For the past couple of weeks, whenever I've had a few minutes to spare—or didn't, but stole them anyway—I've been photographically stalking the ruby-throated hummingbirds which like to search for a sip of nectar among the zinnias. Hummers are challenging subjects, at least for me—zipping and zooming around like iridescent missiles, always alert and easily spooked, and most of the time perversely hovering for just a millisecond less than it takes me to get framed and focused.
My ratio of images made to images kept is deplorable. And realistically, most of the ones I do keep are only mediocre. My personal parameters are natural light, no flash, and no ISO higher than 800, though 200–400 is the goal. So far, maybe one out of every 100 images is good…not great, good. The encouraging part is that when I first began, it was more like one out of every 250; I'm obviously improving, albeit slowly. As I said, hummers are, for me, challenging.
Nevertheless, in some inexplicable way, I find this whole masochistic endeavor relaxing.
Nevertheless, in some inexplicable way, I find this whole masochistic endeavor relaxing.
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| One of the sulphur (orange?) butterflies, and a carpenter bee. |
Between visiting hummers, I naturally take shots of whatever else I see lurking about the multicolored blooms—mostly butterflies and bees. So far, I must have recorded two or three dozen different creatures. And if I go back through my photo files to, say, late-June, when the first zinnia flowers appeared, I could probably add an additional dozen. No doubt I've missed far more species than I've recorded—especially the smaller stuff.
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| Iridescent green sweat bee, I think a syrphid fly, and an unknown wasp. |
That's a lot of life for one small patch of flowers! Obviously, the bright colors help attract potential pollinators. It pays to advertise. But then, who doesn't like to make regular visits to a place serving good eats? Which is why I've come to think of my walkway blooms as The Zinnia Café.
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| Green hopper. |
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21 comments:
Griz: I love the second hummingbird photo. That one really is a keeper!
Terrific photos, Grizz, especially the header photo of the hummer. I'm in awe. Try as I may to photograph the hummingbirds, I have never been able to get an acceptable shot. They are too fast and fleeting for me, though to think of it, that may be the reason I am attracted to them in the first place. Great color in all of the photos, reminding me that this simple phenomenon — color — is one of our greatest gifts.
OMG!!!! These are FAB!!!! I had no idea hummers could handle zinnias...!
Hummingbirds are a persoanl favorite, but I think I love those insect shots even more — perhaps because I haven't gotten enough of them myself.
The 'Zinnia Cafe' is a popular spot. Your hummingbird images are great, they make mine look pitiful!
Carolyn…
I like that one, too, though I like the eye contact and colors in the first one. But hey, it's like the pie table at a family reunion down South…nothing says you have to choose only one!
George…
Thank you. Please believe that I mean this in this nicest possible way—but I'm kinda glad to hear you also have trouble photographing hummingbirds. I've been wondering if it was just me. I still haven't managed a great shot, but I have several about like what you see here…though I can't begin to guess how many missed and messed up ones it's taken. Thank God for digital! I'd be broke if it were film.
Really, the only reason I'm improving is because I'm learning to anticipate the birds and their movements, and positioning myself to take advantage of what I think they'll do, while also thinking light, background, contrast, etc. And of course, about 80% of the time, I'm wrong…but that's up from 99% earlier. If I could spend hours each day at it, I'd bet on a great shot in couple of weeks—luck being on my side. Alas, I don't have days and days, and soon, the birds will head south. Maybe by this time next year I'll have managed that killer image.
Don't bet the farm on it, though…they're still hummingbirds.
Giggles…
Thank you. And yup, they love the zinnias, and also the red canna lilies. More so than the butterfly bushes or any other blooms in my yard. They often check out both while making their rounds, or on their way to and from the feeders.
Plant some—they'll come.
Loren…
I think almost everyone likes looking at birds photos, and I certainly like taking them; but images of insects, especially if they're not dragonflies or butterflies are less popular—though often brilliantly colored, and IMHO, just as much fun to make.
Maybe birds have better press agents than bugs?
Wanda…
Well, for what it's worth, I think you do some really wonderful images. That's what drew me to Moment of Mine in the first place—and I still count your lovely blog among my favorites. Your photography is excellent.
Trust me, these are just two of the mere handful of good hummingbird shots I've managed out of hundreds of failures. It's as much the "even a blind hog finds an acorn every so often" effect as it is skill or equipment. Shoot enough and you're bound to get lucky now and then.
Hahaha....I love the photo of the hopper draped across the flower--so incongruous! I've been watching our hummers too and have been sketching and drawing them. It's almost bittersweet now. I love them so...but know they will soon be leaving us. Your photos are fab! Grandma always said hummers love the zinnias!
Kelly…
Your grandmother was right—hummers love zinnias. Of the plants I have, they prefer them to anything else. Second on the list would be the canna lilies. I also understand the bittersweet mood, and feel the same…time and season are running out for "our" shimmering little hummingbirds.
