People often inquire as to why I photograph certain subjects so many times. They might photograph a bird subject once and check to see if they have a sharp, properly exposed image and if they see one, they call it a day. I have been quite busy culling images from the last few years to reduce the size of my Lightroom Classic catalog and to begin organizing my catalog the way it should be with proper keywords, captions, and metadata. I was culling my 2024 Cuba Workshop images and I was reminded of the beauty of the world's smallest bird, the Bee Hummingbird of Cuba.
This tiny, delicate but flamboyant bird is a photographer's dream. I will make three different blogs each featuring five (5) separate images of Bee Hummingbirds represent a total of 3 or 4 different individuals. As you examine each image, look at the variation of color as the light, angle of the body and head to the camera, and background vary.
Image #1 - In Flight with Tail Color
OM-1 Mark II | M.Zuiko 150-400mm F4.5 TC1.25x IS PRO @ 300mm
1/1,600's | F5.6 | ISO 6400
Image #2 - Perched with Bright Gorget
OM-1 Mark II | M.Zuiko 150-400mm F4.5 TC1.25x IS PRO @ 500mm
1/1,600's | F5.6 | ISO 8000
Image #3 - Perched Side Angle
OM-1 Mark II | M.Zuiko 150-400mm F4.5 TC1.25x IS PRO @ 500mm
1/14000's | F5.6 | ISO 12800
Image #4 - Perched Individual Gorget Feathers & Back Color
OM-1 Mark II | M.Zuiko 150-400mm F4.5 TC1.25x IS PRO @ 500mm
1/1,000's | F5.6 | ISO 8000
Image #5 - Perched with Bright Gorget
OM-1 Mark II | M.Zuiko 150-400mm F4.5 TC1.25x IS PRO @ 500mm
1/4000's | F5.6 | ISO 12800
What do you notice about how the light and angles change the appearance of the images? Which do you like best? Why? The more you ask these kind of inquisitive questions, the more you will refine and develop your own photographic style.
