The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
I was so excited to see this hummer in my yard. They don’t come around here very often. I had to hurry get my camera and start shooting before he was gone. There was a Crape Myrtle tree in the BG I didn’t realize was there until later. I think the pink flowers kinda frame him in. I was so excited I just kept hitting the shutter hoping to get a good shot. I think this was my best.
Specific Feedback
All help is appreciated. Did I crop to much? It’s not as clear and crisp as I had hoped. Is there like standard camera settings when shooting hummers? I almost caught wings still.
Technical Details
Canon 5D SR, 70-200mm, f/5.6, ISO 1600, hand held no time for tripod
Used Topaz to for noise and PS to crop, curves, lighting, saturation.
Critique Template
Use of the template is optional, but it can help spark ideas.
Hi John, nice pose of the hummer you caught especially this being a “run and get it” shot. The wings are in a good position and I think some blur in the wings is perfectly fine to show motion. What shutter speed did you use?
Yes, I think you could add more space on the right where the bird is facing. I could see toning down the brighter parts of the BG.
Tough shooting conditions with the bird being in the shade and backlit. Ideally when shooting hummingbirds in natural light, I wait at a flower they are habitually coming to with the sun at my back and shutter speed at 1/3200s or faster. This sun angle would also produce a catchlight in the eye.
Thanks @Allen_Sparks, this was a fast-acting shot. I’m not sure of the SS was. I couldn’t move from where I was at for fear of getting NO shot. I know lighting is everything and it wasn’t the best for this shot. I ck to see what other people use for settings but it seems there is no set of settings. The faster SS seems to be a key factor. I see the brightness all around the BG, mostly the bottom Lt.
I’m going to put out a feeder as my flowers are about gone now. Hopefully he will come back … WHEN I’M READY and WAITING!
Thanks for the help
Very good, especially for a first go around, John. You might select the hummingbird and bring the shadows up in it. You can select it in PS using the Select menu item and selecting Subject. It should work well with that background. A curves adjustment layer on the hummingbird should do a nice job of bringing up the darker areas.
You might want to check your local community colleges for available classes. There are also some videos you can pick up that are quite good and we have a woman in our camera club that does one-on-one on-line instruction, though I don’t know how expensive she is.
I’ve taken a few PS classes in the past. There is just so, so much it has and can do. I do watch videos and use the help button. Time, is the biggest factor in getting inside PS. I work at it as I can and slowly. Thanks!!!
Put up a feeder where you can get some light on the bird against a quiet, darker BG. Full sun can do if the sun is right behind you to minimize shadows, but soft light is better. Tape over all the feeder ports but one and position it so you can get them in the instants they back off – then you’ll have a chance to get good focus.
Thanks Diane, @Diane_Miller I’ve already been outside today looking for a spot. My problem is finding a good BG. I don’t have a lot of room. I’ll find somewhere. Putting tape over the ports is such a good idea! I will use that.
There are a lot of great pictures of hummers on this site. Its nice to go through them and see what others have shot and with what and how.
John. The nice thing about hummingbirds is you don’t need much of a background. Lots of people take a very out of focus picture of a flower garden, print it on matte paper (or have it printed) and put it behind where they intend to photograph the hummingbird. If you have a little more room, a piece of fabric a bit further back so it will be well out of focus will work.
Hummingbirds are a tough catch, but you did well with this one. The repost looks very nice. I have 8 feeders up in the yard and lots of hummingbird flowers (Cuphea, Salvia) for nectar. After nesting, I have had over 13 hummingbirds in the yard at one time. Hummingbirds quickly learn where good sources of nectar are and will modify their foraging tactics to include these optimal areas for foraging. You will be getting some good shots in the future and the repost came out very well…Jim
Thanks for the repost comment Jim. I usually mess the shot up trying to improve it. I have one feeder and one little green hummer. And he is hard to catch. I wait and wait, then he is there and gone again. It’s a start, LOL. I put up an 8-foot beige umbrella behind the feeder a ways, for light and BG.
I’ve been looking up what plants and flowers I need to put in next year to attract them. I raise butterfly’s as well, so I have to look out for them too.
Both the Hummers and the Monarchs will soon migrate south. I have a little time to plan… Thanks again, Skip
