Hummingbird Photos

"Eric Miller" <ericmiller.RemoveThis@cox-internet.com> wrote in news:WXrTd.36339
$a96.15832@bignews3.bellsouth.net:

<font color=purple> > <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.dyesscreek.com/hummers/index.htm</font" target="_blank">www.dyesscreek.com/hummers/index.htm</font</a>>

Very nice shots Eric,

It's extremely hard to capture these little guys apparently (we dont have
them here)

With the background it looks much better when its the natural foliage
behind them and blurred, the black looks too fake.

I look forward to seeing this seasons shots, keep us informed.

Mick Brown
<a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.photo.net/photos/mlbrown" target="_blank">www.photo.net/photos/mlbrown</a><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Hummingbird Photos 

For what you have attempted, you have some excellent shots. Good detail and
stop-action. I really like 007. (Anna's Hummers?) With flash as a
significant part of the light, it is difficult not to have dark backgrounds,
unless you shoot against sky. Only close foliage will show with flash.
Although black backgrounds can be dramatic, I generally prefer a little
color.

But you did not post a single shot of a hummer feeding at, or even sitting
on, a flower. Shouldn't that be the goal? Even feeding at cultivated
flowers looks better (i.e., more natural) than alone or at a feeder, IMHO.
I do the feeder shots too, but have started raising fuschia in hanging pots
for them.
--
- Alan Justice

"Eric Miller" <ericmiller DeleteThis @cox-internet.com> wrote in message
news:WXrTd.36339$a96.15832@bignews3.bellsouth.net...
 > I started using small, homemade softboxes on my flashes for photographing
 > hummingbirds and I am looking for some feedback on my results in order to
 > get ideas for upcoming return of hummingbirds to my yard. One of the
 > problems that I have is with the backgrounds. I have tried using various
 > plants, but with not much success so far. The plain dark background seems
to
 > the best of the ones that I have tried. All comments and suggestions
 > requested and welcome.
 >
<font color=purple> > Photos from last year at <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.dyesscreek.com/hummers/index.htm</font" target="_blank">www.dyesscreek.com/hummers/index.htm</font</a>>
 >
 >
 > --
 > Eric Miller
 > millereric at bellsouth dot net
 >
 >
 ><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Hummingbird Photos 

"Alan Justice" <spam RemoveThis @spamspamspam.spam> wrote in message
news:LjJTd.5375$MY6.3148@newsread1.news.pas.earthlink.net...
 > For what you have attempted, you have some excellent shots. Good detail
and
 > stop-action. I really like 007. (Anna's Hummers?) With flash as a
 > significant part of the light, it is difficult not to have dark
backgrounds,
 > unless you shoot against sky. Only close foliage will show with flash.
 > Although black backgrounds can be dramatic, I generally prefer a little
 > color.
 >
 > But you did not post a single shot of a hummer feeding at, or even sitting
 > on, a flower. Shouldn't that be the goal? Even feeding at cultivated
 > flowers looks better (i.e., more natural) than alone or at a feeder, IMHO.
 > I do the feeder shots too, but have started raising fuschia in hanging
pots
 > for them.
 > --
 > - Alan Justice
 >
 > "Eric Miller" <ericmiller RemoveThis @cox-internet.com> wrote in message
 > news:WXrTd.36339$a96.15832@bignews3.bellsouth.net...
  > > I started using small, homemade softboxes on my flashes for
photographing
  > > hummingbirds and I am looking for some feedback on my results in order
to
  > > get ideas for upcoming return of hummingbirds to my yard. One of the
  > > problems that I have is with the backgrounds. I have tried using various
  > > plants, but with not much success so far. The plain dark background
seems
 > to
  > > the best of the ones that I have tried. All comments and suggestions
  > > requested and welcome.
  > >
<font color=green>  > > Photos from last year at <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.dyesscreek.com/hummers/index.htm</font" target="_blank">www.dyesscreek.com/hummers/index.htm</font</a>>
  > >
  > >
  > > --
  > > Eric Miller
  > > millereric at bellsouth dot net
  > >
  > >
  > >
 >
 >
No doubt about the feeding hummers. As I only started photographing them at
the end of last summer, I hadn't really planned out my backgrounds and
setups very well. This year I have a hummingbird/butterfly garden to try
for the feeding shots, but I still intend to try flash shots and for that,
the hummer's location has to be reasonably predictable. I may try multiple
flash units around the 10x10' hummingbird garden, but I have never tried
that before.

