Posted by Jim Zablotny on August 27, 2017 at 9:09 AM
Well, the image is not quite ready to get a passing grade from the NPN reviewers, but gives me some data for finishing the setup. I used my K5 IIs and 600 mm f5.6 manual focus lens set at f13 at iso 560. I only have 3 functional flashes and set all of them to 1/64 power. The Nikon SB-26 was easy to set up and integrated well as a slave with my Pentax gear. There's some ghosting and of course the dark and dreary background plus ugly feeder. Badger destroyed my flower that was baited with sugar water so that's why the feeder is in the shot! So it looks like at least 2 to 3 more flashes are necessary to light up the scene and a natural type of background is needed. Please provide me with additional suggestions that may help me out with this endeavor. What do you use for a background? It was a fun 20 minutes of evening light as the hummingbirds removed my paper towel plugs in the feeders. Thank you for your help.....................Jim
ps.: I worked on one of my old flashes that took a dunk in a lake and was able to get it to work. My next task is to work on a background.
Posted by Dennis Plank on August 27, 2017 at 12:53 PM
Hi Jim. I don't do flash for hummers, but your best source is probably Keith. His always look very natural and I think he uses 4 flashes.
Posted by Jim Zablotny on August 27, 2017 at 3:06 PM
Hi Dennis,
Thank you. Most of my hummingbird shots are done without flash or just a little fill flash for dark mornings. I'm just interested in getting wing positions and later on some macro beetles in flight. Nate Chappell gave me some excellent advice on slave flashes...............Jim
Jim, The slaves are great, and the hummers don't seem to mind.
Nate's Ecuador workshop was great, and we learned to use the slaves for multi-flash - it's the only way to preserve sharp detail in wings going that fast.
This is quite a good first try - far better than mne!
As far as BG's, a muted multi-colour posterboard (if you watercolour, you can make some yourself, easily) from a craft shop like Michaels, or a piece of flower-themed fabric from JoAnnes' (look at the remnnants first) works well.
Good luck - it's nice when the birds come to YOU, in your lawnchair with a beer and remote release in hand!
Discussion
3 repliesps.: I worked on one of my old flashes that took a dunk in a lake and was able to get it to work. My next task is to work on a background.
Thank you. Most of my hummingbird shots are done without flash or just a little fill flash for dark mornings. I'm just interested in getting wing positions and later on some macro beetles in flight. Nate Chappell gave me some excellent advice on slave flashes...............Jim
Nate's Ecuador workshop was great, and we learned to use the slaves for multi-flash - it's the only way to preserve sharp detail in wings going that fast.
This is quite a good first try - far better than mne!
As far as BG's, a muted multi-colour posterboard (if you watercolour, you can make some yourself, easily) from a craft shop like Michaels, or a piece of flower-themed fabric from JoAnnes' (look at the remnnants first) works well.
Good luck - it's nice when the birds come to YOU, in your lawnchair with a beer and remote release in hand!
Sandy