After yesterday’s post the semi-perfectionist in me reared it’s pretty normal looking head and I took the concept of shooting it like film a step further. I culled the best of the images of my hummers from the original black and whites and took the original files and “processed” them like I would have if I had been exposing negatives in the dark room. I didn’t dodge and burn – but I played with exposure so that the images were as contrasty enough to really bring out the detail I knew was there in my “negatives”. No sharpening, no digital fixes, no sepia or pinhole. Just straight B&W with an exposure adjustment. I think this is a pretty fair comparison – 6 good shots out of 30+.
Some random facts about Hummingbirds:
They lay 2 white eggs the size of peas.
Their migration is timed according to the appearance of certain flowers along their route.
A group of hummers is called a bouquet, a shimmer, a hover, a tune or a glittering – all of these seem pretty appropriate.
They flap their wings up to 75 beats per second.
They build their nests from spider silk covered with lichens.
A hummer consumes twice its body weight each day.
I love how this female appears to be whispering to the feeder.
I seem to get the most in-focus shots of this content female.
One of my males coming in for a landing.
Fluttering female from my neighbor’s “shimmer”.
The chubby female feeding. She is the calmest of my “Bouquet”
These guys dive bombed us as we refilled the feeder.
Thanks for giving these guys a second look with me.
the eff stop 
I see cards, coffee mugs, mouse pads…:) I loved them before and I love these more.
Thanks – I’m actually making some prints for the house today. I work in the t-shirt biz so we put pictures on almost anything – I’ll have to give that some though:)
Well, let me know if you make cards because I would buy them. I love writing letter and sending notes to remind people I’m thinking of them. Plus I think it’s great to get something besides junk mail.
I have enlarged several of my flower prints and framed them for my house as well, it’s the best art ever!!
Great shots, especially #6 (followed closely by #3).
Love the Light.
Thanks – it’s interesting how much more interesting #6 is in black and white. The original color is a bit over exposed in the highlights – it wasn’t really a keeper in color.
great pics! I love them all! They have to be my favorite bird. That and an Eagle. Talk about way different birds huh? 😉 They always make me smile.
Thanks – I love that they have so much bravado in their tiny bodies. Eagles – that’s a contrast:)
They are awe-inspiring. I *adore* them!! We don’t get hummingbirds in Australia, and I only remember seeing them once in the Philippines, ironically eating nectar from an Australian native our Ausie friends planted from Australia. I’d *love* to see hummingbirds again one day! I totally love these photos. I’m especially jealous that you got dive-bombed refilling their feeder! 🙂 Happiness! The thing I don’t really get with these photos is their size, cuz I don’t know how big that feeder is. I remember they were very small in the Phils. I love your info about them too. They are like the closest things to fairies in gardens, huh. I wish someone would release a bunch in the wild in Australia! 🙂
Rach.
Wow Rach – I would have thought they were common there with all the abundant wildlife. The birds are about 2.5 inches tall. These feeders are large ones – they hold about a liter, except for the one with the fancy bottle – it’s the size of a small Coca Cola. We get them here between May and December. They find a feeder or natural food source and nest nearby. I found a nest this year out hiking. They really are special – when they bombed us they were squeaking at us. I think they head for the tropics in the winter.
Lorri
The fourth photograph almost looks like a bird with a gramophone! (Sorry I have gramophones on my mind of late!)
That’s too funny – he’s singing along:) they do have the cutest little song.
I could look at these all day – so wonderful!
Thanks so much – I pretty much sat around looking at them all weekend:)
I love number 3!!!
Thanks – that’s one of my top ones as well