Wildlife Hummer Progress?

[DoubleDAZ]

Not sure how much progress I'm making, but I was able to get some playtime in this morning with the E-510, 70-300mm, and wireless release before it got too hot again (isn't it supposed to be fall?).

Anyway, I don't know what to do about the bright background. I was thinking of hanging a sheet or dropcloth, but I'm not sure that will work any better. I spent a lot of time moving things around because the hummer wouldn't cooperate and feed where I wanted him to. So, I didn't get to fiddle with a bunch of different settings or add the FL-36 for fill. I did add some fill in Picasa2 to bring up some detail.

I don't know why I used F22 except that I was trying to make sure something was in focus. I wish I had backed off to F8/F11 because there was enough light to get a higher speed and undoubtedly get a better shot.

Then I moved inside through the window again, but the hummer wouldn't come to that feeder before my battery needed a charge. I did get some of the male Lesser Goldfinch, so that made the wife happy. I am ready to all but give up on the idea of shooting through the window though. It's a lot of trial and error, and luck, to even come close to a decent shot. Even then you can still tell they were taken through a window. I think I'll have more luck building a stand for the window feeder and setting it up elsewhere in the yard wherever I want to take photos. This way I could actually set it right near the flowers they like. I like that feeder because it doesn't have the glass/plastic tube sticking up, so I don't have to worry so much about which holes the birds want to use.

I included the third shot just because it turned out so weird. I have no idea how I zoomed in so close and messed up the focus, but I took several just like this before I noticed.

[blunts]

An interesting collection Dave, yes f22 is probably not an aperture I would recommend on the 70-300 for just about anything, but having said that I actually quite like the movement in the first one as it shows the birds ability to keep the head still whilst the wings are going like the clappers. The third one had the positioning been slightly different could have been a masterpiece!

Steve

[DoubleDAZ]

I agree about the F22. I'm often caught with a dilema on whether or not I want to try to stop the wings and eliminate the movement aspect. Right now everything is just a learning experience trying out some of the different suggestions folks have offered in my other threads.

The third one was a real kick when I saw it. Sometimes OOF can produce some interesting shots. Thanks for the comments.

[DonR]

I'm still learning how best to use my 70-300 too. Just hang in there and you'll figure it out.

[DoubleDAZ]

Yeah, I know. I just get frustrated when I don't have the time to set things up right, etc. Soon I'll have nothing but time and I can't wait.