I've taken pictures of hummingbirds before, and gotten some pretty good pictures for a "point and shoot", but the one thing I've had difficulty in doing is getting more than one shot before they fly away. Now that I have my new camera (new since around May), a Canon Powershot SX10 IS, to use this winter I've been trying all different settings to see what works the best.
Perched in a resting spot in a tree in the schoolyard, this female Anna's hummingbird rested between visits to our feeder.
I've been trying everything to capture them, but they are so fast that it's hard to get a good shot.
Not long ago Kathleen mentioned taking some bird photos in Sports mode on her camera. That made perfect sense to me. So I changed my setting to the Sports mode to see what would happen. All of these pictures are taken in that setting.
Although the lighting wasn't the best I was able to capture quite a few shots in this mode. I was able to take continuous shots which is something that I've had hard time getting my camera to do in other settings.
I hadn't been able to capture a wing in mid flight before, so the Sports mode really helped. I've read reviews on my camera and found that others saw the same thing in Sports mode, not the most clear but able to capture continuous action photos . In this review I read that using the Aperture Priority mode ISO 80 took a much more clear picture.The main reason I got this camera was to take pictures of my family, and with one daughter already in sports I want to be able to take some clear action pictures of her. Basketball season has just begun and now thanks to the hummingbird I'll have some experience with the sports mode. I'll also be trying the Aperture setting mentioned above and see what the differences are.
I especially love the top picture- it's so peaceful. I don't think I've ever seen a picture of a hummingbird at rest before! Nice job!
ReplyDeleteCatherine, we are indeed fortunate to live here, and that photo of the branches... we must have been shooting the same tree.. funny how our morning skies are similar too... one would think we lived in the same part of the country ;) Have a great weekend. Diana
ReplyDeleteHi Catherine~~ When I saw "sports mode" I immediately assumed you were writing about how the darn critters fight and dive-bomb [Quidich?] and basically torment each other--a regular occurrence in my backyard. But you've got some really good information here, besides great photos. I'll have to take a closer look at my camera.
ReplyDeleteI too have to take a closer look at my camera! I can never get a beautiful photo of my hummingbirds and they are 1 foot outside my window, I can hear them hum! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteAre these hummingbirds the cutest thing on the planet?
ReplyDeleteHi Catherine,
ReplyDeleteWhat great photos. It is soooo hard to get good photos of hummers. I will have to try the Sports setting next time I try.
My favorite picture is the first one, with the profile of the sweet little bird just resting.
I had never thought about it but my son lives in Maine, the Atlantic Northeast. He is exactly opposite of you. It will fun to make comparisons of the two winter climates.
ReplyDeleteThe hummingbirds are gone around here and have headed south.
Catherine the sports setting did the trick. You were able to get some great shots. The last one with the wings is a really good one.
ReplyDeleteI wondered where all of the humingbirds went in the winter,they are coming to your house.
My amaryllis are all in different stages of growth but are really taking off now. Since it is my first attempt I did not know how fast or slow they would grow so I am no help to you about yours. I think I should have waited a couple of weeks longer to set my bulbs. But if their blooms last a long time (?) they may bloom through Christmas.
Have a great weekend.
I've had trouble capturing the hummingbird with my camera as well. I've tried the sports mode but it is still too slow. I think that taking the photo in a lower resolution may do a better job - the photos seem to snap faster than taking pictures in a higher resolution. Unfortunately, by the time I thought of this idea, the birds had already left for the winter.
ReplyDeleteSuper lovely photos! yay..fantastic..I love hummingB's! Gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteCatherine, I'm so Proud of you!! All the photos were great, but you caught those wings in the last one! :-) I'm going to use a little time this Winter to familiarize myself with my camera... I should have a Sports Mode, too, don't you think? We'll see.
ReplyDeleteGreat action photos of such a fast bird! I am sure you will be able to take good action photos of your daughter too.
ReplyDeleteGreat pictures! How nice that you camera has a such a good capacity for fast motion shots.
ReplyDeleteGreat pictures! I miss the hummers, and had much fun this summer trying to get that one perfect shot. I posted some here -> http://ups-and-downs-with-anastasia.blogspot.com/2009/09/abc-wednesday-h-is-for-hummingbird.html, if you'd like to see.
