Hummingbirds

[Eric]

One of my hobbies is photography and while I can't get out as much due to the pandemic I've taken up photographing hummingbirds in my backyard, such beautiful subjects though hard to capture, it's taken a lot of practice. Here are a few.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

One of my hobbies is photography and while I can't get out as much due to the pandemic I've taken up photographing hummingbirds in my backyard, such beautiful subjects though hard to capture, it's taken a lot of practice. Here are a few.

Gorgeous shots.

In fairness to MR, the photography sections are welcoming and interesting and also very informative.

Have you posted these in MR?

 

[Eric]

Gorgeous shots.

In fairness to MR, the photography sections are welcoming and interesting and also very informative.

Have you posted these in MR?

Thanks, I totally agree. I do post in their photography forums from time to time, great group of people who hang out there.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Thanks, I totally agree. I do post in their photography forums from time to time, great group of people who hang out there.

A lovely group, agreed, friendly and welcoming and wonderfully helpful & supportive with suggestions, recommendations & advice on matters related to photography.

 

[Alli]

Eric, those are incredible! We did not get any hummingbirds this season. I've gotten a few nice shots of our woodpeckers coming down to get peanuts, but nothing close to what you've got! Of course, I'm also only using my iPhone.

 

[Eric]

Eric, those are incredible! We did not get any hummingbirds this season. I've gotten a few nice shots of our woodpeckers coming down to get peanuts, but nothing close to what you've got! Of course, I'm also only using my iPhone.
View attachment 4

Wow, I would've never thought they were so colorful, great capture.

 

[Eric]

Another one from this morning, was lucky enough to get some great lighting.

 

[Alli]

Another one from this morning, was lucky enough to get some great lighting.

You are good!

 

[Eric]

You are good!

Thank you, I would much rather be out taking landscapes but am still not ready to get out on that level yet so I'm sticking with the back yard.

 

[lizkat]

How come I can only see the image Alli put up and not Eric's. His I get those little 'broken image' icons. Am I blocking something without knowing it?

 

[Eric]

How come I can only see the image Alli put up and not Eric's. His I get those little 'broken image' icons. Am I blocking something without knowing it?

Wow, thanks for pointing that out. It looks like I didn't have the link shared properly. Can you see them now?

 

[lizkat]

Wow, thanks for pointing that out. It looks like I didn't have the link shared properly. Can you see them now?

YEAH! WOW! THANKS!

 

[Chew Toy McCoy]

Great pictures! I've tried but hummingbirds are way too quick and skittish for my reflexes. Would love to get some slo-mo footage.

What camera are you using? I keep researching good macro cameras/lenses but I keep landing on too expensive for my needs. I've also discovered with the iPhone (11) it's much better to take a normal distance photo and then crop the photo to zoom than zoom with the iPhone when taking the picture. It gets pretty pixelly quickly when you do that.

 

[Eric]

Great pictures! I've tried but hummingbirds are way too quick and skittish for my reflexes. Would love to get some slo-mo footage.

What camera are you using? I keep researching good macro cameras/lenses but I keep landing on too expensive for my needs. I've also discovered with the iPhone (11) it's much better to take a normal distance photo and then crop the photo to zoom than zoom with the iPhone when taking the picture. It gets pretty pixelly quickly when you do that.

Thanks (sorry I missed this post a while back). I'm using a digital SLR with some remote flashes, it's takes a lot of practice and the right gear to get these kind of shots (at least speaking for myself). Not saying it can't be done on an iPhone, just now sure how that would work out. But you're right, it's am expensive hobby. Here's what my hummingbird setup looks like.

 

[Alli]

We have had hummingbirds the last few days. They are so tiny, so pretty, so greedy, so petty, and so vicious! If they were big they’d be pterodactyls!

I’ve mostly been getting videos, and yesterday I got a fun slo-mo of them. My husband got a great video this morning with three of the little buggers all fighting to share a multiple feeder.

 

[Eric]

We have had hummingbirds the last few days. They are so tiny, so pretty, so greedy, so petty, and so vicious! If they were big they’d be pterodactyls!

I’ve mostly been getting videos, and yesterday I got a fun slo-mo of them. My husband got a great video this morning with three of the little buggers all fighting to share a multiple feeder.

I know, they're territorial little shits! My wife will go out to change their feeders and they're literally buzzing her the entire time, like "hurry up and then get out of our way" lol. Would be neat to see some slow-mo footage, that's actually a really good idea!

 

[Chew Toy McCoy]

Thanks (sorry I missed this post a while back). I'm using a digital SLR with some remote flashes, it's takes a lot of practice and the right gear to get these kind of shots (at least speaking for myself). Not saying it can't be done on an iPhone, just now sure how that would work out. But you're right, it's am expensive hobby. Here's what my hummingbird setup looks like.

Your setup link is broken.

I've seen some videos about using timed flashes when taking macros, even when it's a clear day. Some setups are pretty low cost homemade but still more is involved than just whipping your phone out of your pocket.

 

[Chew Toy McCoy]

We have had hummingbirds the last few days. They are so tiny, so pretty, so greedy, so petty, and so vicious! If they were big they’d be pterodactyls!

I’ve mostly been getting videos, and yesterday I got a fun slo-mo of them. My husband got a great video this morning with three of the little buggers all fighting to share a multiple feeder.

My parents' backyard often looks like an aerial fight from Star Wars with all the hummingbirds.

 

[Eric]

Your setup link is broken.

I've seen some videos about using timed flashes when taking macros, even when it's a clear day. Some setups are pretty low cost homemade but still more is involved than just whipping your phone out of your pocket.

Dammit, that keeps happening on my image posts lol.. okay, let's try this. Yeah, there's a lot of manual settings for both the camera and flashes to get them captured right.

 

[Chew Toy McCoy]

Dammit, that keeps happening on my image posts lol.. okay, let's try this. Yeah, there's a lot of manual settings for both the camera and flashes to get them captured right.

View attachment 414

That is quite the setup, complete with background and feeder. I'm sure that makes it a lot easier than hoping to just randomly catch them buzzing around flowers.