Anna's Hummingbird

Gallery: AvianPosted September 17, 20171,013 views9 comments

Anna's Hummingbird (Calypte anna)

Place: Gilbert Water Ranch, AZ
Date: September 18, 2011, 7:18 am
Equipment: Nikon D300, AF-S Nikkor 300mm f/2.8D ED-IF, TC-20E (2x), Gitzo G1325 tripod, Sidekick, RRS BH-55
Exposure: ISO 400, Aperture priority matrix metered, 1/25th @ f/5.6
Raw, PS CC 2017 on Mac, cropped to 68% of full frame

Not my normal style, and definitely not for everyone’s taste. An unplanned shot when this Anna’s took flight while I was setting up a perched shot. I’ve come close to deleting it many times but something about it draws me into the image.

Honest critiques requested; all comments appreciated. If possible please view the large version before commenting.

Comments

9 comments

Comment posted by Keith Bauer on September 17, 2017 at 5:21 PM

Well Richard, that's really out there for you. I generally like pushing the bounds of traditional images, but for me this image just doesn't work. There's nothing that is sharp enough to hold my interest.

Registered on November 20, 2003, 458 Posts, 4836 Comments

Comment posted by Barbara Graham on September 17, 2017 at 7:14 PM

I think you definitely have part of the bill sharp enough to center the image on. The blue in the left part of the background and the blue of the bird together are what draw me in. If you had blue on the right it would be too much blue. So I think in that regard, too, it is perfect.

This is my honest opinion: I think this image is extraordinary, and, as NPN people sometimes say, I think you should print it large and put it on the wall.

Registered on July 27, 2010, 1310 Posts, 5035 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Sandor on September 17, 2017 at 9:56 PM

Richard: my traditional approach says WTH?, but my non-traditional approach says there are times when something different definitely has merit. I'm going with the latter. Richard

Registered on January 12, 2014, 453 Posts, 1625 Comments

Comment posted by Craig Moreau on September 18, 2017 at 4:44 PM

Richard, I really like this. As you said, this won't be for everyone, but I really do enjoy it. There's just enough detail (if that's the right word) to know what it is, but enough motion blur to keep it abstract. The colors in this are great, as well. I love the blue-greens and the tans.

Registered on April 21, 2015, 64 Posts, 584 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on September 18, 2017 at 5:32 PM

I like this, Richard. I've rarely been able to get an "artistic blur" that I consider a keeper, but I wouldn't delete this one either. It catches something of the essence of hummingbirds for me. Thanks for posting this.

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

Comment posted by Gary Minish on September 19, 2017 at 3:30 AM

I think it makes the humming bird look like it sounds, kind of fast buzz. I really like the artistic aspects of this image, Richard. There's enough recognizable parts to tell what it is and the blur of pastel colors are very pleasing. I suspect if you printed it and hung it on your wall it would get more attention on a regular basis than a framed, fully detailed, stopped action hummingbird. I'm glad you didn't toss it and that you decided to show it to the rest of us. It's the most unique photo I've seen in this forum for quite some time enlightened

Registered on February 4, 2006, 625 Posts, 3583 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Graham on September 19, 2017 at 9:28 PM

interesting photo. I don't do abstract well myself, but I like the soft blur with just enough detail, and your crop feels balanced to me.

Registered on August 22, 2006, 842 Posts, 2824 Comments

Comment posted by David Bogener on September 21, 2017 at 5:40 PM

Definitely not your normal style. Not really working for me in this category. Thanks for posting something different.

Registered on October 30, 2013, 417 Posts, 1255 Comments

Comment posted by Patricia Brundage on September 22, 2017 at 8:32 AM

Not my cup of tea. Yes, I can tell its a bird, the colors are nice but there just isn't enough detail to make it work. Sorry.

Registered on March 23, 2006, 1111 Posts, 6531 Comments