Hummingbird Fountain

Gallery: AvianPosted March 1, 201293 views4 comments

I had planned to go to Bolsa Chica or San Joaquin to shoot, and while eating breakfast in the kitchen I observed a variety of birds drinking from, and bathing in the fountain on our patio. Got my camera and set up the tripod with the sliding glass door open. Focused on the bird bath and waited for visitors. This hummingbird was very agitated when a Warbler was in the bath while he had plans. Finally the Warbler left and I got this among other shots. The day was overcast and the patio does not get a lot of direct sun light. While not the best shot I have ever taken, I like the colors in his tail and how he was drinking from the fountain.

Nikon D300 Nikon 200-400mm lens 1.4TC f/5.6 1/320 ISO-800
+.07 step 550mm tripod with a Wimberley gimbal shutter priority
auto white balance 75% of the image remaining after the crop

Comments welcome

Comments

4 comments

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on March 1, 2012 at 12:46 AM

A bit dark, but a nice capture of hummingbird attitude. I'd have been tempted to try some fill-flash.

Registered on August 28, 2006, 1240 Posts, 8506 Comments

Comment posted by Carlette Bragg on March 1, 2012 at 6:56 AM

Patrick, I like the colors on this little guy too!

Registered on March 19, 2009, 76 Posts, 387 Comments

Comment posted by Patrick O'Healy on March 1, 2012 at 9:57 AM

Registered on March 13, 2011, 326 Posts, 1679 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on March 2, 2012 at 10:54 PM

In the larger image the colors look pretty good your repost as well, the smaller version that you posted the first time is too dark. The head looks like the sharpest part of the image but I think it would have been nice to be able stop down a bit to get more in focus, although you were quite limited for lighting. I have attempted similar shots and they aren't easy.

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