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Shining Sunbeam
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Shining Sunbeam

by Jim DeWitt

Gallery: AvianPosted March 18, 201195 views6 comments
Olympus E-5, 300mm x 1.4TC, handheld
f4.5, 1/800, ISO400

Perhaps the most delightfully named hummingbird in early morning sunlight at 11,500 feet in Parque Nacional El Cajas in Southern Ecuador. This is not a hummer that comes to feeders; I was very pleased to get this close. Handheld because this was after my tripod had broken.

Selective sharpening of the bird. Note to self: a hummingbird's blink is faster than 1/800, resulting in some blurring around the eye.

80% of full frame.

C & C, please. Thanks for looking.

Comments

6 comments
Comment posted by Sally King on March 18, 2011 at 10:59 AM
Lovely. The colors of the bird make it stand out quite nicely from the background. I would be very excited to have captured this.
Registered on December 2, 2008, 416 Posts, 4450 Comments
Comment posted by Nancy Lea Sandy on March 18, 2011 at 3:33 PM
Alovely bird. I like the branch very much, also. A special capture. Nicely done
Registered on January 24, 2011, 576 Posts, 6942 Comments
Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on March 18, 2011 at 4:54 PM
I really cool bird Jim. Neat to get this shot. I agree, a bit soft around the eye, but I would be pleased with getting this shot of this species.
Registered on December 6, 2008, 360 Posts, 7132 Comments
Comment posted by Nate Chappell on March 18, 2011 at 11:14 PM
Nice shot Jim, it looks sharp enough to me. If you want to photograph this guy close up they regularly come to the feeders near the office at Hosteria San Jorge near Quito. :toast:
Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments
Comment posted by Ron Dudley on March 19, 2011 at 10:11 AM
An interesting species Jim. I think sharpness looks pretty good except, as you say, for the eye. I like the light on the bird and the natural setting works well for me.
Registered on March 30, 2007, 437 Posts, 10915 Comments
Comment posted by S Govindarajan on March 20, 2011 at 1:51 PM
Cool capture, Jim! Always nice to see a rare species. I like the pose and how you have included the habitat. Great light as well.

I am seeing a violet tinge in the entire image. Not sure if this is an artifact or how it actually looked at that altitude.

Thanks for sharing this. :toast:
Registered on April 19, 2008, 115 Posts, 1921 Comments