Then just try to put yourself in a position to get a shot without the feeder in the way.

 

[MystrE]

That 18-55 lens I don't think is going to do the job. I'll continue trying this with the 55-300VR zoom and looking at ways to get better positioning to improve composition.

 

[randyphotoforum]

As already mentioned, they are not a shy bird. Pull up a chair and be patient, they will get used to you real quick. Then just try to put yourself in a position to get a shot without the feeder in the way.

nice head twist
maybe add a little light to her right eye

 

[randyphotoforum]

The general idea is to get the shot w/o the feeder and to fill as much of the frame as possible (which is why props like flowers or branches help). I had only shot BY hummers until an April trip to Costa Rica where I shot thousands daily.