Hummingbirds
 
Dreaming of Birds... (read more)
 
The Photos These photos where taken over a period of time, from Wednesday, January 14, 2004 thru Thursday, March 23, 2006. As I reviewed the iPhoto repository I sorted out 144 hummingbird related photos. My first attempt to publish was 98 photos, after some thought and feedback I realized that this was quite a load for any audience. Spending some time I shaved it down to 63. I am not sure what the total is now. Editing can be a difficult task... in some I like the composition, the color, the bird detail and in others the clouds, trees and mountains express so much. I enjoy taking photos on cloudy days, the indirect lighting allows the subject matter prominence. In most cases I have used a fast shutter speed, close focal point (macro) and forced a diffused flash. Due to the lag time between pressing the shutter release and taking the actual picture most of these photos are anticipatory, not to mention the time for the flash to recharge. While some, like the hummingbird “dogfight” are mere happenstance. Many times I am pleasantly surprised when I view the results for the first time on the computer monitor. These birds have given so much in exchange for the simple sugar and water that we give them. I am always amazed at the wing positions and the many ways they are able to express themselves in playful flight. Looking East towards Mount Lassen, across the northern most part of the San Joaquin/Sacramento Valley I am made aware of the temporal backgrounds that occasionally enter the frame from our home in west Redding, CA. It is my hope in sharing that you too can enjoy these fellow creatures and their environment as we continue to do. Thanks to things like shutter speed and aperture I have noticed detail that I would have never known before. Richard