Photographing hummingbirds in flight takes patience, speed, and a lot of observation. These tiny birds are some of the fastest and most agile visitors in my yard, and capturing them midair is always a highlight of my summer bird photography.
This image shows a female Ruby-throated Hummingbird frozen in motion as she hovered near my feeder here in Arkansas. The light caught just right on her iridescent feathers, and I managed to get a clean background to really let her colors pop.
Observing Behavior Helps Anticipate the Shot
Photographing hummingbirds in flight requires more than just a fast shutter. I spend time watching how they approach the feeder, where they tend to hover, and how long they pause. Once I understand their rhythm, I’m better able to anticipate the perfect frame.
This female came in low and hovered briefly before darting up to the feeder. I captured her during that split-second moment when her body was still but her wings were caught in motion.
For more tips on how I photograph these fast-moving birds, check out my post: Ruby-throated Hummingbird in Flight Photo Tips.
Freezing Motion with Camera Settings
To get this shot, I used a high shutter speed to freeze the wing movement and kept the aperture fairly wide to isolate her from the background. Shooting in manual mode with auto ISO helps me quickly adapt to changing light while keeping control over depth of field and motion blur.
Even though I took hundreds of frames, this one stood out for the perfect pose and wing position.
Here in north central Illinois, we are just now beginning to see the Hummingbirds arrive. We normally have several at our feeders. Typically, there is a male that perches nearby and tries to chase others away. I am looking forward to sitting and getting a few photos. I am using the R7 and the Canon 200-800. Thanks for the tips in your other post.
Thanks Harold! I have a friend using the R7 and I like my Canon 200-800.