"Eric Miller" <ericmiller@cox-internet.com> wrote in news:WXrTd.36339
$a96.15832@bignews3.bellsouth.net:

Very nice shots Eric,

It's extremely hard to capture these little guys apparently (we dont have
them here)

With the background it looks much better when its the natural foliage
behind them and blurred, the black looks too fake.

I look forward to seeing this seasons shots, keep us informed.

Mick Brown
www.photo.net/photos/mlbrown

Dark background it's fine but with the black one, the contrast bethween bird
and background is too strong.

Daniel Houx
Qu?bec
http://pages.videotron.com/danielhp/
________________________________________

For what you have attempted, you have some excellent shots.  Good detail and
stop-action.  I really like 007.  (Anna's Hummers?)  With flash as a
significant part of the light, it is difficult not to have dark backgrounds,
unless you shoot against sky.  Only close foliage will show with flash.
Although black backgrounds can be dramatic, I generally prefer a little
color.

But you did not post a single shot of a hummer feeding at, or even sitting
on, a flower.  Shouldn't that be the goal?  Even feeding at cultivated
flowers looks better (i.e., more natural) than alone or at a feeder, IMHO.
I do the feeder shots too, but have started raising fuschia in hanging pots
for them.
--
- Alan Justice

Eric, here are a couple of sites you might find interesting with info
on setting up flash systems for hummers.  Note that doing it this way
will give multiple highlights to the eyes (which I personally don't
like), I think using soft boxes like you're doing is better than the
direct harsh flash myself.  But you may find tips on how to use another
flash to light up the background.  Some people I know actually bring
along 20x24" prints of flowers and set them up to be flashed as the
'backgrounds'.

http://www.rpphoto.com/howto/hummer/humguide1.htm
http://www.photosafaris.com/Articles/PhotographingHummingbirds.asp

Both of these guys run hummingbird photography trips to a lodge near
where I live and Ralph also takes groups to Costa Rica mainly for
hummingbird photography.  Hope this helps.  Liked your images a lot.

Bill

Those are amazing. I tend to agree with others though that the black
backgrounds are not ideal.

I happened to get lucky & saw a baby hummer:
<http://www.edgehill.net/1/?SC=go.php&DIR=California/Bay-Area/San-Francisco/our-g
arden/more/2005-03-06-hummingbird&PG=1&PIC=1>
I wish I'd pulled out the camera sooner when I was watching mother feed
it. The background is a beige building, I was eating lunch outdoors <g>.

This is the first time I have visited this newsgroup.  I am really
looking for advice on lenses which will be good with the Canon 300D.
However, I couldn`t resist looking at your hummingbird photos, Eric,
and I think they are beautiful!  It is just as well that we don`t have
them here in England, or I would spend even more time with the
camera - and more money!

Kate