All summer I’ve been trying to get a decent photo of one of these beautiful birds with no luck at all. This morning, when I wasn’t looking for them at all, this little gal buzzed right in front of me and started feeding on the petunias in one of my wife’s hanging pots. Luckily I had just returned from my morning hike and still had my camera bag hanging from my shoulder and was able to react quickly enough.
Finally!
Montana Outdoors 
These are wonderful, did you use flash to stop the motion or just a real fast ss, this is another part of photography I haven’t tried yet. Great work Terry.
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Comment by Bernie Kasper — July 27, 2007 @ 2:31 pm
Bernie,
Thanks! One of the modes available on my camera lets me pre-select the shutter speed but gives me auto-focus and auto-exposure. I leave it always set that way, then for a quick shot like these I can just select that mode and I’m ready to go. Just takes a second or two. Shutter speed on these was 1/1000 (where I leave it set).
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Comment by montucky — July 27, 2007 @ 2:44 pm
Exellent choice in flowers especially if your trying to draw in the butterflies and hummingbirds. This one is a beauty. I can’t figure out if this is a lady or a younger bird but whatever it’s a beauty. Nice shots.
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Comment by aullori — July 27, 2007 @ 3:35 pm
oh yeah p.s. this is not easy by any means – just letting you know how it can get frustrating. It’s nice when persistance finally pays off!
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Comment by aullori — July 27, 2007 @ 3:37 pm
aullori,
I know you understand. I’ve admired your hummingbird photos for a long time now and the persistence it took to get them. They can really be tough!
How are your feet doing, by the way?
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Comment by montucky — July 27, 2007 @ 3:43 pm
Right now they tickle like nobodies buisness! But that isn’t bad it just means they are trying to heal. You know how that goes they’ll be all better just about in the fall for woodcutting… :o) But I’ll miss out on a couple weeks of summer hiking I think. darn.
by the way I think when you capture one of these little beauties in a natural setting (like you did here) that turns out to be a gem of a photo! They really are fabulous shots.
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Comment by aullori — July 27, 2007 @ 10:26 pm
I think any time you can capture one of these guys is special. Back in May I had a chance that would have been fabulous. I was setting up to photograph an Indian Paintbrush when a hummer chose to visit it. I couldn’t zoom out in time. I have learned a lot since then, but still doubt if I could have gotten that one.
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Comment by montucky — July 27, 2007 @ 10:47 pm
Hey, Montucky, more great pix.
We see these hummingbirds in Georgia from time to time, but mostly have the ruby throated variety. If the Rufous have anything in common with those at our hummingbird feeders, they love posting a guard bird near any flower or feeder. Aggressive little suckers…
Malcolm
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Comment by knightofswords — July 28, 2007 @ 8:52 am
We have several species here and they’re all aggressive. Often there will be one sitting in a lilac about 20 feet from the feeder and I think that’s exactly what it’s doing; keeping guard.
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Comment by montucky — July 28, 2007 @ 9:30 am
That first one is really bellied up to the bar, isn’t it? Just watching a hummingbird in action wears me out. Even with these stills…I think I need a nap.
Great captures, as always.
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Comment by Pinhole — July 28, 2007 @ 9:36 am
Yes, their amount of movement is amazing. I would think with a feeder around they would sit more than they do.
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Comment by montucky — July 28, 2007 @ 9:49 am
I can’t believe you captured these shots! amazing! I always see hummingbirds when I go to my grandpa’s. I don’t think I could ever get a shot like that!
beautiful!
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Comment by silken — July 28, 2007 @ 6:35 pm
I can’t believe I got them either, Silken. I guess it’s like the old saying, “Even a blind squirrel can find a nut sometimes”.
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Comment by montucky — July 28, 2007 @ 6:45 pm