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Night Flight


Night Flight
Photo Information
Copyright: Howard Cheek (marhowie) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5745 W: 1225 N: 10569] (34531)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-06-28
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 1D Mark III, Canon EF 100-400mm L IS USM, Digital ISO 800, Hoya UV-Guard (77mm)
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/2500 seconds
Details: Tripod: Yes (Fill) Flash: Yes
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Pentaxfriend's favorites, Karataş's favorite-II [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-07-03 6:18
Viewed: 775
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 96
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Black-chinned Hummingbirds do not fly at night of course..

In the original frame, the female bird was too near the top, and the background was a dull grey (my galvanized tool shed). Also, there was a large out of focus flower blur right in front of the bird.

I liked the pose enough that I began to work with it.

First I added canvas, cloned outward, & recomposed. Zoomed in and manually selected the bird. Reduced brightness/exposure and then averaged for the "Night Flight" effect here.

Adults are metallic green above and white below with green flanks. Their bill is long, straight and very slender. The adult male has a black face and chin, a glossy purple throat band and a dark forked tail. The female has a dark rounded tail with white tips and no throat patch; they are similar to female Ruby-throated Hummingbirds.

Their breeding habitat is open semi-arid areas near water in the western United States, northern Mexico and southern British Columbia. The female builds a well-camouflaged nest in a protected location in a shrub or tree using plant fibre, spider webs and lichens.

They are migratory and spend most of the winter in Mexico.

These birds feed on nectar from flowers using a long extendable tongue or catch insects on the wing. While collecting nectar, they also assist in plant pollination.

Because of their small size, they are vulnerable to insect-eating birds and animals. This bird is fairly common in its breeding range.

A hybrid between this species and Anna's Hummingbird was called "Trochilus" violajugulum. The Black-chinned Hummingbird is also known to hybridize with Costa's Hummingbird. The Black Chinned humming bird is 3 1/4 inches long.

Info courtesy of wikipedia.com

Thanx for lookin'
bobcat08, MMM, PaulH, Amadeo, NinaM, eng55, pankajbajpai, darwin, jaycee, CeltickRanger, red45, elroyie, nglen, fartash, Pentaxfriend, boreocypriensis, Luis52, gracious, Janice, uleko, haraprasan, iris, meyerd, Jamesp, rousettus, jeanpaul, goldyrs, liziafa, Luc, jusninasirun has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • MMM Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 751 W: 0 N: 1506] (6872)
  • [2008-07-03 6:47]

Hi Howard
Beautiful inflight image.Good pOV and razor sharp image.colors and light are outstanding.THat dark BG is a perfect matching for the image.
TFS Michel

  • Great 
  • PaulH Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1032 W: 26 N: 2994] (10800)
  • [2008-07-03 6:48]

Hi Howard,

i'm impressed by your PP skills here, you've obviously put alot of effort in and it's really paid off. Makes me realise i should put more time into learning a bit more myself. What you've finished up with is a very atmospheric and artistic shot in a 'classic' style. Excellent pose too. All other aspects are as per the norm :o)
Cheers,
Paul

great capture, TFS Ori

Hola Howard, un excelente procesasdo, un saludo.

  • Great 
  • eng55 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 353 W: 3 N: 376] (1127)
  • [2008-07-03 7:29]

Hi Howard,
What a capture!Details,colors,POV,lighting,contrast and composition are wonderful.Excellent timing and note too.Into my favr.
Thanks for posting.

  • Great 
  • NinaM Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 562 W: 0 N: 1371] (4547)
  • [2008-07-03 7:30]

A pure delight, I would go at Imax contemplating your pictures in 3D big screen everything that goes with it! Fantastic movement of the bird and the little flower all alone with it is a pure joy to look at. You PPed wonderfully, a beautiful jewel,

Francine

hello howard,
i always admired you photography skills and now i am a fan of your post processing skills too, what a lovely night view has been created here,
excellent work,
tfs & regards
pankaj

Hello Howard,

No time, just marking. But wonderful!
Cheers,
Mariki

Hello Howard
This is a superb capture of the Humming Bird and then the PP is exemplary creating a stunning scene.
You cant always pick the BG for a shot and I have an hour a day at this time of summer where the light illuminates the birds and casts the BG into shadow....But thats the fun of creating incredible pieces of work such as this....Top work indeed.
All the Best
Paul

Hi Howard
Stunning composition with wonderful color contrasts and crystal clear detail
Impressive work
tfs jon

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1778 W: 8 N: 4605] (14893)
  • [2008-07-03 8:52]

Hi Howard,

This is a demonstration of what a superior photographer and artist you are. You were so right - this pose was worth working on - it's just fantastic. The black background sets off the hummingbird perfectly. And the bird is perfect - beautiful colors, superb details and an amazing position.

