«

Equipment at my disposal:

Digital Rebel XT
EF-S 17-85MM f4-5.6 IS USM
EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM
580EX Flash

Note: My question isn't regarding the wings (I'll save that advanced
topic/question for later).

If 2 Hummingbirds are flying around about 3 feet apart, every time I
take a picture 1 Hummer is in focus while the other is out of focus,
again not talking about wings (they are always blurred) I'm simply
talking about the body of the Hummer.
I've seen numerous photos, from other people, that produces multiple
in focus hummers.
I'm not sure what the secret is, any ideas?

p.s. Is there a way to attach photos to messages, like this one, so
the readers can see what I'm referring to.

Thanks

On 16 May 2007 17:16:07 -0700, in rec.photo.digital dohc46
<> wrote:

>Equipment at my disposal:
>
>Digital Rebel XT
>EF-S 17-85MM f4-5.6 IS USM
>EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM
>580EX Flash
>
>Note: My question isn't regarding the wings (I'll save that advanced
>topic/question for later).
>
>If 2 Hummingbirds are flying around about 3 feet apart, every time I
>take a picture 1 Hummer is in focus while the other is out of focus,
>again not talking about wings (they are always blurred) I'm simply
>talking about the body of the Hummer.
>I've seen numerous photos, from other people, that produces multiple
>in focus hummers.
>I'm not sure what the secret is, any ideas?

Stop your lens down.

>p.s. Is there a way to attach photos to messages, like this one, so
>the readers can see what I'm referring to.

No this is NOT a binary group. Post the photos on a web site somewhere or
one of the binary newsgroups.
--
Ed Ruf ()
http://edwardgruf.com/Digital_Photog...ral/index.html

"Ed Ruf (REPLY to E-MAIL IN SIG!)" <> wrote in message
news...
> On 16 May 2007 17:16:07 -0700, in rec.photo.digital dohc46
> <> wrote:
>
>>Equipment at my disposal:
>>
>>Digital Rebel XT
>>EF-S 17-85MM f4-5.6 IS USM
>>EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM
>>580EX Flash
>>
>>Note: My question isn't regarding the wings (I'll save that advanced
>>topic/question for later).
>>
>>If 2 Hummingbirds are flying around about 3 feet apart, every time I
>>take a picture 1 Hummer is in focus while the other is out of focus,
>>again not talking about wings (they are always blurred) I'm simply
>>talking about the body of the Hummer.
>>I've seen numerous photos, from other people, that produces multiple
>>in focus hummers.
>>I'm not sure what the secret is, any ideas?
>
> Stop your lens down.
>
>>p.s. Is there a way to attach photos to messages, like this one, so
>>the readers can see what I'm referring to.
>
> No this is NOT a binary group. Post the photos on a web site somewhere or
> one of the binary newsgroups.
> --
> Ed Ruf

like " alt.binaries.photos.original "

"dohc46" <> wrote in message
news: oups.com...
> If 2 Hummingbirds are flying around about 3 feet apart, every time I
> take a picture 1 Hummer is in focus while the other is out of focus,
> again not talking about wings (they are always blurred) I'm simply
> talking about the body of the Hummer.
> I've seen numerous photos, from other people, that produces multiple
> in focus hummers.
> I'm not sure what the secret is, any ideas?

Try using a slightly higher aperture number than the one you're using at the
moment.

dohc46 wrote:
> Equipment at my disposal:
>
> Digital Rebel XT
> EF-S 17-85MM f4-5.6 IS USM
> EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM
> 580EX Flash
>
> Note: My question isn't regarding the wings (I'll save that advanced
> topic/question for later).
>
> If 2 Hummingbirds are flying around about 3 feet apart, every time I
> take a picture 1 Hummer is in focus while the other is out of focus,
> again not talking about wings (they are always blurred) I'm simply
> talking about the body of the Hummer.
> I've seen numerous photos, from other people, that produces multiple
> in focus hummers.
> I'm not sure what the secret is, any ideas?
>
> p.s. Is there a way to attach photos to messages, like this one, so
> the readers can see what I'm referring to.

alt.binaries.birds.

