The Long and Short of It

Gallery: AvianPosted May 29, 2013544 views21 comments

Sword-billed Hummingbird vs Chestnut-breasted Coronet photographed at Guango Lodge in Ecuador last January. The Coronet had lost it's tail which added to the size difference here. This was taken on a multi-flash setup where the flashes are triggered by any other flash.

5D3 300F4 1/200 F22, iso 400, 6 Nikon SB-slave flashes, artificial background, hummingbird feeder

Comments

21 comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on May 29, 2013 at 11:00 PM

Wild interaction, Nate. How do you get them to stay in the field of view?

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

Comment posted by Ken Watkins on May 29, 2013 at 11:00 PM

Nate,
Truly remarkable in both detail and colours, the look in the eye of the sword-billed makes this

Registered on December 15, 2010, 1537 Posts, 4877 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on May 29, 2013 at 11:03 PM

Thanks Dennis, the birds are attracted by a hummingbird feeder, I have edited the post to include that. This is cropped a fair bit, if I'm trying to get this type of shot I give myself plenty of room by not using my biggest lens and not being too close. I am also not necessarily looking through the viewfinder but am watching the action with my finger on the trigger and when the birds get close to the area where it looks like I can make an image I start firing in burst mode.

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

Comment posted by Ken Archer on May 30, 2013 at 12:32 AM

A humorous capture for sure, my money's on the little guy. Great action shot Nate!!

Ken Archer

Registered on October 28, 2004, 222 Posts, 6683 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Fach on May 30, 2013 at 12:36 AM

Nate: You must be the hummingbird master to get these little guys to pose so well. Spectacular shot. >=))>

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1805 Posts, 26981 Comments

Comment posted by Ray Whitt on May 30, 2013 at 1:11 AM

Incredible, an outstanding catch Nate!

Ray

Registered on May 27, 2011, 92 Posts, 2619 Comments

Comment posted by Hans Overduin on May 30, 2013 at 2:09 AM

About mastering a technique.. Oooff.. Impressive Nate, like it ! Cheers, Hans

Registered on August 31, 2011, 491 Posts, 3807 Comments

Comment posted by Martin Dunn on May 30, 2013 at 4:13 AM

Holy moly. I never even knew such a bird existed. How does it fly with that thing sticking out in front.?
Yet another stunning image Nate.

Registered on February 20, 2013, 198 Posts, 1011 Comments

Comment posted by Don Westbrook on May 30, 2013 at 7:02 AM

Outstanding. Interesting subjects, interesting action, well captured with good technicals.

Registered on January 4, 2013, 11 Posts, 332 Comments

Comment posted by Max Waugh on May 30, 2013 at 7:35 AM

Very nice, Nate. The size of those swordbills is pretty amazing, and I love seeing the coronet to give a sense of scale. I had one in the same frame as a tiny woodstar from Peru, but obviously the quality of your image is far superior.

Max

Registered on September 26, 2008, 428 Posts, 2329 Comments

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on May 30, 2013 at 7:48 AM

Now that just looks unfair. It's like Peter Pan taking on Conan the Barbarian.

Really like the action in this Nate. Capturing two in the frame like this can't be easy.

Registered on June 19, 2008, 1005 Posts, 8028 Comments

Comment posted by William Bickle on May 30, 2013 at 9:28 AM

Hello Nate

Impressive Capture!!:) The Interactions of Hummers is so quick and intence!. Well Done !

Thanks for Sharing.

Bill

Registered on June 13, 2011, 183 Posts, 1702 Comments

Comment posted by Jerry Marella on May 30, 2013 at 9:29 AM

Pretty amazing, Nate. Well done.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 142 Posts, 862 Comments

Comment posted by Soubhik Patranabis on May 30, 2013 at 9:50 AM

Amazing picture !! liked the interaction.

Totally agree with Kurt

Registered on January 25, 2010, 54 Posts, 610 Comments

Comment posted by Jefferson Silva on May 30, 2013 at 11:10 AM

Terrific. Very beautiful!

Registered on December 18, 2012, 162 Posts, 975 Comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on May 30, 2013 at 6:08 PM

I'm surprised you fit 'the long and short of it' in the title space, but it sure fits here!

Well you've really out done yourself, it's one to die for. Ok there, I said it

I read your reply to Dennis, thanx for the heads up on how you made this one Nate

Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Leggett on May 30, 2013 at 7:05 PM

Great image, Nate! That long bill is incredible! Getting them both in sharp focus is a real bonus. Nice work.

Registered on July 21, 2004, 706 Posts, 3233 Comments

Comment posted by Randy Bacon on May 30, 2013 at 10:19 PM

Hi Nate, fabulous shot - enough said

Registered on November 24, 2008, 56 Posts, 492 Comments

Comment posted by May Haga on May 31, 2013 at 11:32 AM

Lots of neat action Nate. I remember the little tailless hummer.
May

Registered on February 22, 2007, 714 Posts, 8470 Comments

Comment posted by Kirk Greene on June 1, 2013 at 7:05 AM

This is a great photograph with impressive action frozen at the perfect moment. This makes for a very interesting comparison of these 2 species.

Registered on May 12, 2004, 191 Posts, 1578 Comments

Comment posted by Roger Leekam on June 1, 2013 at 2:59 PM

A unique shot, Nate. You got some tremendous images in Ecuador.

Registered on May 28, 2009, 83 Posts, 646 Comments