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When you Gotta Go.......
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When you Gotta Go.......

by Jim Zablotny

Gallery: AvianPosted September 3, 2017167 views6 comments
When you gotta go, you gotta go.  Another one of my experimental high speed flash shots.  The first year male ruby throated hummingbird apparently had to get rid of some excess water. I positioned one flash high above the bird, one beneath the bird, one mounted on a flash bracket near camera as the master, and the last one  on the BG.  All flashes set to 1/16th power. I used the last of my big paper sheets for the background so I could not change the BG to one that was darker. K5 IIs 600 mm f5.6 All manual settings (1/125 sec at f20, Iso 200) Levels, White Balance, Crop for comp.  Dennis, yesterday I used the nodding onion flower and the birds ignored it so the red cannas were todays choice morsel loaded up with syrup. Let me know what you think about this attempt. Thank you for looking..................Jim

Comments

6 comments
Comment posted by Dennis Plank on September 3, 2017 at 10:53 PM
I'm liking it, Jim.  A very nice composition.  Interesting how the wings are picking up so much green from the bg, but it's not objectionable.  I think your last one actually had a bit better focus on the bird, but this is still quite adequate.  You're getting very close to where you want to be, I think.  If you want a darker bg, you could just go to 1/32 power on that flash.
Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments
Comment posted by Brian Murphy on September 4, 2017 at 7:21 AM
Very nice Jim.
I like the background and how you stopped the action on the hummingbird. 
Thank you for sharing.
Brian
Registered on November 15, 2015, 35 Posts, 50 Comments
Comment posted by Don Young on September 4, 2017 at 2:42 PM
Nice catch!  Don't think I've ever seen that before.  Good focus and SS.
Registered on April 23, 2015, 56 Posts, 224 Comments
Comment posted by Allen Brooks on September 4, 2017 at 6:32 PM
The micturition aspect of the shot is interesting, but it is otherwise such an attractive shot I would consider cloning it out. Really nice work.devil
Registered on July 27, 2011, 262 Posts, 2597 Comments
Comment posted by David Schoen on September 5, 2017 at 11:49 AM
A fascinating study in hummingbird biology.  You did really well with the flash set up.
Registered on November 6, 2006, 1213 Posts, 4587 Comments
Comment posted by Nate Chappell on September 10, 2017 at 11:47 PM
That's a fun shot Jim, beautiful comp too.  I think I would try and go for a bit darker background.  I have enjoyed your hummingbird posts. devil
Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments