Betty's Hummingbird!

[kimi_boo]

Wow Betty... this is one fine shot! :D

http://www.photoshopelementsuser.com/gallery/view_img.php?id=24889

[nkeevers]

Betty, how did you get that simply awesome shot!! That is super closeup and I know how hard it is to get a shot of them to begin with. They are so fast and don't stay in one spot for long sometime.

[BettyC]

Thank you, Kimi & Norma!

Norma, I'm using the Canon Rebel XT with the 70-200L lens (not the BEST one). I sit close to the feeder (the birds get used to ya!) & have the iso way up (so yes, there's noise!), use Tv mode at 1/2000, & use a flash. I'm not using a tripod, which is against all the better advice here on the forum, I know. We only have 3 or 4 hummingbirds around this year (way low numbers.) But I usually get 2 or 3 good shots in a half hour--kinda like fishing! Sometimes when it's sitting on the feeder I use the flash just to make the bird jump off of the feeder so that I can get a good shot of it in the air.

[robpendragon]

Nice job!:D:cool:

[selawela]

Betty, awesome picture of the hummingbird! Great shot!
Sela

[kimmer]

Wow, Wow, Wow.

I looked at all of yours and they are just fabulous.

Kimmer;)

[Tina_B]

nice presentation It should be considered for image of the week. I love it.
Tina B

[ChristineV]

Beautiful shot Betty!

[nkeevers]

Betty, thanks for your input! I have an XT too but a 70-300mm lens. You did an excellent job even with that lens.

[Chuck S.]

Betty, thanks for your input! I have an XT too but a 70-300mm lens. You did an excellent job even with that lens.

"That lens" is an L-series lens, so it's one of Canon's premium line. It doesn't have quite the 'reach' of a longer lens, but it's tack sharp. I have the same one in all likelihood (the f4, not the doubly expensive f2.8) and it's a good lens to use on a sunny day. It also works well with Canon's 1.4x multiplier, which basically makes it into a 98-280 mm lens with only a small amount of loss in light-gathering power.

[BettyC]

Thank you all, so much for the compliments!

You're right, Chuck--I have the f4. My bird spots are mostly in the shade & when I've used the teleconverter I can't get enough light. But it could be because I'm self-taught & it's taken me a couple of summers to reach this stage. When I take pics of flying birds at the beach I "cheat" & put it into sports mode, which does a great job. But for my backyard birds I have the focus point set on the center--that multi-focus stuff gives me fits!

[juneandbob]

Betty:eek: you got him:D wow great shot:) boB

[Chuck S.]

Betty, I was inspired by your hummer photos, as well as those by Rob(pendragon). We went out and bought a new feeder this morning, filled it this afternoon, and, sure enough, a couple combative little RTHB's were on it by seven p.m.!

Now finding the time and the patience to stalk the little buggers.....that's another story. I'll definitely use a tripod if I do; that heavy lens and camera combination wears me out pretty quickly...:o

[smiles]

Wow, fabulous shot!

[BettyC]

Thank you, Smiles, & June & Bob!

Best of luck, Chuck! I've seen photos of beautiful hummingbirds in Texas. I hope that you have some of those vibrant ones. We're near San Diego & usually have plain ones, if there is such a thing as a plain hummingbird! I'd love to see some with purple & blue. The most color we have is a glint of red at the throat & a green back in our yard here.

[ronstelzy]

What a beautiful shot Betty; haven't seen any better.

[AngelicKim]

Betty, awesome shot.

[kimh]

Betty, awesome shot! I love your technique of getting a 'good shot'.:)
kimh

[Lorri]

Great shot, Betty!

You know, if they're used to you sitting close, then you may be able to hand feed them...or get someone to hand feed them while you snap pictures.

If you want to try, have someone sit near where the feeder usually hangs and hold the feeder in their hand. The hummingbirds here will nearly always accept hand holding the feeder.

Warn whoever is holding the feeder that the little guys sound like giant bees when they get close! I can't get anyone in my family to hand feed while I shoot pictures because the buzzing sound freaks my husband and my girls out.

[Chuck S.]

Thank you, Smiles, & June & Bob!

Best of luck, Chuck! I've seen photos of beautiful hummingbirds in Texas. I hope that you have some of those vibrant ones. We're near San Diego & usually have plain ones, if there is such a thing as a plain hummingbird! I'd love to see some with purple & blue. The most color we have is a glint of red at the throat & a green back in our yard here.

Betty, there's only one regular species of hummingbird here (the Ruby-Throated), although we get Rufous and Black-Chinned infrequently during migrations. California has several species, although they tend to be very localized. The brightly colored ones you should be looking for are the Rufous and the Allen's.

[cricket331]

What a great shot. I hope to get shots like that someday. I camp alot and get some pretty cool photos of animal but nothing like that:). Now to just upload them to the gallery. I have a tendency to photograph frogs:). Great pic.