Eric Miller<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Hummingbird Photos 

 >I am looking for some feedback (on hummingbird photos) ...
 >One of the problems that I have is with the backgrounds.

Eric, here are a couple of sites you might find interesting with info
on setting up flash systems for hummers. Note that doing it this way
will give multiple highlights to the eyes (which I personally don't
like), I think using soft boxes like you're doing is better than the
direct harsh flash myself. But you may find tips on how to use another
flash to light up the background. Some people I know actually bring
along 20x24" prints of flowers and set them up to be flashed as the
'backgrounds'.

<a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.rpphoto.com/howto/hummer/humguide1.htm" target="_blank">http://www.rpphoto.com/howto/hummer/humguide1.htm</a>
<a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.photosafaris.com/Articles/PhotographingHummingbirds.asp" target="_blank">http://www.photosafaris.com/Articles/PhotographingHummingbirds.asp</a>

Both of these guys run hummingbird photography trips to a lodge near
where I live and Ralph also takes groups to Costa Rica mainly for
hummingbird photography. Hope this helps. Liked your images a lot.

Bill<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Hummingbird Photos 

And it takes lots of patience. With a lot to choose from for feeding, it
could be a while before one lands in the right spot. It's difficult to
follow them around. I have gazillions of "wild" fuschia bushes, so visits
to my feeder and hanging plants are sparse.

So what equipment do you use?
--
- Alan Justice

"Eric Miller" <ericmiller DeleteThis @cox-internet.com> wrote in message
news:fWKTd.11818$Q47.3795@bignews5.bellsouth.net...
 >
 > "Alan Justice" <spam DeleteThis @spamspamspam.spam> wrote in message
 > news:LjJTd.5375$MY6.3148@newsread1.news.pas.earthlink.net...
  > > For what you have attempted, you have some excellent shots. Good detail
 > and
  > > stop-action. I really like 007. (Anna's Hummers?) With flash as a
  > > significant part of the light, it is difficult not to have dark
 > backgrounds,
  > > unless you shoot against sky. Only close foliage will show with flash.
  > > Although black backgrounds can be dramatic, I generally prefer a little
  > > color.
  > >
  > > But you did not post a single shot of a hummer feeding at, or even
sitting
  > > on, a flower. Shouldn't that be the goal? Even feeding at cultivated
  > > flowers looks better (i.e., more natural) than alone or at a feeder,
IMHO.
  > > I do the feeder shots too, but have started raising fuschia in hanging
 > pots
  > > for them.
  > > --
  > > - Alan Justice
  > >
  > > "Eric Miller" <ericmiller DeleteThis @cox-internet.com> wrote in message
  > > news:WXrTd.36339$a96.15832@bignews3.bellsouth.net...
   > > > I started using small, homemade softboxes on my flashes for
 > photographing
   > > > hummingbirds and I am looking for some feedback on my results in order
 > to
   > > > get ideas for upcoming return of hummingbirds to my yard. One of the
   > > > problems that I have is with the backgrounds. I have tried using
various
   > > > plants, but with not much success so far. The plain dark background
 > seems
  > > to
   > > > the best of the ones that I have tried. All comments and suggestions
   > > > requested and welcome.
   > > >
<font color=brown>   > > > Photos from last year at <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.dyesscreek.com/hummers/index.htm</font" target="_blank">www.dyesscreek.com/hummers/index.htm</font</a>>
   > > >
   > > >
   > > > --
   > > > Eric Miller
   > > > millereric at bellsouth dot net
   > > >
   > > >
   > > >
  > >
  > >
 > No doubt about the feeding hummers. As I only started photographing them
at
 > the end of last summer, I hadn't really planned out my backgrounds and
 > setups very well. This year I have a hummingbird/butterfly garden to try
 > for the feeding shots, but I still intend to try flash shots and for that,
 > the hummer's location has to be reasonably predictable. I may try multiple
 > flash units around the 10x10' hummingbird garden, but I have never tried
 > that before.
 >
 > Eric Miller
 >
 ><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Hummingbird Photos 

