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Hummingbird visits a Hibiscus
1st PlaceHummingbird visits a Hibiscus
bassbone


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Extended Free Study 2025-07 (Extended Editing)
Collection: 2025 Challenges
Camera: Nikon Z8
Lens: Nikon NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR
Location: Westerly RI
Date: Aug 9, 2025
Aperture: 5.6
ISO: 1000
Shutter: 1/8000
Galleries: Birds
Date Uploaded: Aug 9, 2025

 I always wondered how people have been able to take these types of shots and decided to give it a try myself. We don't have a hummingbird feeder but we do have flowers in our yard that they do frequent, including my favorite bush, the small red hibiscus bush that spends its summers outside and winters inside.

The hummingbirds finally found our hibiscus on our deck about 4-5 weeks ago. They have been visiting several times a day since as the plant has been blooming aggressively with the warm sun. I spositioned myself in one of my deck chairs on the far side of the deck from the plant and got comfortable with a gin and tonic and waited.

My camera set up included using a monopod on my 180-600mm lens with a reasonably high ISO and shutter and aperture set on manual. I set the Nikon Z8 to focus on birds (a nice little use of AI in the firmware that tries to focus on the subject of interest and in the case of of birds, the eyes of the birds) and set the shutter to capture 20 frames a second. I kept the field of view reasonably large since I was unsure where and when the little bird was going to arrive.

I waited about an hour for the bird to arrive with the sunlight streaming from the right and the background trees (about 50-100 m away) in shadows making a near perfect soft background.

I got off about 100 images during the visit and selected this one due to the placement of the bird, the focus being crisp on both the flowers and the bird, and the light on its face and wings.


Thanks for the kind words and votes during the challenge. I really appreciate it and was stoked to have another new PB score at DPC.

Statistics
Place: 1 out of 32
Avg (all users): 7.8333
Avg (participants): 7.8571
Avg (non-participants): 7.8000
Views since voting: 205
Views during voting: 82
Votes: 36
Comments: 13
Favorites: 0

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AuthorThread
 08/22/2025 04:18:08 PM
Congrats Peter! Fantastic capture, and a score to match.
 08/22/2025 01:45:01 PM
Huge congrats on the PB and a spectacularly beautiful shot!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/22/2025 09:57:48 AM
Love the story. This is a dream shot for sure!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/22/2025 08:59:40 AM
Fine work and the result is gorgeous. A well deserved Blue. Congratulations! And this is now your personal best among quite a portfolio.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/22/2025 12:14:10 AM
Another PB, Peter! Amazing! Congrats on the Blue!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
08/21/2025 07:53:01 AM
I admire your capability to shoot these beautiful fast mooving birds :) I would have cropped out a little the left of the picture but really like this. 9
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/21/2025 01:10:23 AM
Good year for hummingbirds. :-) Nice job on the DOF and still having the shutter speed needed.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/20/2025 11:57:34 PM
Stunning once again, nicely done in the bright sun.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/20/2025 02:01:02 PM
Amazing catch, so beautiful and gorgeous. A top pick for me.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/19/2025 05:42:54 AM
Incredibly sharp detail, beautiful capture 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/18/2025 07:53:42 PM
My favorite in this challenge.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/18/2025 06:27:56 AM
Very very nice. Excellent composition, DOF, Shutterspeed, Backround, and of course my favorite subject!! My choice for the Blue!!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 08/15/2025 12:09:35 AM
OMG OMG .. this is sublime .. !! ..
i cant even imagine capturing a shot like this . .
i think i'd have died and gone to heaven if i did ..
which makes sense as we dont have these beautiful little birds where i live .. ;)
not voting yet ..
but seeing the blue for sure in a week . :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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