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Lucifer Hummingbird The detail captured in this shot was the result of using (3) speedlites at close distances (approx 15 - 20cm). I positioned the light sources in the normal glide path it uses to get to a feeder. I think I took over 50 shots during a 4 hours shoot and captured just a handful of keepers. Calothorax lucifer,Calypte costae,Costas hummingbird,Lucifer sheartail Click/tap to enlarge Promoted

Lucifer Hummingbird

The detail captured in this shot was the result of using (3) speedlites at close distances (approx 15 - 20cm). I positioned the light sources in the normal glide path it uses to get to a feeder. I think I took over 50 shots during a 4 hours shoot and captured just a handful of keepers.

    comments (3)

  1. View Ferdy Christant's profile
    Ferdy Christant
    Lion
    View Lion class
    Oh my god, and so worthwhile! Thanks for sharing the "making of". Posted 10 years ago
  2. View Pducros's profile
    Pducros
    Giant Tortoise
    View Giant Tortoise class
    Having recently tried using flashes with hummingbirds - I can say it is not that easy to get a shot as sharp and good as this - well done and thanks for sharing Posted 10 years ago
    1. View Stephen Philips's profile
      Stephen Philips
      Lion
      View Lion class
      Thanks! It isn't easy. The only way to do it is use short flash durations (lowering power to 1/32 or 1/64) at close, close, close range. Manually set your camera to underexpose significantly with an aperture that will get you a birds worth of DOF (each lens will be different) and select the lowest ISO that will still get you good flash exposure. All settings should provide you with little to no ambient contribution. You are only exposing for the flash contribution. Then be patient and fire away at the right times! Posted 10 years ago, modified 10 years ago

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The Costas hummingbird

Costa's hummingbird is a species of hummingbird. Costa's hummingbird is fairly common in the arid brushy deserts and any nearby gardens of the Southwestern United States and the Baja California Peninsula of Mexico.

Info 10 0
Similar species: Swifts And Hummingbirds
Species identified by Stephen Philips
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By Stephen Philips

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Uploaded May 12, 2015.
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