Ruby-throated Male
Last year I spent a good amount of time shooting the most common Florida hummingbird, the Ruby-throated. All I saw were females, which while beautiful, lack the bright iridescent throat that gives the species its name. When I read up on them, I learned that most of them in South Florida are migratory, the males arriving and departing first. Several friends let me know that they had males at their homes well after the males must have left the area where I was shooting. I’ve recently spent many hours attempting to get the shot I had in mind, a male Ruby-throated with its ruby gorget lit up by the sun. Let me tell you, it’s not easy. I managed to get several that I thought were good, but not what I had in mind. Yesterday, I finally got one that fit my mental picture of what I was after. I’m not done and have some other poses and backgrounds I’m after and will hopefully get before they migrate out in the spring. (Or I get invited to someone’s house where they stay year long. Hint, hint.) (Archilochus colubris) (Sony a9iii, 400mm lens with 1.4 extender for 560mm, f/4, 1/6400 second, ISO 6400)
Ruby-throated Male
Last year I spent a good amount of time shooting the most common Florida hummingbird, the Ruby-throated. All I saw were females, which while beautiful, lack the bright iridescent throat that gives the species its name. When I read up on them, I learned that most of them in South Florida are migratory, the males arriving and departing first. Several friends let me know that they had males at their homes well after the males must have left the area where I was shooting. I’ve recently spent many hours attempting to get the shot I had in mind, a male Ruby-throated with its ruby gorget lit up by the sun. Let me tell you, it’s not easy. I managed to get several that I thought were good, but not what I had in mind. Yesterday, I finally got one that fit my mental picture of what I was after. I’m not done and have some other poses and backgrounds I’m after and will hopefully get before they migrate out in the spring. (Or I get invited to someone’s house where they stay year long. Hint, hint.) (Archilochus colubris) (Sony a9iii, 400mm lens with 1.4 extender for 560mm, f/4, 1/6400 second, ISO 6400)