Hummingbird #10

Anna's Hummingbird.

I'm struggling with capturing effective, *good* images of
hummingbirds in flight. In order to freeze motion,
one needs a fairly fast shutter speed. And for any given
light value: the faster the shutter speed, the wider the
aperture must be. However, the wider the aperture, the
narrower the DOF. I have been attempting to
compensate by pumping up the ISO, but going beyond 6400 leads to grainier/noisier photos.

I've seen many wonderful, clear photos of hummingbirds that
both: 1) freeze motion and 2) show sharp focus over the
entire bird. This is something I've been attempting to do
with limited success.

Any advice from the experts?

Thanks for any criticism and/or suggestions.

Posted by Jacky on Sat, 11/08/14 17:24
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Comments by Jacky on Sat, 11/08/14 17:36


Here's a big version that shows the head in focus (where I was aiming), but the body is oof. In order to do what I'm attempting, must the bird be perfectly perpendicular to the camera lens?


Comments by Nathan Leonard Kern on Sat, 11/08/14 18:12

I think the image is good as is. The head is sharp enough and the blured wings and body is the way we see a flying bird. If you can't find a combo of f-stop and shutter speed with the amount of light that you have to freeze the whole bird you need more light.The camera flash or a stronger one that is compatable with your camera and hope that will produce a combo of f-stop and shutter speed that will do what you want.It is more about motion than the angle to the camera


Comments by Nathan Leonard Kern on Sat, 11/08/14 18:12

I think the image is good as is. The head is sharp enough and the blured wings and body is the way we see a flying bird. If you can't find a combo of f-stop and shutter speed with the amount of light that you have to freeze the whole bird you need more light.The camera flash or a stronger one that is compatable with your camera and hope that will produce a combo of f-stop and shutter speed that will do what you want.It is more about motion than the angle to the camera


Comments by Jacky on Sat, 11/08/14 18:32


Hummingbird #11

In this one, more of the bird is in focus, but the wings are less defined...


Comments by Jan Bjorklund on Sat, 11/08/14 19:46

I'm sorry I cannot provide you with an expertise words on a sharp image of the hummingbird. I just find that an image of a hummingbird such as yours as an energetic feel to it while those images of hummingbirds which are completely in focus have a static almost painted into the image to them. To me a hummer is an energetic bird which is almost always in motion and to freeze them in an image might provide the viewer with a detailed clear picture of the bird those images are lacking in energy... I don't think I could ask for a better shot of a hummingbird than the large image of the hummer set against a darkened background feeding on a flower.

Jan


Comments by Paul Bracey on Sat, 11/08/14 22:41

These are pretty terrific!


Comments by Michael Meek on Sun, 11/09/14 00:10

I think as long as you get the eye sharp, you don't have to worry about the rest very much, except that it's best when the eye has a catch light as well. Some part of the flower should also be sharp and the background flowers should not compete for attention as they do in the last one. You shoot in hard light a lot, so you might get closer to what you envisage on a cloudy day. I believe it's more the light that is troubling you than your fine captures.


Comments by Dan Rubin on Sun, 11/09/14 20:20

Darn impressive work to me (I guess I'm no expert).


Comments by Jacky on Tue, 11/11/14 15:44

Thanks all for the comments, critiques and helpful advice.

Nathan: thanks for the flash advice. I might actually do some experimenting with a flash.

Michael: indeed, I'd love more opportunity to shoot in better light. In the summer/fall on Mount Hamilton, we rarely have overcast days -- and when we do, I'm usually out shooting like mad. Unfortunately, even when the bay area itself is overcast, we're usually above the cloud cover up here. Both of these were shot in early morning light.


Comments by Linda Frey on Tue, 11/11/14 18:33

I think you've done very well. Wouldn't flash give a similar shutter speed as full sun?
Maybe all you can do if you are not completely satisfied is to keep shooting, and hope
that the bird wouldn't wiggle its tail, for instance? The only shot of a hummingbird I have
is a blur on the far side of the garden.


Comments by Ruth Rittichier on Sun, 11/16/14 14:34

They all look good to me.


Comments by Sharan Jay on Mon, 11/24/14 17:30

really nice