Jane

  • Great 
  • Juyona Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 2038 W: 6 N: 2019] (13259)
  • [2008-07-03 9:43]

Hola Howard,
perfecta e increible captura,
y buen efecto nocturno,
buen trabajo.
saludos amigo.

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1202 W: 68 N: 2477] (8179)
  • [2008-07-03 10:21]

Hello Howard,
Simply amazing. The pose of the Hummingbird is perfect. I can see all its beautiful colours and details. The red flower against the black BG is gorgeous. Together it stands in a perfect composition. Work of a great photographer!
Regards,
Peter

  • Great 
  • Graal Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Silver Note Writer [C: 788 W: 31 N: 20] (5002)
  • [2008-07-03 10:44]

Hi Howard,
great night shot. Fine caught bird by night. Interesting informations. Professional work. I like it.
Gr., Aleksander

  • Great 
  • red45 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2828 W: 75 N: 8009] (26813)
  • [2008-07-03 10:46]

Hi Howard!

Fantastic result of your hard post processing work! Black BG looks superb, bird is sharp, detailed and its pose is beautifull. Also - red, supersharp flower is perfectly composed in picture. Pity that you didn't send original in WS :-)

Excellent capture my friend, excellent action picture, you frozed the right moment with excellent flash work, well done!

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1989 W: 5 N: 5528] (20896)
  • [2008-07-03 12:18]

Hi Howard. A lot of hard work done in photo shop to turn this into a great picture . A great inflight shot of the little bird.Good colour in the feathers. i like the single flower in the shot . well done TFS.
Nick..

Dear Howard
this is a great shot!
I like the colours and composition.
Very very good.

Ciao
Silvia

Dear Howard
What a wonderful shot of this Humming Bird,
Perfect focusing,exposure and POV.Welldone my friend.

Good Luck
Fartash

Hi Howard,

What a BEAUTY
Everything look PERFECT
i will add this one to my Favorites

TFS Thijs

  • Great 
  • Luis52 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1022 W: 5 N: 2801] (10142)
  • [2008-07-03 14:17]

Hola Howard.
Como ya es costrumbre una muy bella imagen la de hoy. La iluminacion en el Colibri es verdaderamente hermosa y nos permite poder observar los finos detalles en el plumaje y ojos. El fondo en negro combina muy bien con el objetivo principal y la pequeña florecilla en rojo.
La nota es interesante tambie.
Saludos
Luis52.

Hello Howard...Very interesting picture...Information useful...Great name and pose...I am learning a lot from your pictures too...All the best. Leyla

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2008-07-03 21:06]

Hello Howard

A lovely capture of this hummer.
As usual your in flight details are focus and sharp.
Excellent rich colours.
TFS

Rob

Hello Mr.Cheek,
Another of your outstanding inflight shot which is always in perfection!
the dark bg really makes the subject and the red flower so eye-catching!
my compliment
Tony

Wow!! what more can I say - this is a beautiful shot

Regards
Betsie

Hi Howard, what an amazing perfect capture of a Black-chinned Hummingbird with superb details as usual. I love the black BG making a great contrast with the subject. Alsa a fantastic capture my friend. Many thanks for sharing this beauty.
Cheers,

Bayram

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2459 W: 168 N: 7421] (23442)
  • [2008-07-04 4:47]

Hello Howard,
Well, the night effect was certainly worth it to show the beautiful tail feathers of this little Hummer. Great focus on the eye and I like the position of the wings. Wonderful metallic colours and what a pretty little flower it has chosen to visit! Very well done!
TFS and best wishes, Ulla

Hi Howard,
A nice capture of this beautiful humming bird. Very good details and a lovely composition. Thanks a lot for sharing.

