Photography Tips | Hummingbird Photography Tips For Beginners

Meta Explains The Best Hummingbird Photography Tips For Beginner Photographers

How To Shoot Hummingbird Photography for Beginner Photographers

How To Shoot The Best Hummingbird Photography – In this section of Photography Tips and Techniques, Meta Explains The Best Hummingbird Photography Tips For Beginners.

High Speed Macro Photography – Don’t think of Hummingbird Photography as Super Long Lens Birding Photography – Think of it as High Speed Macro Photography!

If you think of Hummingbirds as a Large Flying Insects, you’ll understand better how to Shoot Hummingbirds as Macro Photography.

Where To Buy The Best Hummingbird Photography Books

Meta’s Best Hummingbird Photography Tips and Techniques

Minolta AF 100mm f/2.8 Macro Lens

What’s The Best Hummingbird Photography Setup?

Hummingbird Photography Lenses – For Shooting Hummingbirds, Meta has tried all of her Long Zoom Lenses, including the Sony 70-200mm F/2.8 G and the Minolta AF Zoom 75–300mm f/4.5–5.6 Lens, but they all have a typical MFD of 1.1–1.5 Meters, requiring 200–300mm Zoom and setting up too away just to get within the range of focus.

Being a Professional Macro Photographer, Meta found that her Minolta AF 100mm f/2.8 Macro Lens (Photo: Left) worked the best for Hummingbird Photography, due to its very short (35cm) Minimum Focal Distance (MFD) and fast f/2.8 Aperture.

Meta sometimes shoots Hand Held, but more often on her Slik Pro 700DX Tripod.

Hummingbird Flash Setup Using 5 Flash Units

Multiple Low Power Flash Method For Shooting Hummingbirds

This Multiple Low Power Flash Method uses Wireless Flash Photography to control the Four Remote Sony HVL-F45RM Flash Units, with one Top Mounted Controller Flash on her Sony Digital Camera (Photo: Left). To save money, Meta purchased all of her 5 Sony Flash Units used from amazon.

The Camera’s Sony HVL-F45RM Flash is the Controller Flash (CTRL) for the Four Remote Sony HVL-F45RM Flash Units (RMT).

Meta labels her Flash Units with ID stickers (CTRL and RMT2 to 5). If you have more than one Sony Digital Camera, label them as well, #1, #2, #3, etc.

Sony Digital Camera Sync and Flash Unit Setup

We’ll first need to Sync each of the Sony HVL-F45RM Flash Units to your specific Sony Digital Camera. This is important, if you have Multiple Sony Digital Cameras, as it prevents the other Sony Digital Cameras from accidentally firing your Flash Units.

1) Turn Flash Unit Power On and Check The Battery Status. The Battery Indicator Blinks if the Batteries are Low. If Low, Insert 4 new AA Lithium Batteries into the Sony Flash Unit Before Continuing.

2) Reset Each Flash Unit to Factory Default Settings. Press the MODE and TTL/M buttons together for more than 3 seconds. Resetting each Flash Unit removes any past Sony Digital Camera Sync cononections and other Custom Flash Settings, that could cause problems later on.

3) Setup your Sony Digital Camera to Shoot Hummingbirds:
MENU –>

2 –> Power Save Start Time –> 30 Minutes (Prevents Sleeping)
MENU –>

2 –> Flash Mode –> Wireless
MENU –>

3 –> Power Ratio –> 1/16 (Fires The Popup Flash at 10,000th of a Second. Not Required if using a Top Mounted Flash)

4) Attach one Flash Unit to the Sony Digital Camera and Power On the Flash Unit and the Sony Digital Camera.

5) WL (Wireless) should be automatically displayed on the Flash’s LCD panel and the 4 Remote Flash Units should be set to RMT. The Top Mounted Controller Flash Unit is set to CTRL.

6) Press the TTL/M Button to Display MANUAL (HSS is Automatically Disabled in Manual Mode).

7) Press the Up or Down Arrows to Select the Power Level of Each of the 5 Flash Units to 1/16 Power Level. Lower Power Flash Units will recycle much quicker than Full Power Flash Units.

8) Set the Flash Manual Zoom to 70mm – To Closely Match the 50mm Lens x 1.5 on a Cropped Sensor Sony Digital Camera. The M ZOOM Number refer to a Full Frame Camera.

9) Power Off the Flash Unit and the Sony Digital Camera. The Flash Unit / Camera Sync is remembered by the Flash Unit until the Flash Unit is Reset to Default Settings.

10) Remove the Flash Unit from the Sony Digital Camera.

11) Repeat Steps 4–10 until each of the 5 Flash Units have been Synced to your Sony Digital Camera.

Test Fire to make sure all 5 Flash Units are Firing at the same time.