That ol' green hopper does look rather kicked-back and indolent, the perfect picture of end-of-summer torpescence.
I work closely with a highly experienced natural-light undersea photographer. He reports to me that he still gets only one "keeper" out of 250 images made, and he's been at it semi-professionally for 30 years. Don't beat yourself up--these are tough subjects!
Scott…
I know I seem like a perfectionist about my photos…and I suppose the truth is, I am. When I was hot and heavy into freelance and assignment magazine work, I was super critical about my images because I knew editors and art directors doing the layout would be. Photos could make or break your story. The 3,500-plus articles I sold before moving into other sorts of writing required a lot of images—and old ways die hard.
In a day's shoot, I'd average about 8–10, 36-exposure rolls of transparency film. Because I was writing a lot of fly-fishing and angling pieces, plus travel stuff, many pix were scenics, landscapes, long-to-midrange shots, and sort of portraits of fishermen, fish, tackle, etc. Pretty straightforward as to framing, focusing, and getting a good exposure. So my average of "keeper" images was high.
When I photographed wildlife/nature subjects—jumping fish, mayflies, or similar tricky/difficult things I came across and decided to write about or include in a piece—or in challenging locations, those high-yield averages went out the window. I know all about tossing 250 images for every one kept—and I've done it when we're talking Kodachrome! Trash cans filled with expensive little yellow boxes and mounted slides.
Then I put away my film cameras for several years. My work changed. My life changed. The world changed. Digital took over. I decided I wanted to start making pictures again and bought a new camera. And I've had to relearn some photographic lessons I used to teach—plus learn some new ones, too. But I've never lost that perfectionist mentality, the attitude that I want my images to be as good as possible given the limitations of my equipment…and of course, also I also want the better equipment I don't have. But not in the same way I strive to improve myself and work.
That's what you hear when I say an image is good but not great. I'm not so much whining in dissatisfaction as resetting my sights. And in many ways, enjoying photography more than ever.
Yep. I have zinneas. And salvia. And a hummer feeder. Briefly glimpsed a hummer at the feeder only twice late this summer... The zinneas are on the side of the house so I can't see who visits. It definately looks like the goldfinch are partaking. Can't tell about hummingbird visits. This summer was the first time after several years of having a feeder out (although not properly stocked or maintained!) that I have personally spied hummers. I've suspected they're around but never had proof. My own eyes saw them this year. (Stepmom says "You must get feeders out early, like April, in order to attract them." I got the feeder set up in early May this year.... Finally! I planted dahlias for the first time ever in the front yard, too. Man are they HAPPY!! And just beautiful!!!!
Hummer!!!!! Just now!!!! Opened the curtains, sat in my reading chair with today's paper and VOILA! Right on cue! Longest visit yet!
I'm fascinated by the hummingbirds - you must be able to keep the camera very still. The juxtaposition of light and colour is fabulous. You don't give yourself enough credit for your photos, so here I am giving it for you.
Giggles x 2…
Feeders should go out early, if possible (late-April, early-May)…but the first one I ever put out here along the riverbank, the second summer here, was in late-June, maybe even early-July. And I swear I had a hummer at it in under 5 minutes!
Right now, with their migratory departure date fast closing in, they're congregating by the hordes! I can easily see a dozen hummers at once among the flowers and feeders—and I know there are others perched in nearby trees, or that just zoomed off for a moment.
It sounds to me like you're doing everything right. The river is a natural pathway for many birds, and because of the trees and wildflowers along the banks, hummers are available and easily attracted. So it's easier for me to draw in birds. But you'll have them coming next year. Of course you have to be able to see your flowers to spot a zipping hummer. I can sit at my desk and merely glance up and see lots of flowers and two feeders—and I often have hummers within—literally—inches of the window.
So don't get discouraged. And I'm tickled for you that you spotted a hummer the same day you were feeling low about not seeing them. I'm telling you, hummingbirds are just like men…feed 'em and they'll make themselves at home.
Freda…
Thank you. I suppose I do whine too much about my photos. I'm always wanting to do better, and pretty tough in self-judgement.
I did manage to hold the camera steady on the shots you see. What you don't see are the dozens and dozens of shots I end up erasing because I didn't. Too, one of the things I always try and do—or at least be conscious about—is employ background. I pay real attention to the interplay of light and color beyond and around my intended subject, and especially how it can help me pick out my subject via contrast.
The heart of photography is the capturing of light—not objects or scenes or subjects…light. That's the true meaning of the word. Light makes or breaks a photo. The difference beween a snapshot and a photograph is this awareness of light. The rest is just putting yourself in the best place to take advantage of whatever you have.
Aren't you glad you planted those oldfashioned zinnias? I remember we;; when you first planted them.
Arija…
I am indeed glad I planted the zinnias…though actually, I've been planting them for several years, just didn't know what they were until I did the post. My old-fashioned varieties didn't look quite like the ones in the catalog—at least not to me. But they're great hummingbird and butterfly attractors!
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