The hummingbird, a member of the trochilidae family, is a fast, aggressive, and elusive avian specimen. The only bird that can fly backwards, it has an acute sense of hearing, is very territorial and aggressive, and is extremely shy. This makes them difficult but fascinating photographic subjects.
At my daughter’s house in rural Howard County, Maryland, there is a hummingbird feeder in a maple tree just outside a room with a large bay window. It is frequented by a hummingbird that has become a challenge for me. I have, since moving in with them in April of this year, become determined to photographically document this agonizingly frustrating little bird.
Catching one in focus is difficult, but I’m getting there. With a digital camera, I tried auto setting, but the camera’s just too slow to focus, so I set it to manual focus, and on the ‘action’ setting for shutter speed. I then pre-focused on the feeder and then did what you have to do when taking pictures of any animal–waited, and waited. Whenever it shows up, I turn the camera (which I have hanging around my neck) on and slowly raise it to my eye. As soon as it’s generally aimed at the bird, I press the shutter release. On the action setting, it will take pictures continuously as long as the button’s pressed. With luck, I’ve managed to get a few that you see below, and each day I refine my skills.
My next challenge is to get photos of two that I’ve seen doing inflight fighting–a rare sight indeed.
