Costa's Hummingbird + REWORK

[debbie_campbell]

Rework:

Original:

Critique Style Requested: Standard

The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.

Description

I believe this is a female Costa’s hummer based on other shots of what I thought was the same bird, but now think I was watching an immature male and a female in the same flower bed. But I don’t know for sure.

This was at the Sonora Desert Museum in Tucson. I watched this hummer repeatedly land on the same ocatillo cactus, look around, work the flowers for a few minutes then leave. I stayed in place for about 40 minutes of this and got some great shots. Other people walked through the area, assumed there was nothing to see and kept going. I felt happy I’d been patient enough to stay put in the hot sun long enough to understand the behavior that was happening, and privileged to get so much time with the bird(s).

Specific Feedback

“Arty-ness” of the shot, the crop, and any general feedback welcome.

Technical Details

Fuji X-H2S, 1/4000s, f/7.1, ISO 2000, 406mm

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[Dennis_Plank]

Typical Hummingbird behavior, Debbie. This doesn’t look like an Ocatillo, but I do like the flowers and the hummingbird is nicely done. The bright desert light reflecting off the ground kind of washes out the detail in the side of the bird-you might try boosting the texture or some other means of contrast boost there. Other than that, a fine image.

[Sandy_Richards-Brown]

Nice! You picked a perfect SS to stop wing action, and an F-stop to get DOF detail - good work! I think that’s one of the Salvias. I like the purples and greens, and your comp.
As Dennis mentioned, the bird’s breast could be darkened. The dark blobs of the flowers are a little distracting, so they could be lightened up.
Quite a nice image!

[Peter_Morrissey (Peter J. Morrissey)]

Hi Debbie
Your patience paid off with a well-balanced Hummingbird photograph. Nice work.
Peter

[Allen_Brooks]

My kind of bird photo, Debbie, where the setting by itself would make a pleasing image. I really like the flowers, which is what initially drew my attention, and the hummer takes it over the top. Beautiful.

[debbie_campbell]

Thanks @Dennis_Plank - the ocatillo is actually not in this image but nearby. And @Sandy_Richards-Brown I lightened up the darker background flowers, and increased the contrast in the bird’s front area.

Thank you @Peter_Morrissey and @Allen_Brooks for the comments.

[Dave_Douglass]

Very nice image. What you have here is a Cleveland sage. I have planted 4 of them along the edge of our house. Not only do they smell, and look great but they attract lots of critters. Hummingbirds, hummingbird moths, bees, etc.

[debbie_campbell]

Thanks @Dave_Douglass for the plant ID!

[Ingrid_Vekemans]

The reworked photo is tops! Beautiful bird and setting. And patience is the most important quality a wildlife photographer must have. It paid off, well done!
Grt, Ingrid.

[Jim_Zablotny]

Salvia flowerrs aree gold to hummingbirds. Pose is perfect and well worth the wait. Excellent photo and rework puts it over the top…Jim

[debbie_campbell]

Thanks @Jim_Zablotny and @Ingrid_Vekemans

[Sandy_Richards-Brown]

Ummmm… I don’t see a difference…maybe just me or my uncalibrated computer…