I've been here. Just in one of my quiet and working too hard modes.

I got my new/used Vivitar 283 off EBay the other day and got a chance to play with it today as far as freezing wing motion on hummers. Still a little too much daylight when I took this one this evening but I think there is a chance this is going to work. When I get a chance early morning or on a cloudy day I'll give it another shot and see what happens.

BTW.. this is a young male Anna's. You can see the red spots starting to develop on the upper part of his head.

Pain and suffering is a pain and I'm just not into it. I'd rather shoot things showing good things that bring a smile. Speaking of which... Rusty is still hanging around. Sun was going down so the dof isn't what I would have liked. Maybe tomorrow.

OK.. I'm working on my lighting. I think this is something many run into with feeders hanging under the eve of the house. Even if you want to shoot out through the window like these are you have the problem of lots of top light and light on the wrong side of the bird... from Tuesday.

Being the poor and starving photographer that I am, I find things that will work without spending a bunch of money. Need some reflectors? Go buy a couple of the folding sun shades for your car when they are on sale. Now tape one to the wall below your feeder and use a stick or two to tip it up at an angle so you can see the bottom of the feeder brighten up. It will make a world of difference on the bottom side of  the bird.I had to do a lot less work in PhotoShop to get what I wanted in this one. Will work on it more tomorrow. I actually had to do work today.

I'm really going to hate to see this guy head for Mexico next month!!

Some day they will leave and I won't get to shoot them at this rate. This is the same male Rufous I posted with him sitting at the feeder. I changed feeders because the wasps wouldn't leave the one with yellow on it alone and the birds hate them. Homemade single port there now so you get him  in flight.

I'll try to work on the lighting and get his underside a little better. Tough shooting through that window with the light behind and above him. May have to work out a reflector.

I'll try to get more of this guy and better ones. He is one spooky little bird. So far I'm having to shoot him through the window. If I'm anywhere around outside he will buzz the feeder and he is gone. He will only eat at the one feeder in the front and my best lighting is in the back. I'll keep working on it.

New guy on the block.

While I'm not as lucky as some and haven't found nests, my hummingbirds have been doing the nasty and the "children" are now showing up at the feeders. This last week has been a real zoo. Besides my resident pair of mating Anna's the kids have been hitting the feeders hard. There are also a number of young Rufous showing up. Needless to say having both kinds of them here at the same time can make things a real war zone when it comes to which "flower" belongs to which bird.

These shots are a young Anna's male. As far as his color is advancing I'll guess he is from the first breeding this spring.

At the feeder,  Backed off from the feeder,  Full size crop from image. When he is all grown up he will look like His daddy.

Will have more Oregon Coast shots to post later this week along with some from the local car show and cruise yesterday.

Been working too hard and not playing enough other than the kids in the back yard.

My winter population is now up to three with the arrival of another female. When she calms down a little I'll get some shots of her. The new female and "Miss November" are really having it out at the feeder. They get loud enough I can hear them in the house with the windows closed.

I bring the feeders in at night and get them back out well before daylight so they don't freeze and break.

Anyway.. the male (as of yet unnamed)is just eating when he can and  keeping an eye out for those two loud mouthed females. I'm sure he will catch up to at least one of them (grin).