Eric Miller wrote:

 > I started using small, homemade softboxes on my flashes for photographing
 > hummingbirds and I am looking for some feedback on my results in order to
 > get ideas for upcoming return of hummingbirds to my yard. One of the
 > problems that I have is with the backgrounds. I have tried using various
 > plants, but with not much success so far. The plain dark background seems to
 > the best of the ones that I have tried. All comments and suggestions
 > requested and welcome.
 >
<font color=purple> > Photos from last year at <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.dyesscreek.com/hummers/index.htm</font" target="_blank">www.dyesscreek.com/hummers/index.htm</font</a>>


Those are amazing. I tend to agree with others though that the black
backgrounds are not ideal.

I happened to get lucky & saw a baby hummer:
<http://www.edgehill.net/1/?SC=go.php&DIR=California/Bay-Area/San-Francisco/our-garden/more/2005-03-06-hummingbird&PG=1&PIC=1>
I wish I'd pulled out the camera sooner when I was watching mother feed
it. The background is a beige building, I was eating lunch outdoors <g>.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Hummingbird Photos 

"Eric Miller" <ericmiller.DeleteThis@cox-internet.com> wrote in message
news:WXrTd.36339$a96.15832@bignews3.bellsouth.net...
 >I started using small, homemade softboxes on my flashes for
 >photographing
 > hummingbirds and I am looking for some feedback on my results in
 > order to
 > get ideas for upcoming return of hummingbirds to my yard. One of the
 > problems that I have is with the backgrounds. I have tried using
 > various
 > plants, but with not much success so far. The plain dark background
 > seems to
 > the best of the ones that I have tried. All comments and suggestions
 > requested and welcome.
 >
<font color=purple> > Photos from last year at <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.dyesscreek.com/hummers/index.htm</font" target="_blank">www.dyesscreek.com/hummers/index.htm</font</a>>
 >
 >
 > --
 > Eric Miller
 > millereric at bellsouth dot net
 >
This is the first time I have visited this newsgroup. I am really
looking for advice on lenses which will be good with the Canon 300D.
However, I couldn`t resist looking at your hummingbird photos, Eric,
and I think they are beautiful! It is just as well that we don`t have
them here in England, or I would spend even more time with the
camera - and more money!

Kate<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Hummingbird Photos 

Kate

prior to doing anything else including further (expensive) lens purchases,
go and have a good read/browse through the following site. This guy is one
of the best bird photographers around:

<a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.birdsasart.com/" target="_blank">http://www.birdsasart.com/</a>

I have no affiliation with him or his site apart from poring over it and
buying his book on bird photography, probably the best money I have
invested.

regards

Don from Down Under

"Kate" <@*slamaspam*.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
news:d2k5db$og8$1$830fa17d@news.demon.co.uk...
 >
 > "Eric Miller" <ericmiller.RemoveThis@cox-internet.com> wrote in message
 > news:WXrTd.36339$a96.15832@bignews3.bellsouth.net...
  >>I started using small, homemade softboxes on my flashes for photographing
  >> hummingbirds and I am looking for some feedback on my results in order to
  >> get ideas for upcoming return of hummingbirds to my yard. One of the
  >> problems that I have is with the backgrounds. I have tried using various
  >> plants, but with not much success so far. The plain dark background seems
  >> to
  >> the best of the ones that I have tried. All comments and suggestions
  >> requested and welcome.
  >>
<font color=green>  >> Photos from last year at <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.dyesscreek.com/hummers/index.htm</font" target="_blank">www.dyesscreek.com/hummers/index.htm</font</a>>
  >>
  >>
  >> --
  >> Eric Miller
  >> millereric at bellsouth dot net
  >>
 > This is the first time I have visited this newsgroup. I am really looking
 > for advice on lenses which will be good with the Canon 300D. However, I
 > couldn`t resist looking at your hummingbird photos, Eric, and I think they
 > are beautiful! It is just as well that we don`t have them here in
 > England, or I would spend even more time with the camera - and more money!
 >
 > Kate
 ><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Hummingbird Photos