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Female Snowcap
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Female Snowcap

by Keith Bauer

Gallery: AvianPosted January 16, 2011280 views23 comments
This is a Female Snowcap Hummingbird from Costa Rica. The snowcaps are pretty rare and getting a good look is always a challenge. The male coloration demonstrates the name for this little beauty. Snowcaps are only about 3" long. Pretty tiny, even for hummers. This little lady was back in the bushes and came forward for a few seconds. I was only able to get 3 frames.

Techs: Canon 50D, 500mm f/4 with 1.4x TC
1/250 @ f/5.6, ISO 800
580 EX flash at -1 2/3
NR applied to background
Cropped to about 60% of the frame

Larger version included.

Thanks for your thoughts.

Comments

23 comments
Comment posted by Richard Ditch on January 16, 2011 at 9:31 PM
Excellent - love the soft colors and good detail. You did well with a limited opportunity.
Registered on November 1, 2003, 1031 Posts, 12705 Comments
Comment posted by Dolph McCranie on January 16, 2011 at 9:49 PM
Very nice photo, I like the DOF and sharp focus on the bird, flash gives a nice catch light, very sharp as was said nice image especially for the limited opportunity.
Registered on August 25, 2006, 146 Posts, 284 Comments
Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on January 16, 2011 at 10:04 PM
Wonderful image! I've never seen one before and it is soooo cute! The eye is amazing in this photo, and I like the inclusion of the green plants. Well done. Sharon
Registered on November 1, 2003, 392 Posts, 4810 Comments
Comment posted by Dennis Plank on January 16, 2011 at 11:12 PM
Excellent detail, Keith and I really like the eye contact. Really good flash work-not really noticeable at all. :toast:
Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments
Comment posted by Steve Balke on January 16, 2011 at 11:54 PM
Outstanding Keith. I like how you caught the iridescent color and yet the flash is not evident. Interesting perch. Great pose. Wonderful detail. :toast: :toast:
Registered on June 18, 2009, 229 Posts, 2915 Comments
Comment posted by Dan Harbour on January 16, 2011 at 11:56 PM
Great pose. Beautiful capture of the iridescence. :toast:
Registered on January 4, 2008, 113 Posts, 2416 Comments
Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on January 16, 2011 at 11:59 PM
Kaith - great catch!
Bright colors, fine detail, cute pose, and interesting perch/plant.
Nice!
Sandy
Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments
Comment posted by Gary Gulash on January 17, 2011 at 1:45 AM
Oh wow, what a beautiful photo Keith. Hard to beat hummers for color. Love the color harmony and composition as well. :toast:
Registered on January 28, 2005, 879 Posts, 12098 Comments
Comment posted by Mauro Pasquero on January 17, 2011 at 2:48 AM
Excellent capture, Keith. Lovely image.
Mauro
Registered on January 21, 2010, 650 Posts, 2500 Comments
Comment posted by Michael Lotito on January 17, 2011 at 6:22 AM
Fantastic little jewel! Great capture! :toast:
Registered on June 26, 2009, 181 Posts, 1558 Comments
Comment posted by Wayne Willison on January 17, 2011 at 7:30 AM
Looks like you were ready for it. Good capture.
Registered on April 10, 2009, 292 Posts, 3967 Comments
Comment posted by Barbara Graham on January 17, 2011 at 8:09 AM
Such perfect comp for such a very quick and limited opportunity. The greens in this image and the overall impression of the image really imparts the feeling that she is just out of the foliage for a quick second.
Registered on July 27, 2010, 1310 Posts, 5035 Comments
Comment posted by Monica Siri on January 17, 2011 at 9:44 AM
Keith,
beautiful capture very well executed for the time she left you. :toast:
Registered on September 20, 2009, 132 Posts, 3764 Comments
Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on January 17, 2011 at 10:13 AM
Nice capture Keith of what seems to be a tough subject form the sound of it. Great catchlight on this one and the colors are very nice :toast:
Registered on June 19, 2008, 1005 Posts, 8028 Comments
Comment posted by Dan Moore on January 17, 2011 at 12:21 PM
I personally would like a little more romm at the top. Killer shot!!!!


Dan
Registered on February 11, 2010, 143 Posts, 1248 Comments
Comment posted by KC Choo on January 17, 2011 at 1:46 PM
One of three frames was all you needed to get this good one! A beauty!
Registered on November 15, 2004, 519 Posts, 8278 Comments
Comment posted by Simon Bennett on January 17, 2011 at 4:21 PM
Lovely natural looking image. Good pose and detail. Exposure is spot on.
Registered on February 4, 2007, 350 Posts, 4614 Comments
Comment posted by Matt Shellenberg on January 17, 2011 at 7:29 PM
Beautiful look at this little one, Keith. Very nice job with what looks like some tough lighting. Flash fill looks very natural. Nice detail in the larger post. Great image.
Registered on February 6, 2008, 168 Posts, 3118 Comments
Comment posted by wade pettitt on January 17, 2011 at 8:36 PM
Keith, this is really nice you did very well for having just a second. I love the upturned beak pose. Well done!!!
Registered on May 6, 2009, 184 Posts, 471 Comments
Comment posted by Angela McCain on January 18, 2011 at 12:05 AM
Beautiful bird and image. Nice iridescence. Good use of flash.
Registered on April 19, 2009, 367 Posts, 3589 Comments
Comment posted by Rob Drummond on January 18, 2011 at 6:39 AM
Really like the setting Keith - lovely shot

cheers
Rob
Registered on November 8, 2003, 617 Posts, 8267 Comments
Comment posted by Mia McPherson on January 18, 2011 at 6:55 AM
Keith, that is a lovely little hummingbird. Nice pose, setting, colors and eye contact. Very effective use of flash.
Registered on June 25, 2007, 491 Posts, 12566 Comments
Comment posted by Geoffrey Baker on January 19, 2011 at 1:37 PM
An excellent capture of a lovely little bird.
Well done.

Geoff.
Registered on August 20, 2010, 192 Posts, 980 Comments