  • Great 
  • gannu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 917 W: 4 N: 2282] (10648)
  • [2008-07-04 10:08]

Hello Howard, Amazing shot and that too with such a superb shutter speed. Excellent. Ganesh

Simply spectacular, MF.
I had a look at your last posts and "as always" they are a pleasure to look at. "Snappy" Hovergirl makes a beautiful pair with this one, impressing job.
Congratulations and my best wishes.

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1683 W: 242 N: 5560] (19685)
  • [2008-07-04 14:01]

Just AWESOME!!
The pose is fantastic!
Excellent use of flash.
Great composition.
Superb focusing.

VERY well done, Howard!

Cheers,
Joe

hello Howard

superb in-flight shot of this Hummingbird, the bird in his flight
is frozen perfectly, with the all dark (or black) background
there is excellent luminosity on the bird doing excellent contrast,
i love that catch-light at the eye that it change alot
on the image, imagine the bird's eye without that catch-light
the image is not the same, great shot, TFS

Asbed

  • Great 
  • Mana Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1714 W: 24 N: 4988] (16346)
  • [2008-07-05 4:16]

Hi Howard,
Outstanding in-flight shot of this Hummingbird and you have freezed this action moment so skillfully. Great effort and the image is neat and sharp. I like the sprayed tail and the dark BG which lets the subjects stand out so beautifully. Excellent POV and very nicely composed. Kudos.
TFS.
Sumon

Hi Howard, fantastic nocturne shoot, splendid capture of this wonderful Hummingbird with open wings on a beautiful little flower, fantastic colors, fine details and excellent sharpness, great use of flash, BRAVO! very well done, have a good week end, ciao Silvio

  • Great 
  • meyerd Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 386 W: 63 N: 1139] (3493)
  • [2008-07-05 10:01]

Hi Howard,
I find your manipulations with PS entirely rewarding, the result justifies it entirely. A memorable scene, the incredible light on the bird, this is one of your masterpieces, Howard!
Best regards
Dietrich

Hi Howard,
You´ve done a very good work in post processing as you tell in your note, it could be interesting if you post the original version un workshop to compare.
But the final result is spectacular, I like a lot the instant you have "inmortalizated"
Greetings
Hernán

  • Great 
  • Jamesp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1252 W: 0 N: 4834] (14354)
  • [2008-07-05 23:08]

Hi Howard

Spot-on detail and timing. Superb work.

James

Hello Howard,
I can write single word for this post: "excellent".
I cant image you capture such a perfect shot. Congratulations and bravo.
Ahmet

Hi Howard
Superbe de pouvoir arriver à prendre ce petit en plein vol et tout le corps en focus.Bravo pour le beau BG
Félicitations et au revoir...JP.

Wowww
I just say: GREAT SHOT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You are a king Howard
Many thanks for sharing

www/imagespassion.be

Patience is the virtue of kings, and you've shown us again, that patience bears beautiful fruit!Excellent PP work!An excellent shot, overall!
Goldy

  • Great 
  • iris Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 389 W: 40 N: 730] (2302)
  • [2008-07-10 10:13]

They dont fly in the night, is it?

Your notes give a detailed process of the PP work you carried out and thus you have provided a fine idea of the processes this presentation has gone through.Although i would personally not endorse the black BG, i love this shot for the action of the bird you have recorded with utmost clarity and sharpness.The detailes are wonderful with lovely lighting, contrasts and colours.

The blur in the wings of the bird suggests motion and the catchlight in the eye give a lievly feel to the shot.The lone red flower standing up breaks the monotony of the scene very effectively adding a dash of colour and another element to the whole composition.
Thanks for sharing this interesting work, Howard.

Cheers

Howard, "you da man" and always will be :) Superb work my friend..

Hi Howard,
EXCELLENT!!!
You are master in this capture :)
TSF Malgosia

Unimaginale shot Howard,
Seems as if I am seeing a movie.
The red makes the diference.

Rajeev

Hello Howard,

Beautiful (night)inflight image. These dark BG is a perfect matching for this image. The colours and drawings of the feathers come from this perfect.

This is a superb capture of the Humming Bird. Thanks for sharing. Greetings and TFS BOB

lighting,contrast and composition are wonderful.Excellent timing.

Hello Howard. Excellent sharp focus on this little bird in flight. Beautiful flower where the bird is homing in very good negative background. Best regards. Jusni

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