All work and no play.....

[Steve Cavigliano]

makes me even more boring than I actualy am......lol

Been busy busy working and haven't been able to leave many comments :cry What's worse is I haven't even had time to shoot. By the time I get home, it's almost dark and I'm not big on night shots :dunno

Anyhow, while out partaking of my feeelthy ciggie habit :rofl I noticed that our hummingbird feeder attracted more birds at dusk than during any other point in the day :scratch Ahhhhhhhhha, something I will probably screw up but it's shooting and it'll probably be fun :D So for the last 2 nights I've been trying to capture small fast subjects in low light :uhoh

I figured I really make it challenging and so I attached my 1.4X TC to my 70-200 F2.8. It sure made getting a focus lock tougher and I'm not so sure I like the looks of them, but I figured I'd share 'em with my friends here :D They are just about 100% crops. I'll have to try and get closer tonight w/o the TC attached. Good luck....LOL

ISO800, 70-200mm F2.8 with a Tamron 1.4X TC, EX-580 with diffuser pulled down.

F5.6 1/320
http://freezeframephotography.smugmug.com/photos/39676765-L.jpg

F5.6 1/200
http://freezeframephotography.smugmug.com/photos/39676753-L.jpg

F5.6 1/200
http://freezeframephotography.smugmug.com/photos/39676747-L.jpg

I guess the light caught the ruby throated at the wrong angle :dunno No ruby color.....lol

Please let me know what you think. I won't be able to do a re-shoot tonight, but I plan on doing one tomorrow night :D

Thanks for looking,
Steve

[Thusie]

GREAT shots! Thanks so much for also including what you did to get the shots.:thumb

[bfjr]

Been wondering about you Buddy :dunno
Glad to see your post, very glad :D

Well I was just reading another post started by Khaos, so now I'm afraid to critique, being that I'm not qualified :wxwax :wink cause I don't know Jack :lol3

But I like your work always have and with these I like them all but especially like the action of the wings rather then the stayed pose look.

However on a personal note I never have cared for the look of them darn hummy feeders :dunno. I mean why do they have to be "RED" :lol4 ??

Please be aware if you quote above I will deny I ever said that. this reply will self destruct in 60 seconds :bad :rofl :D

[Seamus]

They are excellent Steve, :thumb , the first one especially. It is razor sharp.

[Harryb]

Hey Steve,

Great seeing your stuff. I've been missing you lately. Those are excellent shots. Don't listen to Ben about the feeder, he's just jealous because he doesn't have one. :lol

Sorry about this

WORK :yikes :puke

thing. In case you're intersted I'm working on a 10-step program to help those inflicted to break the habit.

[jwear]

Steve nice to see you back -even in daylight some shots do not show the color :scratch :dunno :scratch rub some of that red off of the feeder :rofl :rofl I am not sure if it is angle or they display the color -will wait to see what you get

[David_S85]

Those are very sharp, Steve. I like how the low sun angle makes the yellow spots glow like shining gold. Glad you got some frames in with those working hours. You made them count.

[Rohirrim]

Nice shots Steve, very sharp!

[ehughes]

Very cool Steve, I never seem to be able to catch those little speed demons on our feeder, our must come at midnight or something...

[Ric Grupe]

Perfect! :lust

WOW! :wow

Adjectives and emoticons are inadequate, Steve. :thumb

[Steve Cavigliano]

GREAT shots! Thanks so much for also including what you did to get the shots.:thumb
Thanks Thusie :D

I've learned sooooooo much over the past 3 years from photo forums, all I want to do is be able to give a little back. If my information makes it easier for the next person to shoot hummers, I'll be satisfied :thumb


Thanks for looking,
Steve

[Steve Cavigliano]

Been wondering about you Buddy :dunno
Glad to see your post, very glad :D

Well I was just reading another post started by Khaos, so now I'm afraid to critique, being that I'm not qualified :wxwax :wink cause I don't know Jack :lol3

But I like your work always have and with these I like them all but especially like the action of the wings rather then the stayed pose look.

