Anna's and the Kiddies

[Desert Rat]

I have been away in AZ for a few days and headed out to the hummingbird nest again this morning. They have gotten bigger and are filling the nest up themselves.. Mom cannot sit in the nest anymore...
Tech
D2x
200-400
TC14E
ISO 320
F/14 and F/22

http://www.pbase.com/desertrat99/image/58280685.jpg
http://www.pbase.com/desertrat99/image/58280722.jpg

[kdog]

Beautiful shots. :thumb

Just curious, but why F/14 and F/22? That must have really slowed your shutter speed, which seems counter productive.

regards,
-joel

Edit: actually looking at your DOF, it's hard to believe the aperature was that small? :scratch

[Desert Rat]

Joel,

I was shooting this nest at about 6-10ft. using s 200-400VR lens... With a long tele lens your DOF is pretty darn shallow at 400mm and F/8 I had to keep the nest and the chicks in focus along with mom...I was shooting at ISO 320 to pring up the shutter speed and also using fill flash to bring out shadows details...

Beautiful shots. :thumb
Just curious, but why F/14 and F/22? That must have really slowed your shutter speed, which seems counter productive.
regards,
-joel

[kdog]

Gotcha. Thanks for the explanation.

[Froggy]

Isn't that a little close to the nest, 6ft :scratch Hope the parents don't get upset.

Nice shots, looking forward to getting my 30D tomorrow.

[ehughes]

Great stuff Eric, the nest we had in the yard was found by a cat ( bummer )

[Dick on Aruba]

Very nice, well done.

Dick.

[Desert Rat]

Well if you actually did the research on the behaviour and knew your subject you can tell what their comfort zone is... Mom was non the disturbed while i was standing there... The female still did her normal behavior. It is called observing and getting to know your subject...

Isn't that a little close to the nest, 6ft :scratch Hope the parents don't get upset.
Nice shots, looking forward to getting my 30D tomorrow.

[Desert Rat]

Hey did and Ed.. Thanks for looking..

Sorry to hear Ed about the nest in your yard.. that sucks...

[Rohirrim]

Neat captures Eric. Too bad the chick in the foreground on the second one isn't as sharp as the other one. Hard to get that much DOF.

[Desert Rat]

Neat captures Eric. Too bad the chick in the foreground on the second one isn't as sharp as the other one. Hard to get that much DOF.

Yep my DOF was pretty short considering my focus distance and the F-stop I was using... I tried stopping down to F/22 but it was still not enough with a long tele lens... I might try my 70-200 net time instead...

[Froggy]

Well if you actually did the research on the behaviour and knew your subject you can tell what their comfort zone is... Mom was non the disturbed while i was standing there... The female still did her normal behavior. It is called observing and getting to know your subject...

Well for corn sakes don't get your panties in a wad, After reading the post on birds nesting I thought that might be kindda close.

I'll be the first one to admit that I don't know the comfort zone of a Hummingbird, by your tone I do know that you have No patience.

Thanks for the lesson.:thumb

[Harryb]

Marvelous shots Eric. Its amazing how fast those young ones grow.

[Desert Rat]

Marvelous shots Eric. Its amazing how fast those young ones grow.

Thanks harry...

Yes, yes they do grow quite fast... The incubate for about 18 days and fledge in about 18-24 days after hatching...