Boy are these mothers are hard to shoot

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

and




btw, anyone know what kind this guy is?

[CC]

1. Looks like a female Ruby Throat.

Great catch. They do move fast don't they.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

2. especially when you consider the red flower is

at most 1 inch across

[ElsewheresDaughter]

3. I know what the fauna is....Beebalm....great photos!!!

[chitty]

4. You're not kidding.

I took this one very early the other morning.

I kinda like his shadow on the wall behind.

[Maestro]

6. Great shot Chitty.

I'm still trying to get a shot of one feeding from a flower.

[CC]

10. Beautiful and I am

jealous. I only get shots of them at the feeder. They like to hide in my tree but they always get somewhere that I can't get a shot.

[Maestro]

5. Good shots

And you are correct! They are very difficult to photograph. You almost certainly need a good external flash so you can up the shutter speed to the stop the action and then stop down the lens to control the DOF.

[intheflow]

7. I am always amazed at photographs of hummingbirds.

I try and I try to catch them, but usually they come out blurry. Here's my best shot--obviously it sucks, it was too back lit and I didn't want to use a flash for fear of scaring them away. So how'd you do that?



BTW, that's my favorite variety of bee balm. I had it back at my home in Massachusetts, it smelled heavenly (it was a good dried potpourri flower) and attracted hummingbirds. the only time I ever saw hummingbirds in Massachusetts! I can't find the red variety of bee balm here in Colorado, the nurseries all look at me like I'm crazy for even suggesting there is a red variety. Purple bee balm grows wild out here, and the nurseries carry that variety, but it just doesn't smell anywhere near as good as the red.

[CC]

9. You could get it online.

http://springhillnursery.com/product.asp_Q_pn_E_55533 Not that you have to get it here since others sell it to. I know I have been running across the red at a lot of places. Unless CO has a problem with it being shipped to the state. I know I am going to dig up and send Blue some Lilies of the Valley since every where I look says they cannot ship to AK.

[intheflow]

11. Ooh!

Lillies of the Valley! That's another flower I haven't seen in Colorado, but that I miss form back east. I'm moving into a new place soon that will have a backyard I can plant stuff in, I'll have to remember this link. I used to order from Spring Hill all the time, from a hard copy catalog, back before the WWW. Their stuff always grew well for me in Massachusetts. Thanks, CC! :hi:

[CC]

12. Glad I could help.

Then again, should I dig up some Lillie of the Valley bulbs to send to you too? I started with 3 and have hundreds now so doubt it will matter much if I dig up some more for you. I would just be careful that the Bee Balm isn't considered invasive in your area, and the Lillie of the Valley though they are easier to control.

Careful though because Terry killed my last Aspen tree that I brought back from CO. :cry: so the next person that drives east from there is going to be begged to bring Aspens with them.:evilgrin: I brought 3 back with me in 93, Terry ran over one, Poppy another one and this one I don't know what he did but it was a good 25 feet tall and beautiful dammit. Why do men think they can drive in the backyard?

[chitty]

13. How'd I do that?

Getting up early, patience, a decent camera and flash, and a whole boatload of luck.

[intheflow]

14. Thank you for not giving me a technical answer.

I am not a techie camera person at all. f-stops, light meters, what have you--when I hear those techie answers my eyes glaze over and I might as well be reading detailed engineering specs. I'm able to do the technical stuff while I've got the camera in my hand, but that's from being taught by real people, not by reading about it. So while I may not understand the techical aspects of shooting, I am totally down with time of day, patience and boatloads of luck! :hi:

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

16. Same with me

but mine was in the evening

[DS1]

8. Best I could do at the time

Standoff over the sugar water between bird and bee

[chitty]

15. Here's another

from the same morning.

[bvar22]

17. Hummingbirds are tough.

I am lucky. We have a bunch.
They have wars at the feeders, especially in the evenings.
If you wear red, you are asking for a buzzing!

I've been questing for good HBird shots for a couple of years.
These are the best so far.






I'm not happy yet.
The shot I want is two males Facing Off, standing on their spread tails, flashing red in a vertical climb.
Those of you with Hummingbirds know what I'm talking about.

[chitty]

19. Wow......

Those are some wonderful pix!

[mth44sc]

18. some of the best I've ever seen...

can be found here

http://www.flickr.com/photos/hogsedj/sets/72157594158048796/

Only way I was ever able to get a shot of one was when he crashed into the window and was too dazed to morve...

[chitty]

20. I took this one today...........

[suninvited]

21. I want to get some at a flower, too

so far I only have shots at the feeder.

src="" width="500" height="473" alt="Hummer" /></a>

[chitty]

22. That's an awesome shot!!!!