Hummer/Wasp-Repost

Gallery: AvianPosted August 14, 2010146 views11 comments

Ruby Throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris)

This is the same hummingbird as in my previous post. This time I sure tried to avoid introducing a color cast!

Without the distraction of the color cast I hope that the other qualities of the image draw more comment.

Again the hummer is not really contacting the flower and the challenge in the composition is to have this a hummer image rather than a flower image. I tried to do this by increasing the exposure on the hummer, decreasing saturation on the flower and cloning out a OOF leaf that was on the lower RHS. Mind you there is one more little distraction: note the wasp hiding in the flower! I can’t tell if the hummer is contemplating the wasp or flower or both. I do like how this little bird has spread his tail feathers and I’ve been fascinated reading about how the feather structure in the hummer causes the iridescent colors.

To give you a better look at the bird (and an alternate composition), as before, I’ll post a “bird alone” crop below.

7D, 400 mm f/5.6, 580EXII: ISO 400, 1/1250 s, f/5.6, image is 8.3 MP after cropping, fill flash, NR, some exposure and saturation adjustment, sharpening, flash catchlight removed.

Comments

11 comments

Comment posted by Steve Balke on August 14, 2010 at 9:19 PM

And now, the bird alone. Now the image is only 1.8 MP. As in my previous post, of this bird: detail still looks good to me. I think it’s really a testament to the resolution of the lens and camera in good light.

All comments welcome. Any preference: “habitat shot” versus “bird alone” shot?

Registered on June 18, 2009, 229 Posts, 2915 Comments

Comment posted by Buck Ward on August 14, 2010 at 10:24 PM

It certainly enlarges nicely.
With regards to the whole picture: the flower is lo large and so bright red that the picture simply can't be just about the hummer, but neither is it just about the flower - it's a picture of both the flower and the hummingbird. No escaping it. But the two elements don't compete with each other - they complement one another and the picture of each is better for having the other in it. The wasp is a nice little added bonus to surprise the viewer.

I like it.

Registered on December 8, 2003, 96 Posts, 1917 Comments

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on August 14, 2010 at 11:32 PM

Steve, I like this a lot. I prefer the larger version, but I do think that the tight shot looks great especially given the mega-crop. I think that you've done a nice job drawing attention to the hummer. I like how well the bird is lit against the dark bg, and I think that the green spot in the bg helps to draw the eye to the hummer because it is a similar color (it sort of makes the hummer bigger). I'm not sure about the flower, it looks a little odd, were the reds blown in the original?

I did not spend nearly enough time with the hummers in my yard this summer.

I did pretty well with many other summer birds, but seem to have neglected these guys. There's always next year though.

Registered on March 21, 2009, 202 Posts, 4187 Comments

Comment posted by Steve Balke on August 14, 2010 at 11:48 PM

Thank you both so much for your comments. Brian, in answer to your question: the flowers were not blown in the original but they seemed a bit too saturated to me. Here is the original, completely unprocessed except for cropping.

Registered on June 18, 2009, 229 Posts, 2915 Comments

Comment posted by Srinivasan Periath on August 15, 2010 at 12:00 PM

I like the image as it is - flower and the Hummer. Great capture.

Registered on January 6, 2010, 12 Posts, 21 Comments

Comment posted by Ingrid Vekemans on August 15, 2010 at 12:02 PM

Steve, am definitely amazed at the detail in the 1.8 MP crop. It could well stand alone though I prefer the habitat shot. However, I would crop a bit further to get rid of the stem (?) of the flower, so just a bit below the wasp. Very nice.

Registered on August 2, 2010, 138 Posts, 780 Comments

Comment posted by Hali Sowle on August 15, 2010 at 1:31 PM

Great shot Steve, both the "in situ" and the crop, and the crop is amazing for the detail you've got in it. I think you did a great job pulling attention to the hummer away from the flower and the overall composition is really nice. Well done!

Registered on January 9, 2008, 36 Posts, 582 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on August 15, 2010 at 1:57 PM

Gorgeous, Steve. I think your modifications do help emphasize the hummer; I believe you've achieved a nice balance between the two. Just saw the close-up of the hummer-wonderful detail.

Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on August 15, 2010 at 6:28 PM

Steve,

The color looks much better in this image. I prefer the original post to the second version, not because of any lack of detail in the repost mind you, but because I like the presence of the flower.

I do wonder, because the hummingbird is centered top to bottom if more frame on the bottom might not improve the composition. I like the hummer small in the frame, I believe it accentuates the diminuitive size of this bird.

Nice work.

Registered on June 25, 2007, 491 Posts, 12566 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on August 17, 2010 at 7:20 PM

The colors look much better here Steve, both images work reasonably well for me.

Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments

Comment posted by Steve Balke on August 18, 2010 at 8:21 AM

Fine comments as usual. I'm very glad to see the positive responses and the diversity of suggested compositions. Thank you, everyone.

Registered on June 18, 2009, 229 Posts, 2915 Comments