Nice closeup! What is the yellow/ochre background? Is it your house? It makes a nice, simple background that allows you to clearly see the bird's outline.

I agree that the head looks nice behind the translucent wing. I also like the forward wing position, and the tail cocked jauntily up. The little feet are also clearly visible, a detail seldom seen in most photos.

I've been videotaping our hummingbird visitors, but my camera is not digital, so there's no easy way to share with others. I've got some pretty nice stuff, but the lighting is difficult because the birds are pretty much backlit when I film from inside the house looking out the window. If I were to go outside, I would get better lighting, but it would be hard to get as close without frightening them. I've got excellent optical zoom capability, so I suppose if I could get within 15 feet, I could get some worthwhile stuff--but not nearly as close as your fine example.

That is a great shot, especially for a first attempt.

For those of you not also on the GW Bluebirding Forum, Dave in Va is a legend over there! His photos of Bluebirds are totally amazing and of incredible detail and quality. You might want to take a trip over there and look for his postings.

Dave, if you could put all these shots on a website to be shared, it would be wonderful. So glad you are trying your hand (and camera!) with the hummies, too. Just don't let your hard drive die before you get the best ones copied (that happened a few weeks ago; what a shame.)

If you post on any other site, let us know. Thanks!!!!!!

LindaSkyview
Western NC mountains

Dave, absolutely beautiful. Thanks so much for sharing. I will look for your entries on the bluebirding forum as Linda suggests.

Dave, not bad for a first attempt! LOL! I couldn't get something like that after a thousand attempts! GREAT SHOT! Janie

So beautiful it kinda makes me want to cry. You do fantastic work.

Thanks, everyone, for the kind words.

Kristin, the color you see in the background is the afternoon sun on the railing next to the steps leading up to the deck behind the house.

I try to shoot wide open. This gives me the fastest shutter speed so I can hopefully stop the wing motion. At the distance to the subject (10 feet or less, in most cases) this shortens the depth of field to just a few inches. The railing is only a few feet behind the bird, but far enough out of focus that it blurs nicely.

Dave

A really unusual shot. Thanks. Sandy

Very impressive...beautiful!!