However on a personal note I never have cared for the look of them darn hummy feeders :dunno. I mean why do they have to be "RED" :lol4 ??

Please be aware if you quote above I will deny I ever said that. this reply will self destruct in 60 seconds :bad :rofl :D
Ben,
I been missing you guys. This forum has some real characters and although I haven't been posting much, I still get a kick out of reading those posts where you and Jeff trade good natured barbs (like the one where you are dressed up as a GBH :lol ) Hopefully, I'll have more time to participate in the next few months.

I like the "frozen" wing look too. I shot these in M mode so that I could get the flashes full effect. I notice when I use a fill flash it doesn't do much for freezing the wing action, no matter what shutter speed I use :dunno

Funny you mention red feeders. Where we have ours sometimes the hummers are frontlit through the glass giving them a very red tint. Kind of kewl, but sort of spooky too...LOL

I saw Khaos' post. Geeze, if we are going to limit critiquing to people that know Jack, there won't be many comments in those threads...lol And did Shay change his name to Jack? :rofl

Thanks, as always, for the humorous comments buddy :thumb As I wrote above, I Ben missin ya....lol


Steve

[Steve Cavigliano]

They are excellent Steve, :thumb , the first one especially. It is razor sharp.
Thanks Shay :D

I have to give credit where credit is due. This one was really sharp right out of the camera, but I sharpened him a little more using Rut's Lab sharpening technique found here (http://dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=9541).

Thanks again,
Steve

[Steve Cavigliano]

Hey Steve,

Great seeing your stuff. I've been missing you lately. Those are excellent shots. Don't listen to Ben about the feeder, he's just jealous because he doesn't have one. :lol

Sorry about this

WORK :yikes :puke

thing. In case you're intersted I'm working on a 10-step program to help those inflicted to break the habit.
Thanks Harry :D

Yeah, I'd appreciate anything you can do about this really nasty habit (the W word...lol) As long as I can keep my wife and my daughter living in the Ivana Trump style they are accustomed to I'm all for it :thumb

As I wrote in my reply to Ben, I been missing you guys too. The humor, the tips, the commradarie, and the excellent pics :clap See the havoc that work can bring to your life?...lol

Ben IS jealous. He's probably going to try getting Jeff to dress up as a large (really large) hummingbird so he can save a few $ on a feeder and colored sugar water :lol :lol

Thanks for taking time to comment,

Steve

[ginger_55]

Well, Steve, now that I have totally ignored you, and you and everyone else have exchanged hugs and all, well, I want to tell you that

several hours ago, when I first saw your shots, I loved them. I planned to get back to them, and I AM HERE!

Nice, hummer shots! Not a bad way to relax in the evening and have one of those "outdoor" moments.

I love the little feet on those things, the birds. And you got them good.

I also love the colors, you got them, too.

Sorry, I don't even have to look back to know I didn't post immediately, I have been busy responding to K et al. smile, really, got sucked in! Then I had to say something nice to a newcomer being slammed royally, see landscapes. A busy day here in the briar patch.

Steve, it is great to see your face! And if you can keep your family in the style of the Trumps, well...................get to work, man, get to work.....

ginger

[Seamus]

Thanks Shay :D

I have to give credit where credit is due. This one was really sharp right out of the camera, but I sharpened him a little more using Rut's Lab sharpening technique found here (http://dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=9541).

Thanks again,
Steve

The original has to be good before the sharpening can work Steve, take a bow :clap

[ginger_55]

Hey Steve,

Great seeing your stuff. I've been missing you lately. Those are excellent shots. Don't listen to Ben about the feeder, he's just jealous because he doesn't have one. :lol

Sorry about this

WORK :yikes :puke

thing. In case you're intersted I'm working on a 10-step program to help those inflicted to break the habit.