ReplyDeleteI also have a Canon Powershot, SD 890IS. I really like it, but have not mastered all the settings by a long shot! Such a thick manual, lol. I need to check out the sports setting, too. Love your blog.
So lovely your photos with a little bird!! I like it so much!
ReplyDeletekisses!
Tiziana
Yay ~ I'm glad you had such good success with the sports setting Catherine. I use it a lot. You're so lucky to have hummingbirds all year too. That gives you more time to practice!
ReplyDeleteCatherine, nice job on these hummers...I know it takes time and patience to 'catch' them ;) Amazing that they are still around! Hope you had a wonderful T-Giving!
ReplyDeleteLynn
Those photos are incredible Catherine ... something that should be in a magazine. I'm starting a photography course in a couple of weeks ... I've very much an amateur!
ReplyDeleteCantherine that top picture is my favorite .. it is simply beautiful .. not that your other pictures aren't gorgeous too girl : )
ReplyDeleteI am very bad for not experimenting with other modes on my camera too .. and the reason I bought it was because I didn't have to change lenses for long distance shots .. but not using other modes is something I have to get over as well : )
Joy
These shots are great! I once saw an actual helmet on a website that you could fill with the sugar water and then you just wait for the hummers to come up to you ! I wish I remembered the link! anyway it was red and you got to see the birds up close and personal. Only a true hummindbird nerd would buy one though.
ReplyDeleteRosey
Very well done Catherine! Now, I will be trying the sports mode as well. (I really need a new camera)
ReplyDeleteNice pictures! The continuous shot mode is definitely the way to go to capture hummingbirds. They are a challenge!
ReplyDeleteGreat pics Catherine! I need a new camera so I can get better ones. I have tried the different settings like sports but don't know about the manual settings - wish I understood more about them so I could learn.
ReplyDeleteHey I didn't know one of the hummingbirds stayed through the winter. I don't think they do up here but I'll sure keep an eye out to make sure. Maybe I should fill a feeder to find out. Oh and a great way to get great shots of hummingbirds I found was when Bob left the feeders sit on the rail this last year. I got so many pictures they were all looking alike and I quit. They loved sitting on the wire that the feeders hang from.
Beautiful Post and lovely shots !! Humming birds are too fast to capture but you did a fantastic job !!Unseen Rajasthan
ReplyDeleteNice effect in the first photo and you've done a great job on the last one too. good luck with your experiments :D
ReplyDeleteOh I just love these photos. Hummingbirds are one of my favorites and it's so difficult to capture them on film. I had a hummingbird that used to visit our yard daily though I haven't seen him in months. I miss him so your photos make me smile.
ReplyDeleteThat's pretty funny! Sports mode indeed. Great shots, though. I admire your patience.
ReplyDeleteI discovered sports mode on my camera a few months ago, and it sure makes a huge difference in the shots of moving objects. I also use it in the car when we are traveling and we can't stop to take a photo.
ReplyDeleteThese are wonderful photos! I think you captured them PERFECT!
ReplyDeleteHappy Thanksgiving Weekend.
I have a powershot 10, too, but can't remember what numbers are next. I think there is an "x" in it. I have a sports mode, which is marked by a runner symbol. I tried using it for bees or something. I'll have to try it on birds.
ReplyDeleteYour hummer photos are awesome! You should get some great ones of your daughter playing basketball, too.
Beautiful pictures! I especially love the first one. Hummingbirds are adorable little birds. I can't wait till they return in the spring.
ReplyDeleteSo that is where they all went-- your house. My feeders are sitting in the garage till spring. And look at you with your aperture talk. I am a great big fan of digital idiocy. Point and shoot! I never could get all that shutter speed, aperture stuff in my head. Thanks to technology I just have to move the dial to that little running guy icon and I am good to go. I am such a cheat. LOL
ReplyDeleteGreat job with the camera getting these shots Catherine. As you can see I really do have a lot of respect for someone who knows how to do it for real, because I sure don't.
I'm so impressed!! You have inspired me to try to get some shots of the little fellows. They are fast and I really like the photos you got. Hurrah!!
ReplyDeleteYou are SO lucky to have them stay all winter.....they have left the U.P. of Michigan weeks and weeks ago.
ReplyDeleteI love catching them on camera too...you did a great job!
I'm so jealous of all your hummingbird activity! I've lived and gardened in Alaska all my life and only seen two. Great pics.
ReplyDeleteCheers,
Christine B.