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Taking Good Bird Photos
In the world of bird photography, the hummingbird is certainly one of the most challenging to photograph. This jeweled bundle of energy has the ability to zoom around at record breaking speeds causing frustration for many a photographer. This article is to help give you some tips to help better photograph this flying marvel.
Setting out the Welcome Mat
Most places in North America are visited by hummingbirds, some year round, others seasonally. Just ask your local Audubon Society on when you should put out your hummingbird feeders. You can also find out if the hummingbirds in your area migrate so you can remove the feeders in time for the hummingbirds to migrate and avoid freezing in the cold.
Every serious hummingbird photographer needs to have a good hummingbird feeder. When looking for a feeder, make sure you have one that is easy to clean and that it is easy to fill with sugar water.
Most birders advise 4 parts water to 1 part sugar however some recommend using a 3:1 mixture. Keep the feeders filled so that the hummingbirds don't head to a more reliable nectar station. However you should take them down periodically to clean but put them right back up. Remember to never use food coloring because it is not needed to attract them and can cause a dangerous growth on the hummingbirds beaks that can harm them.
Hummingbird Feeders, Perches and Flowers
The biggest challenge with taking hummingbird pictures is that they rarely hold still. They are almost constantly darting here and there. Many photographers make the mistake of trying to follow them with their camera in hand. However don't try following the hummingbirds but instead be patient and stay in one location.
You want to consider the type of pictures you want, and then set things up to increase your chances of getting these photos. After that, it's a matter of getting comfy and having your camera ready. Many photographers use a stabilizer device like a tripod or monopod so the camera is always ready for the next shot. Some photographers use blinds so they can move without worrying about scaring off a hummingbird.
If you want photographs of hummingbirds hovering, remove the perches from your feeders. And if you plug all the holes but one it will be easier to get a pictures of one hummingbird at a time. You'll still have the ones that are zipping around trying to get the one at the feeder to move on, but that will happen regardless.
Now if you want to take pictures of hummingbirds perching, watch where the dominant male goes after he fills up at the feeder. Usually, hummingbirds will perch where they have a good view of the feeder. If the perch isn't in a good position for you to take pictures, you'll need to do some rearranging. Try moving the feeder near a perch so you can get a better picture.
You can also move it farther from the natural perches and add a new perch that is in a photo friendly location. The hummingbird won't mind as long as he or she can keep an eye out for intruders. The hummingbirds will get used to you and your camera eventually but movement will likely frighten them off, so don't set things up in an area of the yard that gets much activity.
If you have a particular flower that would make a lovely picture with the hummingbird but they are never there long enough for you to press the shutter release, try this photographer's trick: Using an eye dropper, gently fill the flower with some sugar water. This only works for a short time because the flower will begin to wilt after just a few hours.
As with feeders and perches, you can also hang a basket of flowers to help attract them for photographing. However no matter if you use a flower or feeder, you'll still only have about 8 seconds tops to take your pictures. Still, it pays to be patient and not press the shutter until after the hummer's had a sip of nectar. Otherwise if the flash frightens them off, they won't have as much incentive to venture back.
Check Your Background
The best background for hummingbird photography is something dark green that doesn't have any distractions in it like brown twigs or branches. If you want a mobile background try a dark green potted plant or a painted poster board. The main thing is to have a dark background that makes the hummingbird's colors pop.
Hummingbird photos in Google Images will give a good idea of what type of backgrounds work and don't work. Note how brilliantly colored hummingbirds fade into some backgrounds, like the bright green, sun lit trees and shrubs. A shaded area behind the feeder or perch also works well as a good background.
With a photo editor like Photoshop Elements, you can use the software's filters to blur the background, creating depth of field that puts the hummingbird in the spotlight so to speak. Adobe has tutorials on this on their website.
Lights, Camera, Action
Once you have your hummingbird feeding station set up, now you just need to find a comfy place to sit with your camera and tripod. In order to freeze their beating wings, you will need a high speed flash but you can still get some great pictures with a good compact camera by using these tips.
And once you get some great hummingbird pictures, make sure to share them by putting them in frames that make the photo stand out. If you have a picture with a green or dark background, simple dark green picture frames or dark wood picture frames can help set off the colorful jeweled tones of the hummingbird beautifully.
Remember, hummingbirds may be the most challenging subject in bird photography, but with some patience you will soon have a nice collection of hummingbird photography displayed in photo frames in your home.
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