Yosemite Sam - Costa's Hummingbird

Gallery: AvianPosted February 7, 20071,962 views30 comments

I love the look of this tiny hummer. Stocky body with the long gorget hanging down reminded me of the cartoon character, Yosemite Sam. Both this hummer and Sam had an attitude! This was shot in Cave Creek, AZ just north of Phoenix last week.

Thanks for your continuing comments and suggestions to help improve my photography. Please feel free to continue!

Canon 20D, 300mm f/4 w/1.4 handheld, 1/320 @ f/9, ISO 400

Comments

30 comments

Comment posted by Mark Wilson on February 7, 2007 at 9:24 PM

Very, very nice Hans - wouldn't change a thing!

Registered on May 17, 2006, 70 Posts, 1166 Comments

Comment posted by Jon Swanson on February 7, 2007 at 9:26 PM

Very cool Hans!

Registered on February 28, 2006, 34 Posts, 309 Comments

Comment posted by Charlie VanTassel on February 7, 2007 at 9:55 PM

Geez!...This is nice. I'm driving back to Arizona next week and I'm gonna find this guy. Great shot Hans.

Registered on October 18, 2006, 644 Posts, 4801 Comments

Comment posted by Neil Losin on February 7, 2007 at 10:14 PM

Hi Hans,

Just a lovely shot :) Really nice comp, iridescent gorget captured well, couldn't be much better than this. Great work!

Registered on September 16, 2005, 145 Posts, 3524 Comments

Comment posted by Sam Rua on February 7, 2007 at 10:42 PM

Really, really nice shot, Hans. Maybe a little tight on the tail, but not by much. Killer shot for being hand-held.

Registered on September 9, 2006, 130 Posts, 2281 Comments

Comment posted by Doug Backlund on February 7, 2007 at 10:57 PM

Beautiful!

Registered on September 29, 2005, 252 Posts, 3380 Comments

Comment posted by Glenn Bartley on February 7, 2007 at 10:57 PM

This is awesome!

Registered on June 29, 2004, 448 Posts, 1180 Comments

Comment posted by Bob Steele on February 7, 2007 at 11:25 PM

Hans, this is probably your finest post yet, and certainly one of my favorites. A fantastic image of one of my most favorite birds (I have a whole yard full of them). If I could make one suggestion it would be to back off on the image sharpening - this is over sharpened slightly. Just look at the 'crunchy' appearance of the green/gray/white feathers on the breast and belly. One minor change and you'll have a killer image.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 354 Posts, 13896 Comments

Comment posted by Scott Weins on February 7, 2007 at 11:49 PM

This is a great shot. The detail and colorful gorget is quite nice.

Registered on January 30, 2007, 28 Posts, 420 Comments

Comment posted by Ian Hardy on February 8, 2007 at 3:06 AM

Hi Hans,
This is just great.

Registered on August 1, 2005, 37 Posts, 346 Comments

Comment posted by Joe Vincent on February 8, 2007 at 5:56 AM

I like this one as is Hans. Very nice work!

Registered on August 16, 2005, 69 Posts, 792 Comments

Comment posted by Ganesh H Shankar on February 8, 2007 at 7:46 AM

Beautiful bird and image Hans ! Can't believe you made this without a tripod

Registered on March 1, 2004, 324 Posts, 1867 Comments

Comment posted by David Marotta on February 8, 2007 at 8:56 AM

Beautiful capture...excellent detail, fabulous lighting, great pose, and an awesome perch. Excellent

Registered on January 3, 2007, 111 Posts, 622 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on February 8, 2007 at 9:15 AM

He's a beauty!!! Sweet shot Hans.

Ken Archer

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

Comment posted by Tim McIntyre on February 8, 2007 at 9:36 AM

Registered on August 19, 2006, 85 Posts, 1074 Comments

Comment posted by Kevin Thompson on February 8, 2007 at 9:38 AM

Yeah baby...Sweet shot Hans!

Registered on March 15, 2005, 114 Posts, 2639 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on February 8, 2007 at 10:54 AM

I agree with Bob 100%. This is excellent.

I too think of this bird as Yosemite Sam, and have used that same comment about shots I've taken of our backyard birds here in Phoenix.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1031 Posts, 12705 Comments

Comment posted by Brian E. Small on February 8, 2007 at 11:41 AM

Lovely shot Hans!

Registered on November 1, 2003, 147 Posts, 933 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on February 8, 2007 at 11:56 AM

A beauty Hans

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

Comment posted by Scott Page on February 8, 2007 at 1:02 PM

Not an easy thing to capture the gorget both extended and irridescently lighted. You did a great thing with this bird. The eye glint really completes it. Bravo!

Registered on January 18, 2007, 52 Posts, 166 Comments

Comment posted by Byron Wong on February 8, 2007 at 1:05 PM

Great shot Hans. I like the detail and iridescence.

Registered on November 25, 2006, 62 Posts, 1510 Comments

Comment posted by KC Choo on February 8, 2007 at 9:44 PM

Just lovely, Hans! Agree with Bob that it's one of your very best.

Registered on November 15, 2004, 519 Posts, 8278 Comments

Comment posted by Miro Susta on February 9, 2007 at 2:42 AM

Unique shot Hans! Fantastic how you have managed all the details and very nice colors!

Registered on August 18, 2006, 719 Posts, 3736 Comments

Comment posted by Terry & Kay Steel on February 9, 2007 at 12:08 PM

Sam's on mighty fine lookin bird, Hans. As usual, you've done an outstanding job of capturing this hummer.

Registered on May 27, 2006, 112 Posts, 1098 Comments

Comment posted by Satie Sharma on February 9, 2007 at 10:23 PM

Awesome shot, Hans!

Registered on November 11, 2003, 189 Posts, 5335 Comments

Comment posted by Dan Walters on February 12, 2007 at 9:35 AM

Great shot! Congratulations on the pick.

Registered on October 30, 2005, 405 Posts, 3693 Comments

Comment posted by Jose Suro on February 12, 2007 at 8:33 PM

Perfect Hans! Love the slight highlight on the head. Excellent!

Jose

Registered on June 24, 2006, 267 Posts, 2273 Comments

Comment posted by Charlie VanTassel on February 13, 2007 at 10:23 AM

Hi Hans, Well deserved.....I am still chasing this bird.

Best Regards,
Charlie

Registered on October 18, 2006, 644 Posts, 4801 Comments

Comment posted by David Kjaer on February 18, 2007 at 5:17 AM

Missed this one Hans, this is 'stunning' as is much of your recent work. The detail is fantastic, the BG is great and I love that splash of irridescent purple in an otherwise subtly coloured image!

David

Registered on January 4, 2006, 128 Posts, 4170 Comments

Comment posted by Krijn Trimbos on February 19, 2007 at 6:31 AM

Sorry for my late reply Hans. This is absolutely gorgeous. Love the gorget colours. Certainly worth an editors pick!!

Registered on October 18, 2005, 260 Posts, 2979 Comments