In case you can’t tell from my recent posts, I’m loving having a resident hummingbird in my backyard!! So I’ve been reading about hummingbird photography. Most articles and workshops focus on high-speed flash photography. I immediately decided that high-speed flash setups are not my thing. Little Zippy comes to my yard for nectar and a quiet refuge, not to be startled by a flash. But I do love the sparking iridescence of hummers photographed in beautiful light. So I’ve been trying to figure out some hummer-friendly ways to improve my images.

I moved Zippy’s feeder over his favorite salvias, where he’d feel comfortable hanging out, but also where the feeder gets afternoon light and the distant bushes make a beautiful green background. The fact that the feeder is now just outside my WFH office window is just an added bonus!

Then I headed out to the bird blind on a sunny afternoon. I cranked up the ISO a little higher than usual to get a 1/8000 shutter speed to freeze his beautiful wings. Zippy comes by regularly, usually every 20 minutes or so. I had to stop myself from squealing when I saw some of the first images. That little Zippy is quite handsome! I hope he sticks around long enough for me to see his red gorget grow in. :)

Full disclosure: I will admit to shamelessly removing the feeder in Photoshop. Zippy said it was OK, as long as I continue to provide him with a clean feeder and frequent nectar refills! The little pig gets a good deal from this arrangement!

Find my birding list from today on eBird.