For More Information, Refer to the Sony HVL-F45RM Flash Manual.

Sony HVL-F45RM Flash Unit

The Secret To The Low Power Multi-Flash Method

Reducing the power of the Sony HVL-F45RM Flash Units to 1/16th Power Level, should fire each flash at about 1/10,000th of a second, which is fast enough to freeze the Hummingbird Wings. Shoot normally at 1/250th of a second at f/16 for a Wide Depth of Field. Let the Multiple High Speed Flash Units freeze the Hummingbird Wings, and not the Sony Digital Camera’s Shutter Speed.

The Flash Range is much shorter on 1/16 Power Level, so you’ll need to position the Multiple Remote Flash Units closer to the Hummingbird Feeder. Meta uses multiple Sony HVL-F45RM Flash Units placed about 0.5 Meter from the Hummingbird Feeder, one pair of flashes on each side of the Hummingbird Feeder (Photo: Top). Her Sony Digital Camera with Minolta AF 100mm f/2.8 Macro Lens is positioned about 0.5 Meter from the Hummingbird Feeder with the Top Mounted Controller Flash Unit.

Dual Flash Mounting Bracket

You can mount pairs of Flash Units on the one Lightweight Tripod or Flash Stand using these inexpensive Dual Flash Mounting Brackets.

These Flash Mounting Brackets can be mounted to the Lightweight Tripods. Meta uses zip-ties to double secure the Flash Unit Feet to the Brackets.

When using Low Power Flash, Shoot in the Shade, not in Direct Sunlight. Early Morning and Early Evenings are the times to Shoot Hummingbirds, when they are most active.

The new Sony HVL-F45RM Flash communicates via 2.4 GHz Sony Radio Frequency instead of the older Line of Sight IR Technology.

Sony Radio Control Wireless Commander FA-WRC1M

If you have older Sony IR Flash Units, such as the HVL-F32M, Sony HVL-F43M or HVL-F60M, they can be easily converted to 2.4 GHz Radio Flash Units by adding a Sony Radio Control Wireless Commander (FA-WRC1M) on the Sony Digital Camera, and a Sony Radio Control Wireless Receiver (FA-WRR1) on each of the Remote Sony IR Flash Units.

The Sony Radio Control Wireless Commander also works directly with the Newer Sony Radio Controlled Flash Units, such as the Sony HVL-F45RM Flash, without the need for Radio Control Wireless Receivers.

The Sony Radio Control Wireless Commander features 2.4 GHz Sony Radio System has an effective range of 98.4’ (30 Meters) and can operate without direct line of sight, so the Remote Flash Units can be hidden in planters or in bushes.

Hummingbird Photography — HSS Flash Method

Can You Use High Speed Sync (HSS) to Shoot Hummingbirds?

High Speed Sync Flash Method – The Sony HVL-F45RM Flash also supports High Speed Sync (HSS) in TTL Mode (Not in Manual), so you might want to try this HSS Flash Method as well. HSS was invented so that you can a nice blurred background with a Flash when shooting up to 1/8000th of a second at f/1.4 to f/4.0 in Full Sunlight.

The only problem with HSS and Hummingbird Photography, is that you have to shoot at 1/8000th of a second, in TTL Mode, wide open at f/2.8 or f/4.0. Wide Open Apertures don’t produce a wide enough depth of field to capture both wing tips (Photo: Left), but it can sometimes freeze the Hummingbird Wings. Compare this Photo to the Sharper one below, which was shot at 1/160th of a second at f/16, using the Low Power Flash Method. To get a wider depth of field and freeze the wing tips, f/16 or smaller aperture is required.

View Meta’s Hummingbird Photos

Hummingbird Photography — Low Power Flash Method

How To Attract Hummingbirds to Your Garden

Hummingbird Season – Meta’s migrating Hummingbirds show up every year on her front pouch around mid April in Western North Carolina, at elevation 3,800’. A week before they arrive, Meta hangs up three Perky Pet Red Glass Hummingbird Feeders. The bright Red Glass attracts the Hummingbirds, without using any harmful red dye. They usually head south mid October.

Hummingbird Flowers – Meta hangs many shade loving Fuchsia Gartenmeister Bonstedt on her front porch, along with other Red, White and Purple Fuchsias. In her Side Shady Mountain Side Garden, Meta plants Native Mountain Huckleberry Bushes, Milkweed and Bright Red Bee Balm to attract Hummingbirds and other Pollinators.

Hummingbird Sounds – Hummingbirds can be attracted by sound. Sibley Guide to Hummingbirds is a Free Hummingbird App which includes Hummingbird Sounds. Meta pairs a Portable Bluetooth Speaker to her iPhone and uses the Free Sibley Hummingbird App to play Hummingbird sounds. The low frequency beating of wings seems to attract the Hummingbirds.