Harry, I wish someone would start a support group for the wives. Bill works without a weekend this week, for very little money.

Better than no job, but ..................

heck I don't know what is going on, can't blame bill, but I do. The darn company didn't go digital, now they can't compete.

Sorry for the thread hi jack, Steve. If you are gonna work, I think keeping your wife in Trump style is commendable.

And you take time out to enjoy the hummers..........smile.

Looked again, I love them really excellent work.

ginger

[Steve Cavigliano]

Well, Steve, now that I have totally ignored you, and you and everyone else have exchanged hugs and all, well, I want to tell you that

several hours ago, when I first saw your shots, I loved them. I planned to get back to them, and I AM HERE!

Nice, hummer shots! Not a bad way to relax in the evening and have one of those "outdoor" moments.

I love the little feet on those things, the birds. And you got them good.

I also love the colors, you got them, too.

Sorry, I don't even have to look back to know I didn't post immediately, I have been busy responding to K et al. smile, really, got sucked in! Then I had to say something nice to a newcomer being slammed royally, see landscapes. A busy day here in the briar patch.

Steve, it is great to see your face! And if you can keep your family in the style of the Trumps, well...................get to work, man, get to work.....

gingerThanks Ginger :D

Hey, I haven't used up all my hugs. I knew you'd stop by eventually and I saved one for you :wink

I'm not sure about relaxing. I get pretty excited when I shoot (and it shows in my pics :uhoh ). Since I have bad eyesight up close I must have looked pretty funny with a ciggie dangling from my lips, trying to be "Jack Buck Bring em Back Alive" silent and trying to put on my reading glasses betwwen shots to chimp the LCD. Glad I was in the privacy of my own backyard....LOL

As far as the colors, the golds came out well, but the greens and reds not so well :dunno As Jeff mentions, I think you have to catch them at the right angle. I got a few front on and clipped the red neck area :scratch I'll just keep plugging away I guess.

No apologies necessary Ginger. I too get caught up in the "I'll get back to that one later" routine. You respond to lots of posts and your input is always welcome. If you miss a few posts, every now and again, we won't dock your paycheck :lol3

I'll have to go check out your "brair patch" posts...lol Please don't take negative repsonses to heart. It is sooo difficult to communicate in this format misunderstandings are inevitable.

Work, work, work :huh If only I could support the family the way they need to be supported.....lol I've had to find a new occupation (mortgage broker) and have been trying to build my business up to the level where I can take some shooting time off :D

As always Ginger, I appreciate you taking the time to comment :thumb


Steve

[Steve Cavigliano]

Those are very sharp, Steve. I like how the low sun angle makes the yellow spots glow like shining gold. Glad you got some frames in with those working hours. You made them count.
Thanks David :D

I do like some of the color, but when these lil guys are at the right angle to the light they have dazzling colors. I'm still trying to capture those colors :rolleyes And yes it was nice to get back to shooting again. As they say, even the worst day of shooting is better than work...lol

Thanks for your comments,
Steve

[Steve Cavigliano]

Nice shots Steve, very sharp!
Thanks Steve :D

Being almost full crops, there's no a lot of megapixels to work with. I was pretty happy with the sharpness and detail also :):


Thanks for taking the time to look,
Steve

[Steve Cavigliano]

Very cool Steve, I never seem to be able to catch those little speed demons on our feeder, our must come at midnight or something...
Thanks Ed :D

Maybe they have a Board of Directors meeting in the early evening like mine do. I can sit out there in daylight and see maybe one every 15 minutes or so. At dusk they are lined up at the feeder. Sometimes 5 or 6 deep :uhoh Give it a shot and see if those Central Valley hummers behave like ours....lol


Thanks for your comments,
Steve

[rutt]

Rreally great, especially the first one. I never get such good results with my 70-200 and TC. I love the gold color, it really jumps out. Seems like the flash really worked in this case. Didn't scare the bird?