On 16 May 2007 17:16:07 -0700, dohc46 wrote:

> Digital Rebel XT
> EF-S 17-85MM f4-5.6 IS USM
> EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM
> 580EX Flash
>
> Note: My question isn't regarding the wings (I'll save that advanced
> topic/question for later).
>
> If 2 Hummingbirds are flying around about 3 feet apart, every time I
> take a picture 1 Hummer is in focus while the other is out of focus,
> again not talking about wings (they are always blurred) I'm simply
> talking about the body of the Hummer.
> I've seen numerous photos, from other people, that produces multiple
> in focus hummers.
> I'm not sure what the secret is, any ideas?

Consider how you'd best be able to get two similar sized
stationary objects in simultaneous focus. Obvious answer. They
should both be the same distance from the lens. Are there any
objects that would cause the hummingbirds to be more likely to be in
line, such as aligned flowers or feeding stations? If so, position
yourself perpendicular to that alignment.

Next, since the birds are unlikely to faithfully honor your
alignment wishes, try to maximize the camera's depth of field. One
thing to do is use the smallest aperture that won't unreasonably
degrade the image. Measures that can help allow using the smallest
aperture are selecting a high ISO, taking pictures in bright
daylight rather than in shade, and selecting a slower shutter speed.
You did say that for now, stopping the wings isn't a priority.

Last, get as far from the birds as your lenses will allow. That
is, if you wanted to get one object in perfect focus and another as
far out of focus a possible, you'd probably get as close to the
objects as possible, using a macro lens with a DSLR or a macro
setting on a P&S. So try shooting with your EF 70-300mm lens at its
300mm focal length and as far from the birds as practical. I assume
that this might be too far from the birds for the 580EX if you use a
really small aperture, so try to avoid using the flash until you
want to freeze the wings. If you need to use it and the flash can't
handle the distance, using a remote trigger will allow it to be
moved closer to the birds. You'll probably want to use a tripod if
the 580EX won't be used.

dohc46 wrote:
> Equipment at my disposal:
>
> Digital Rebel XT
> EF-S 17-85MM f4-5.6 IS USM
> EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM
> 580EX Flash
>
> Note: My question isn't regarding the wings (I'll save that advanced
> topic/question for later).
>
> If 2 Hummingbirds are flying around about 3 feet apart, every time I
> take a picture 1 Hummer is in focus while the other is out of focus,
> again not talking about wings (they are always blurred) I'm simply
> talking about the body of the Hummer.
> I've seen numerous photos, from other people, that produces multiple
> in focus hummers.
> I'm not sure what the secret is, any ideas?
>
> p.s. Is there a way to attach photos to messages, like this one, so
> the readers can see what I'm referring to.
>
> Thanks

If the birds are in a consistent relationship, try to get an angle on
them where they are in a plane parallel to the camera's sensor.

--
Frank ess

On 5/16/07 10:35 PM, in article
, "Frank ess"
<> wrote:

> dohc46 wrote:
>> Equipment at my disposal:
>>
>> Digital Rebel XT
>> EF-S 17-85MM f4-5.6 IS USM
>> EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM
>> 580EX Flash
>>
>> Note: My question isn't regarding the wings (I'll save that advanced
>> topic/question for later).
>>
>> If 2 Hummingbirds are flying around about 3 feet apart, every time I
>> take a picture 1 Hummer is in focus while the other is out of focus,
>> again not talking about wings (they are always blurred) I'm simply
>> talking about the body of the Hummer.
>> I've seen numerous photos, from other people, that produces multiple
>> in focus hummers.
>> I'm not sure what the secret is, any ideas?
>>
>> p.s. Is there a way to attach photos to messages, like this one, so
>> the readers can see what I'm referring to.
>>
>> Thanks
>
> If the birds are in a consistent relationship, try to get an angle on
> them where they are in a plane parallel to the camera's sensor.
I would suggest using "stunt" hummers.

> > dohc46 wrote:

> >> I'm not sure what the secret is, any ideas?

The secret is taking many (read hundreds) of shots to get a "perfect"
one.

If you have PS, you could try selecting the out of focus bird and just
sharpening it, but the results will still be unsatisfactory.

The perfect shot will be an accident that you will not reproduce for
many a day.

--
"When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and
carrying a cross."
Sinclair Lewis