Hummingbird Photography — Low Power Flash Method

When is the Best Time to Shoot Hummingbirds?

Hummingbird Times – Meta’s Hummingbirds are very active early in the mornings, starting about 1/2 hour before sunrise to about 10:00 AM, then they seem to disappear for the rest of the day. They return in the early evening around 7 PM to sunset. These are the best times to Photograph Hummingbirds.

No Boil – No Mess – Clear Hummingbird Nectar – Take a large 1.5 Liter of bottle of Spring Water. Pour out 300ml (20%) and have a drink. Now fill up the 1.5 Liter bottle to the top with Quick Dissolve Superfine Sugar. Shake well and Store in the Fridge for up to 2 weeks. This is enough Clear Hummingbird Nectar to fill her three 8 oz. Perky Pet Red Glass Hummingbird Feeders twice a week for 2 weeks. No Harmful Red Dye should ever be used in Hummingbird Nectar.

8 oz. Perky Pet Red Glass Hummingbird Feeders

The Best Hummingbird Feeders For Hummingbird Photography

Perky Pet Red Glass Hummingbird Feeder – For Hummingbird Photography Only, Meta modifies her Perky Pet Red Glass Hummingbird Feeder (Photo: Left) by blocking 3 of the 4 feeding tubes with 1/4” ClosetMaid End Caps, so the Hummingbirds can only feed on 1 feeding tube, exactly where her Sony Digital Camera is focused on.

Hummingbird Feeder Cleaning – Meta found a Baby Bottle Brush with Nipple Cleaner that works the best for Cleaning Hummingbird Feeders. This Bottle Brush has a small Nipple Cleaner Brush built into the handle, which fits into the four Hummingbird Feeder Tubes for scrubbing. Remember to clean the Hummingbird Feeders every 3 to 4 Days. Dangerous mold buildup can kill Hummingbirds!

Sony a77 II Digital Camera

Meta’s Best Hummingbird Camera and Flash Settings

Camera: Sony a77 II Digital Camera
Lens: Minolta AF 100mm f/2.8 Macro Lens
Flashes: Sony HVL-F45RM Flash Unit
Flash Diffuser: Sto-Fen OM-C Flash Diffuser
Flash Stands: Small Tripods
Tripod: Slik Pro 700DX Tripod with an Intervalometer
Triod Bag: 90cm Tripod Bag
Camera Mode: Manual Mode
Focus: Zone Focus on Center Area
ISO: 100
Shutter: 1/250 of a second
Aperture: f/16 (For a Wider Depth of Field)
Drive Mode: Single Shot Mode
Flash Unit Power: 1/16th Power – Trigger the 4 Remote Flash Units with the Top Mounted Controller Flash Unit.
Flash M Zoom: 70mm – To Closely Match the 50mm Lens on a 1.5x Cropped Sensor Sony Digital Camera.

Think Tank Photo Digital Flash Pouch

What’s Inside Meta’s Hummingbird Photography Field Kit

Meta carries her Sony HVL-F45RM Flash Units on her Camera Belt inside Think Tank Flash Pouches. This Modular Configuration is best used for Remote Hummingbird Photography:
• 5 Sony HVL-F45RM Flash Units – 4 Remote Flash Units and 1 Controller Flash Unit
• 8 Extra AA Lithium Batteries – Stored in AA Battery Cases
• 5 Flash Stands (Included with each Sony Flash Unit)

Photography Tips

Shooting Hummingbirds can be tricky, because Hummers spook very easily. If your Sony Digital Camera allows for Remote WiFi Triggering from a remote iPhone or iPad, consider using this WiFi Control feature from a short distance. You can also use an Intervalometer with an Extension Cable, and manually trigger the Camera from up to 15 feet away.

Meta Explains The Best Hummingbird Photography Books

Hummingbirds of North America: The Photographic Guide

– Steve N. G. Howell

Well known and respected Hummingbird tour leader and author, Steve Howell, has made a particular study of the finer points of Hummingbirds. Over 200 stunning Hummingbird Photographs complement this highly recommended Hummingbird Photography Book. Some Hummingbird species feature as many as 14 different Hummingbird Photographs in each set.

Hummingbirds of North America: Attracting, Feeding and Photographing

– Dan True

Professional Hummingbird Photographer Dan True conveys his passion for these buzzing aeronauts by describing all 16 species of North American Hummers, listing their favorite flowers and going into detail about their habits, courtship and distribution. Dan then tells us How To Photograph Hummingbirds as he does with such consummate skill. Here in one Hummingbird book is all you could hope to know about our Hummingbirds.

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Photography Tips and Techniques – Hummingbird Photography Tips For Beginners