Caedes

  Hummingbird #1  

Click here to view at full resolution.
Uploaded: 08/10/14 7:16 AM GMT
Hummingbird #1
Views: 1508
Dlds: 766
Status: active

A frame from a video I shot today of the local bully. I'm pretty sure he's a standard issue male Anna's hummingbird. Any ID help would be appreciated. Anyway, he's a real pain in the neck for other hummingbirds that try to land on his feeder. He dominates the backyard, but not completely. A younger hummingbird has been sneaking in to feed while he and his mate are away. The bird above makes a high-pitched trilling sound as he flies - I imagine it's his version of the terror sirens used on the Stuka dive bombers from WWII. I don't know if the trilling is a vocalization or is produced by his wings. The video was shot from about 18 inches with the same gear I normally do macrophotography with, a Canon 6D and a Canon 180mm macro lens. The rig sits on top of a Sirui monopod that has fold-down 'legs'. It's not as stable as a tripod mount, but it sets up fast. The birds have gradually gotten used to me, and will occasionally land and feed at arms distance. That's an incredibly cool moment. Realistically though, it seems to be more of a resigned tolerance for my presence than genuine acceptance. To get the best results, I set up the shot, start the video and leave for 10-15 minutes. Out of an hour's shooting, I might get a few minutes of interesting footage, and occasionally, it's gold. Their incredible agility and speed remind me of fish racing through the water. These little birds just have to paddle a little bit faster.

Comments

Post a Comment  -  Subscribe to this discussion
.Bleizmor
08/10/14 9:09 AM GMT
Superb capture and perfect clarity, very nice! Well done , Russ.
5∈ [?]
.casechaser
08/10/14 1:09 PM GMT
Incredible detail, Russ, in the picture and in the narrative.
5∈ [?]
::tigger3
08/10/14 1:09 PM GMT
This is the best close up of a hummer that I have seen. I checked out your two links, and I'm going with the male Rufous.
I think this would make a great contest entry in a bird magazine. Just excellent and fave for me. Tigs♥ =^..^=
5∈ [?]
Nature in all her glory is my uplift on life and so is my love of photography. sandi ♪ ♫
.ryzst
08/10/14 6:53 PM GMT
Thank you everyone. I really appreciate that.

These guys are so serious and so comical at the same time.

The best videos I might share online, but I'm still considering.
0∈ [?]
There are more things in heaven and earth, than are dreamt of in your philosophy. W.S.
::Constance52347
08/11/14 2:29 AM GMT
Amazing detail! You captured his personality well in this portrait! lol
5∈ [?]
::LynEve
08/11/14 12:13 AM GMT
Love the lighting emphasizing those golden feathers and the sharply focused head make that eye look extra beady !
5∈ [?]
My thanks to all who leave comments for my work and to those of you who like one enough to make it a favourite. To touch just one person that way makes each image worthwhile. . . . . . . . . .. . . . "The question is not what you look at, but what you see" ~ Marcel Proust
+purmusic
10/31/14 2:29 AM GMT
"The video was shot from about 18 inches with the same gear I normally do macrophotography with, a Canon 6D and a Canon 180mm macro lens. The rig sits on top of a Sirui monopod that has fold-down 'legs'. It's not as stable as a tripod mount, but it sets up fast. The birds have gradually gotten used to me, and will occasionally land and feed at arms distance. That's an incredibly cool moment. Realistically though, it seems to be more of a resigned tolerance for my presence than genuine acceptance. To get the best results, I set up the shot, start the video and leave for 10-15 minutes. Out of an hour's shooting, I might get a few minutes of interesting footage, and occasionally, it's gold."

Much like.. your accompanying narrative.

:o)


Mesmerizing image.

The intimacy imparted and afforded the viewer.. is most impressive.
5∈ [?]
::photoeye68
11/29/15 9:08 AM GMT
This is an impressive photograph of this handsome fella.
5∈ [?]
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
alamia
09/02/16 10:18 AM GMT
nice, thank you
5∈ [?]
We can provide all kinds of graphic editing service like clipping path, multi-clipping path, image masking, background removal, images retouch, Image editing, Shadow creation

Leave a comment (registration required):

Subject: