Anna's Salute

[Lon_Overacker]

Critique Style: Standard

The photographer is looking for thoughtful feedback on the image as a whole, especially around the areas noted below.

Feedback Focus: Artistic + Technical

About This Image

I’ve mentioned in some comments that I recently added a long zoom to my kit. After seeing a few of the guys with their NIkkor 180-600’s, AND seeing all the great bird and landscape images here, I knew I wanted to go beyond what I had at 400mm. In addition to the price,
that Nikon lens is a beast! I don’t know if I settled, or compromised… but I ended up buying the Tamron 150-500mm. Wow, I’m impressed so far! Yeah, it’s not fast at f/6.7 @ 500mm, but it’s sharp and the focus tracking is amazing. So I’m happy. We’ll see what you all think as I post some images coming up.

This one I’m posting more for the pose and animation. Of course a lucky click, but I think this one is fun. I particularly like the bokeh and the positioning of the hummer. Do you have a better title than “Anna’s Salute?”

Feedback Requested

I’m very happy with the 3D focus tracking. It does a great job locking on to the eyes - yes, the eyes of a hummingbird! I’m about 12ft away… The bg shrubs/vegetation are a good 20ft beyond, so I’m getting a nice, soft background At f/8, it’s pretty hard to get the entire body sharp, but even if only the head, eye and bill are sharp, I’m pretty good with that.

I’m really interested in a couple things. Technically, how does this stack up as a bird or hummingbird image? Also, is the “one-wing salute” worthy and does the bokey rings help or hurt the image?

Your thoughts and suggestions for better image and/or technique will be greatly appreciated

Technical Details

Camera: NIKON Z 8
Lens: TAMRON 150-500mm F/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD A057Z
Focal length: 467mm
Shutter speed: 1/1000s
Aperture: f/8
ISO: 8000

Processing Notes: First step is applying Denoise in ACR (I don’t use LR, but same engine.) I’ll then decide on a crop (this is about 40%?) I’ll go thru with cloning/healing for any artifacts - birdseed on the bill… specs, whatever, basic cleanup. Then I apply TK’s Linear Profile and and begin basic exposure adjustments; besides the highlights thru shadows, I usually use a little Dehaze, and targeted color adjustments. Then in PS I have an action to create a new ACR layer as a Smart Object so I can go back and tweak when needed. At this point, I also add a Topaz Denoise layer too! Yes, I’m using both the ACR and Topaz. I’m wondering if that’s a good idea or not?

[Allen_Sparks]

Hi Lon, I think this is a very nice hummingbird image especially as it seems to me it was taken in rather low light. As you mention, what matters most is sharp - the eye, beak, and most of the body. So I would definitely call this a keeper. Of course at 1/1000s there will be significant motion blur in the wings which is not necessarily a negative. It just depends on what you are after and what conditions you are shooting in. The title fits nicely I think. Getting nice color as you have on the throat and even top of the head is fine plus.

I am wondering if you have a place with direct sunlight (morning or evening) that you could try as well just to see what different outcomes there may be. I was shooting flying bluebirds recently in mid morning light and was able to shoot at ISO 6400, f16, and 1/6400s and then use DXO Pure Raw for noise reduction. I mention that just to give possible food for thought if you have a sunlit area for hummingbird photos.

I seem to be in the minority but I am not a big fan of large circular bokeh balls. There seems to be plenty of others here who are fans so take my preference with a grain of salt.

[Jim_Zablotny]

The bokeh are fairly strong and they do go with the lighting that you encountered during the bout of hummingbird photography. The red gorget can be difficult to get and you captured that beautifully. To improve your hummingbird photography, try to get them when they are coming in to feed. This will provide context (flower) and bump your shutter speed at 1/3000 sec or faster if you have the light. I think that the more lateral shots will give you a chance of some nice views of the wings with a small amount of motion blur. Hummingbirds can be trained to come into a well positioned feeder with strategically placed flowers and will give you lots of chances at getting good shots of feeding at flowers. Red, blue, or pink Salvia are a hummingbird’s favorite snack bar…Jim

[Huw_Thomas]

Hi Lon

This image really works for me and the asymmetric wings make the shot much more unusual. The bokeh does shout rather loudly - I would darken/blur it a bit - but it does look ok as is. I would loose the second bokeh spot to the left, and play with the balance a little cropping from the right? …maybe … maybe not - I do like your crop lots!

The bird seems very adept juggling - expertly balancing the ball with its wing
Regards

Huw

[David_Schoen]

Lon;

You got really nice positioning and nice motion blur in the wings. Excellent view of the gorget. The asymmetry in the wings is pleasing. Does seem a little dark to me. And like Allen, I’m also not a fan of large bokeh balls, primarily, because this one really pulls my eye away from the main subject who is almost less luminous than the object on the left side of the image.

[Youssef_Ismail]

Well…look who has become the bird photographer.

Seriously Lon, this is just great. I love how the focus just locked on to the eye and froze the humming bird - it is tack sharp, except for the wings of course, but I think that is fine as those slightly blurred wings give us information that it is flying.

I’m on the fence about the bright bokeh blurred bright spot. On the one hand, it is positioned perfectly, almost like the humming bird is presenting it to us, kind of like Vanna White revealing he next letter. But on the other hand, it is bright and does pull the eye to it.

Either way, it is a great photo, I would not change a thing, and a great introduction to many more great bird photos from you to come.

[Glenys_Passier]

Wow! What not to like about this Lon.

I love the eye contact and the overall sharpness is great.

I’m on the fence with the bokeh ball. I love them, but this one is big..and bright. maybe toning it down, blurring it or remove it altogether just for comparison.

Hope we get to see more bird photos!

[Mark_Seaver]

Lon, this is a fine catch on this hummer. I do like the single wing salute with the oof highlight adding interest. Ihe gorget shows well and that single spot of magenta on the head is a good extra. I could see going to a vertical, with a bit less on the right. Hummers are small and move fast, so photos are a challenge. Around here most hummer photos are taken as they come to feeding stations. That lets the photog’s set up and wait.

[Peter_Morrissey (Peter J. Morrissey)]

Hi Lon

The Nikon 180-600mm is a heavy lens. Overall, the Anna’s Hummingbird looks very nice. I do have some questions about your Processing. First thing, before any denoising, I could set the crop, make all color, level correction, and cloning changes. Only after that would I apply sharpening and denoising. This creates fewer artifacts and a smaller file. If you are going to use TK’s Linear Profile, I would think that should become the first step. (Getting a correct baseline to start with. ) Have you ever looked at DXO PhotoLab? ACR & LR have much better cloning/healing tools, but DXO PhotoLab has the best denoising, lens files, and level correction on the market. Plus, you don’t have to go in and out of 3 software programs to get a great-looking photograph.

Peter

Ps DXO PhotoLab can not make Glanys’s Great Egret shadow box-portrayed. For that, you would need something like ACR or LR.

[Lon_Overacker]

Wow, Thank You @Allen_Sparks , @Jim_Zablotny , @Huw_Thomas , @David_Schoen , @Youssef_Ismail , @Glenys_Passier , @Mark_Seaver and @Peter_Morrissey !

First post of a hummer and I’m already learning so much! In fact I’ll post a couple images below to illustrate the discussion. The cropped version was taken later last evening after my post.

First though, I’d like to comment on the “bokeh ball”. New term for me, so that’s awesome. But it’s clear to me that I’m the only one who see’s what I was intending with the post. Now my title didn’t help, but I left the “bokeh ball” big and fairly bright because my impression was that the one-winged hummer was holding up the ball… as if it was going to toss it, or presenting it. The capture and post was more symbolic than what we might call a biologic image of a bird. If that makes sense. But 100% agree with most, that in general, big distractions like this are just that, distractions and take away from the image and detail of the bird. So in the end, my impression was a one-armed bird holding up the spotlight, or whatever. Totally get though, that this was only in my own mind… LOL!

@Allen_Sparks

I mention that just to give possible food for thought if you have a sunlit area for hummingbird photos.

Thanks for the tips and thoughts Allen. I’m already brainstorming where I set up a new flowery feeding station, what flowering perenials to go get and what/how I’m gonna improve my backyard. As it is, our standard feeder, is just hanging on a weather vane yard art, underneath a pretty big fruitless mulberry tree and another tree where this area is shaded most all the day.

@Allen_Sparks

I seem to be in the minority but I am not a big fan of large circular bokeh balls

I get it and don’t disagree. Another aspect of this not really related to photographing birds, but given this lens is new to me, I’ve been paying attention to the quality of images, focusing performance and yes, bokeh. And I’m pretty darn happy with the lens so far. There are many images, maybe I’ll be sharing some, where I really like the bokeh because it’s more subtle and less distracting. And like cropping, bokeh and it’s presence has its place, is subjective and personal preference.

