Sunday, November 13, 2011

Hummingbird at the window

We have hummingbirds in our back yard and I can't tell you the joy they bring us.  We faithfully keep the feeder filled and are rewarded with visits many times a day.  As summer ends the Rufus hummers leave and the Anna's Hummingbirds take over the plum tree.  Both are beautiful birds but I've not been able to get very good photos of them.  Until now.


I've been learning a lot through the online digital camera course I'm taking with the Kat Eye Studio. This week we were working on depth of field achieved through a wide open lens. The photo above was taken with a shallow depth of field so that the background of the plum tree is blurred and doesn't distract from the bird.

But I discovered that my hands aren't steady enough to take a clear photo in this situation without a tripod.  So off I went to buy one (on sale -- only $24), and with its help I was able to capture this little male Anna's at the feeder.  Now I feel like both a birder and a real photographer!

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4 comments:

  1. Stephanie VNovember 13, 2011 at 10:06 AM

    Wonderful camera work you are doing. It's so hard to capture these birds.

    Surprisingly, we've had Rufous hummers around for the last couple of weeks. They seem to be interested in the big rose hips. Can this be?

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  2. BarbNovember 13, 2011 at 11:03 AM

    I know what you mean about not being still enough hand-held. I have a tripod, however, and rarely use it. Too much trouble to carry with me. Lovely clear photo of hummer - hard to believe you still have them hanging around.

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  3. JoannaNovember 13, 2011 at 11:21 AM

    Stephanie,
    Surprising that the Rufous hummers are still there Stephanie. Aren't they usually are gone by this time of year. And while the rose hips might attract them it's hard to know what could they be getting from them.

    Barb,
    I doubt I'll be carrying the tripod around much but for photographs at home it works. These Anna's hummingbirds actually overwinter in Victoria. When the weather goes below freezing (which it does from time time) we have to make a special concentrated nectar for the feeder and bring it in to warm up throughout the day. Without human help I think they wouldn't survive.

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  4. angryparsnipNovember 13, 2011 at 11:42 AM

    Absolutely perfect !

    I remember your feeding them in the freezing weather you had last winter.

    I wonder why they stay ? If it wasn't for people will they move to warmer places ? Have they become so dependent on humans for food that they can't leave ?
    Has your cold winters got colder ?

    I really don't see them as winter birds.

    This is so interesting.

    cheers, parsnip

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I really appreciate your comments.

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