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WC#404-Rufous-Tailed HB
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WC#404-Rufous-Tailed HB

by Jim DeWitt

Gallery: Weekly ChallengePosted October 27, 2009124 views8 comments
Olympus E-3, 300mm, tripod
f2.8, 1/250, +0.3ev, ISO1000
Fill-flash with Better Beamer

I liked the contrast between the delicacy of the tiny, 3.5" Rufous-tailed Hummingbird and the heavy barbs on the wire. It was quite dark, even with the flash and Better Beamer. 80% of original, with selective NR using Noise Ninja (the E-3 starts to show noise above ISO800).

C & C, please.

Comments

8 comments
Comment posted by Craig Strand on October 27, 2009 at 1:01 AM
Very nice Jim, I love the flared tail feathers and slightly dropped primaries. Wonderful color and excellent BG. Well done!
Registered on March 30, 2008, 416 Posts, 2885 Comments
Comment posted by Katja Rosvall on October 27, 2009 at 3:45 AM
Fantastic details and colours, and the pose is just right. Comp and bg work perfectly too. Excellent shot!
Registered on August 16, 2009, 28 Posts, 636 Comments
Comment posted by Kathy Odiorne on October 27, 2009 at 10:39 AM
Nice complimentary background for the green in his feathers. The barbed wire makes a great perch.
Kathy
Registered on November 1, 2003, 211 Posts, 1471 Comments
Comment posted by Monica Siri on October 27, 2009 at 12:51 PM
Jim, great colors, great BG, great little bird. :wink:
Wonderful shot.
Registered on September 20, 2009, 132 Posts, 3764 Comments
Comment posted by Mia McPherson on October 27, 2009 at 5:54 PM
Jim,

This is a image of contrasts and I like it very much. I like comparing the size of the hummingbird to the barbs on the wire fence and the contrast of the bird's apparent delicacy to the cold, wire fence. The colors of the bird are spectacular and I appreciate how they are echoed in the background's tones.

I'd be happy to have this image in my files even with the barbed wire!
Registered on June 25, 2007, 491 Posts, 12566 Comments
Comment posted by Ian Cox-Leigh on October 27, 2009 at 9:11 PM
Very pretty! I love the colours (of course) and the OOF orange area that the bird seems to be looking into is a lovely addition and helps give the composition some interest beyond bird-on-wire.

My only small complaint is that in the large size, the focus seems a little crisper on the side of the wing (at about the wire) than on the head and eyes which are a bit further away, but, it is a very minor shift and not a major concern.
Registered on August 8, 2008, 25 Posts, 228 Comments
Comment posted by Miro Susta on October 28, 2009 at 1:43 AM
Jim this is one of the best this week. Excellent details, fantatic BG matching bird colurs, very nice pose. Very well done indeed. :toast: :toast:
Registered on August 18, 2006, 719 Posts, 3736 Comments
Comment posted by Stan Rose on October 28, 2009 at 3:48 PM
Sweet! Those HB colors are fantastic. I like the idea of two barbs framing the subject (see Rob G's post) but here i think the rhs barb is a little close to the edge--so i would personally crop it and use the lhs barb to balance the bird. Excellent entry!
Registered on September 15, 2005, 836 Posts, 17099 Comments