Cindy Smith
July 2025 - Hummingbird
About the Image(s)
I am still trying to figure out my camera, and I’m really trying to get a good image of a hummingbird. I think I’m getting a little better, but I think I still need some lessons on it! I’m sure y’all are going to get tired of my hummingbird images!!
Canon EOS R5 Mark II Canon RF24-105 at 105mm, f/4, 1/1250, ISO 2500
Using Lr: Slight decrease in contrast and dehaze, sharpening
14 comments posted
It is hard to photo hummingbirds. They are small and moving fast. I believe those fast moving small bird photos definitely need Topaz or other tools to improve their image quality. Posted: 07/01/2025 23:23:34
I have Lightroom and Photoshop, but I'm not sure what tools I would use. I used to sharpening and detail. What does topaz do that is different from those? Thank you for your comments. Welcome to the group. Posted: 07/01/2025 23:59:44
And I don't do Photoshop well if at all. Posted: 07/02/2025 00:00:08
Your hummingbird images are, in my opinion, continuing to improve. You have done a nice job of recording the bird and feeder in sharp focus, while blurring the background. Well done. However, when I view the image, I know that the bird is there, but my eyes are first drawn to feeder and the red base. For me, the feeder overwhelms the image. Also, the background, while nicely blurred, seems overly bright to me.
I fear that the small hummingbird, so wonderfully recorded by your fast shutter speed, has a hard time competing. Posted: 07/05/2025 18:06:32
I fear that the small hummingbird, so wonderfully recorded by your fast shutter speed, has a hard time competing. Posted: 07/05/2025 18:06:32
You really are improving! I love how you are sticking with your quest to keep getting better images. I agree with Chan about the feeder. I kept looking for ways to crop it out, but there really isn't any. Perhaps you could desaturate the red to make it less attention-grabbing. You might have to resort to getting a different feeder that is less dominant - perhaps a smaller one that is mostly clear. But then you might have trouble getting the birds to be attracted to it. Maybe getting some kind of flower that they really like? Flowers can be smaller and less dominating. It could be fun figuring out different things to try! Posted: 07/05/2025 20:48:51
Thank you all for your comments. I agreee with everything that has been said. That feeder was a CHRISTmas gift from my son and DIL. it is one that has a camera in it. It takes much better pictures than I!! I have bought a plant, and the hummers were attracted to it, but it has lost its blooms since the repotting. I sat outside with my camera on the tripod for several hours, but the blooms were on the wrong side, so that was a bust. I'm going to try to photoshop the feeder out when I have time. I hope everyone had a safe and wonderful Independence Day. Posted: 07/06/2025 01:18:16
I appreciate your continued efforts in perfecting your humming bird images. I agree that these are improving and no, I am not getting tired of these photos! I am inspired that you continue to work at it! I agree with Chan and Jennifer on the bird feeder and the background. Some thoughts...perhaps using LR or PS, darken the feeder somewhat to take the focus off of it. In addition, possibly darken the background and remove some of the glare. These things may help the bird to stand out a little more. This is a nice photo...thanks for sharing and thanks for your inspiration! Posted: 07/06/2025 15:09:24
KUDOS to you for photographing these tiny creatures. I definitely see improvement in this vs. some of your prior attempts. Few suggestions:
1) Use your 100-500mm lens. The bird will fill more of your frame, you'll crop less and the autofocus will work better if the bird/eye is larger in the frame.
2) Set autofocus to focus on animal eyes (the R5 has that feature) and use servo mode (so the camera keeps trying to lock focus the right parts). You used spot focus for this - the camera is better/faster than you to lock on the eye.
3) Shoot in high speed burst mode. I'm not a fan of "spray and pray" - but fast moving birds are tough - you want one good image - why not have a hundred to choose from.
4) Agree the feeder is a distraction. Not much you can do - if that's where the birds are.
5) Regarding shutter speed - decide if you want to freeze the wings (likely requiring speeds 1/2000 or faster) or want some wing blur (more interesting and tougher to do, requires bird to be hovering and then you can choose a much slower speed - around 1/500 - requires experimentation).
6) Chun brings up Topaz. I also recommend Topaz AI (one-time purchase - so no subscription) - it's great for sharpening and denoise. Depending on your lighting - to get to shutter speeds faster than 1/2000 - esp with our slower lenses - requires pushing your ISO - resulting in noise.
Hopefully the hummingbirds stick around and you share more images! Posted: 07/06/2025 15:25:18
1) Use your 100-500mm lens. The bird will fill more of your frame, you'll crop less and the autofocus will work better if the bird/eye is larger in the frame.
2) Set autofocus to focus on animal eyes (the R5 has that feature) and use servo mode (so the camera keeps trying to lock focus the right parts). You used spot focus for this - the camera is better/faster than you to lock on the eye.
3) Shoot in high speed burst mode. I'm not a fan of "spray and pray" - but fast moving birds are tough - you want one good image - why not have a hundred to choose from.
4) Agree the feeder is a distraction. Not much you can do - if that's where the birds are.
5) Regarding shutter speed - decide if you want to freeze the wings (likely requiring speeds 1/2000 or faster) or want some wing blur (more interesting and tougher to do, requires bird to be hovering and then you can choose a much slower speed - around 1/500 - requires experimentation).
6) Chun brings up Topaz. I also recommend Topaz AI (one-time purchase - so no subscription) - it's great for sharpening and denoise. Depending on your lighting - to get to shutter speeds faster than 1/2000 - esp with our slower lenses - requires pushing your ISO - resulting in noise.
Hopefully the hummingbirds stick around and you share more images! Posted: 07/06/2025 15:25:18
Thank you all for your wonderful comments. As I mentioned in earlier responses, I had the tripod and the 100-500 lens focused on the plant, but the hummers were on the wrong side, so that day was a bust! I will look into Topaz. Thank you all. Posted: 07/06/2025 17:11:37
Leave your tripod at home. These birds are moving too fast - shoot hand held. Posted: 07/06/2025 17:19:13
I had the tripod at home set up on the deck near the birds. I have a hard time keeping the camera steady, especially with the 100-500 lens, but I do fairly well with the 24-105. I don't carry the tripod unless I'm doing stationery work. I will work on my handheld though. I think I worry so much about it that it adds to my shakiness! Thank you. I'm going to really look at Topaz. I have heard a lot of comments through this group about Topaz and Nik effects? Posted: 07/06/2025 20:02:53
I am looking at Topaz labs, and there is a Photo AI 4. Is this the one I would need? What is the learning curve? I have Ps, but I don't know how to use it. When I looked at Topaz, it looks like it might be easier. Posted: 07/06/2025 19:41:08
Yup - that's the program. The only features I use are sharpen and denoise (both of which are excellent!). It is easy/intuitive (nothing like Ps!). It tells you what it thinks your image needs - and applies the suggested edits/settings. From there you can tweak. Goal remains sharp images out of camera -but this adds a special "punch." Works well as a LR plugin. It has other features that I haven't played with. I don't think you'd regret the investment. (P.S. I don't earn a commission.) Maybe others in the group can comment? Posted: 07/06/2025 19:52:20
Posted: 07/06/2025 20:03:05