@Jim_Zablotny

To improve your hummingbird photography, try to get them when they are coming in to feed. This will provide context (flower) and bump your shutter speed at 1/3000 sec or faster if you have the light.

Thanks Jim for the tip/advice. I had been shooting at 1/1000th, but was able to bump up to 1/3200th during a little brighter time of the day. Still, the iso was way up at 16,000. Clearly, not bright enough light. And the image below shows the difference in stopping action; the wings aren’t perfectly frozen like when flash is involved, but definitely more detail than my original post above. And thanks for the tips on the flowers. I’m definitely going to be working on my backyard setup and improvements.

@Huw_Thomas

I would loose the second bokeh spot to the left, and play with the balance a little cropping from the right?

Good call on your edits Huw, thank you. I already mentioned the bokeh and my intent was more symbolism… but I do like your crop too!

@Youssef_Ismail

On the one hand, it is positioned perfectly, almost like the humming bird is presenting it to us, kind of like Vanna White revealing he next letter.

Thank you Youssef! I’m glad somebody got it! Again, I won’t argue the distraction of the “ball,” but at least you got the message!

@Peter_Morrissey

First thing, before any denoising, I could set the crop, make all color, level correction, and cloning changes. Only after that would I apply sharpening and denoising. This creates fewer artifacts and a smaller file. If you are going to use TK’s Linear Profile, I would think that should become the first step. (Getting a correct baseline to start with. ) Have you ever looked at DXO PhotoLab?

Peter, wow, thank you so, so much for the workflow tips. I may hit you up on DM or I just may experiment with my workflow… I’m a creature of habit on the one hand, but on the other, I’m always wanting to learn new and better techniques and workflow.

I may also start a separate discussion on the denoise process and tools. I’d be very interested in DXO PhotoLab as I see many folks here use it. I’ll need to research more before forking out a couple hundred bucks… (oh sure Lon… how much did you pay for your lens??? yeah, yeah…)

This whole thread has been so very helpful for me. Thank you to all!

Oh, a couple of examples for illustration. The first is a full frame shot taken early morning to show the feeder and the size and needed crop for the hummers. The second was in the evening when the area around the feeder and the bg were much brighter and I was able to get 1/3200s ss. Didn’t quite nail the focus and the wing position isn’t great, but the wing detail and stopping action much better at the higher speed! And I like the bg!

[Youssef_Ismail]

@Lon_Overacker

Thank you Youssef! I’m glad somebody got it! Again, I won’t argue the distraction of the “ball,” but at least you got the message!

Yes Lon, I have always felt we think alike photographically.

[Dennis_Plank]

Hi Lon. This is a very good first try at hummingbird photography. There are a ton of ways to approach this genre. Some of us like to stop the wings and some, like myself, don’t, so I don’t have any issues shooting them as low as 1/640th. I would be cautious about combining multiple noise reduction methods-I’m noticing some odd smoothness to the top of the head in this image that doesn’t seem to go with the rest of the plumage and I think it may have gotten oversmoothed.
The pose is very cool and I like your title. Catching them at or near a flower can be lots of fun and even at a feeder, they usually drink for awhile then back away a couple of inches and hover for a second or three which can provide great opportunities for hovering images.

It sounds like that lens is going to work very well for you and I do love the versatility and lightness of the medium fast zooms.

P.S. Here’s another vote for DxO’s noise reduction. I just use their PureRaw program which makes lens corrections and noise reduction. It’s not outrageous and updates are modestly priced with no subscription.

[Lon_Overacker]

@Dennis_Plank

I’m noticing some odd smoothness to the top of the head in this image that doesn’t seem to go with the rest of the plumage and I think it may have gotten oversmoothed.

Thank you Dennis. I’ve been wondering about the end results of the noise reduction. I think most times when presenting small web images, most things aren’t noticable - except of course by another eagle-eyed photographer!

@Dennis_Plank

P.S. Here’s another vote for DxO’s noise reduction.

Definitely going to look in to this. I’ve already figured out there are a couple of options… the “PhotoLab” is a more robust RAW processing tool, whereas PureRaw is more a stand alone noise reduction tool. I guess much like Topaz.

I’m also still trying to figure out the best workflow.

Thanks again everyone!

[Preston_Birdwell]

I am late to the party, as usual, Lon, but I love this.

When I first saw it, my thought was the hummer was signaling for a left turn.

Carry on, sir! Your bird images are getting better and better!
-P