Wing Blurs

Gallery: AvianPosted March 20, 2012414 views10 comments

Here's another shot from my recent trip to Costa Rica. Once again I was shooting with Greg Basco (a master at hummingbird photography). The last image I posted used multiple flashes set to freeze the hummingbirds wings. Some like that look, others prefer a blurred wing look. This shot was done with just one flash with a much longer duration and a combined shutter speed to allow the wings to blur. Same OOF image background described in my last post, nectar placed in the orchid to attract the hummer.

I was pleased with this one with the hovering hummer and the one perched looking up at the other. I'm interested in your thoughts on this image. Thanks for taking a look and providing your thoughts. A LARGER version has been provided as well.

Techs:

Canon 1D Mk IV, 70-300 @ 166mm
1/60 @ f/5.6
ISO 1600
NR applied to the background

Comments

10 comments

Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on March 21, 2012 at 8:26 AM

Keith, I like everything about this image: from the detail, the story line, the mild blur of the wings and tail, to the butter smooth BG. No nits.

Registered on July 24, 2006, 2741 Posts, 12349 Comments

Comment posted by Geoff Powell on March 21, 2012 at 8:36 AM

Remarkable. I love the tonal continuity between the subject and background.

Registered on March 20, 2012, 21 Posts, 170 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on March 21, 2012 at 12:21 PM

I guess it comes down to personal preference and I happen to like your previous hummer post better. The image above is a very nice image as well but for me I like seeing the hummer wings without the blur. Since the wing blur is the way I see them in real life it is more interesting to me to see these little dynamo's wings frozen especially when you think how fast their wing beats are. Just makes me appreciate the shot a little more, both are however excellent hummers image Keith, well done.

Registered on September 17, 2009, 302 Posts, 5535 Comments

Comment posted by Peter J. Morrissey on March 21, 2012 at 1:20 PM

I love both photographs. I have photograph hummingbirds, with and with out a flash, but you slower shutter speeds seem to work out great. I was use a 1/500 to 1/1600 with high speed sync on the flash.
Peter

Registered on July 3, 2011, 188 Posts, 969 Comments

Comment posted by Rick Turner on March 21, 2012 at 1:40 PM

Very well done.

Registered on February 18, 2012, 534 Posts, 2755 Comments

Comment posted by Basri Akcasoy on March 21, 2012 at 3:11 PM

Excellent composition, pose and colors. TFS.

Registered on February 16, 2012, 118 Posts, 767 Comments

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on March 21, 2012 at 8:29 PM

Beautiful Keith. Nice action. Love that you got 2

Registered on June 30, 2009, 300 Posts, 5051 Comments

Comment posted by Matt Shellenberg on March 21, 2012 at 10:40 PM

I really like this one with the additional perched bird, Keith. I know it is a personal preference, I prefer this shot with the blurred wings.