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The most challenging subject in the world of bird photography is the hummingbird. This jeweled  bundle of energy has the ability to zoom around at record breaking speeds causing frustration for many a photographer. This article is written to help give you some tips so you can take better hummingbird pictures.

Set out the Hummingbird Welcome Mat

Most places in North America have hummingbirds either seasonally or year round. Just ask your local Audubon Society on when you should put out your hummingbird feeders. You can also find out if the hummingbirds in your area migrate so you can remove the feeders in time for the hummingbirds to migrate and avoid freezing in the cold. 

Every serious hummingbird photographer needs a hummingbird feeder. When looking for a feeder, make sure you have one that is easy to clean and that it is easy to fill with sugar water.

Most birders suggest using 4 parts water to 1 part sugar or you can also try using a 3:1 mixture as well. Keep the feeders filled so that the hummingbirds don't head to a more reliable nectar station. However you should take them down periodically to clean but put them right back up. Also never use food coloring because it can cause dangerous growth on the hummingbirds beaks and it's not needed to attract them.

Feeders, Perches and Flowers

One of the biggest challenges with photographing hummingbirds is that they rarely sit still. They are almost constantly darting here and there. Many photographers try following the hummingbirds (with camera in hand) in the hopes of getting a shot. However, don't do that as it is best staying in one position and being patient.

You want to think about the kind of bird pictures you want and then set things up to help increase your chances of getting the shot. After that, it's a matter of getting comfy and having your camera ready. Many photographers use tripods or monopods so the camera's always ready. Some photographers use blinds so they can move without worrying about scaring off a hummingbird. 

If you want photographs of  hummingbirds hovering, remove the perches from your feeders. And if you plug all the holes but one it will be easier to get a pictures of one hummingbird at a time. You'll still have the ones that are zipping around trying to get the one at the feeder to move on, but that will happen regardless.

Now if you want to take pictures of hummingbirds perching, watch where the dominant male goes after he fills up at the feeder. Usually, hummingbirds will perch where they have a good view of the feeder. And if the perch isn't a good location for you to get photos, do some rearranging. Move the feeder closer to a perch that works for you.

Or move it farther from the natural perches and add a perch near it in a photo friendly location. As long as the hummingbird can keep a watchful eye for predators, it won't mind relocating. Eventually the hummingbirds will get used to you and your camera, but movement will likely frighten them off so make sure you're in a quiet area with very little activity.

If you have a beautiful flower that the hummingbirds never visit (and would make a great photo), try using an eye dropper and gently fill the flower with some sugar water. This only works for a short time though because after a couple hours the blossom will wilt and then it will die.

As with the feeders and perches, you can also bring flowers to your location by hanging a basket of flowers. However no matter if you use a flower or feeder, you'll still only have about 8 seconds tops to take your pictures. Still, it pays to be patient and not press the shutter until after the hummer's had a sip of nectar. Otherwise if the flash frightens them off, they won't have as much incentive to venture back.

Check Your Background

The best background for hummingbird photography is something dark green that doesn't have any distractions in it like brown twigs or branches. If you want a “moveable” background try a dark green potted plant or even a large green painted poster board. The best thing you can have is a dark background so the hummingbirds bright colors can really stand out.  

If you look for hummingbird pictures in google images you'll get a good idea of what backgrounds work and what doesn't. Note how brilliantly colored hummingbirds fade into some backgrounds, like the bright green, sun lit trees and shrubs. A shaded area behind the flower, feeder or perch works well too.

You can use photo editing software like Adobe Photoshop Elements, to blur the background and make the hummingbird stand out from the background. Adobe has tutorials on this on their website.

Lights, Camera, Action

After you have things set up it's just a matter of finding a nice, comfy place to sit nearby with your tripod and camera. In order to freeze their beating wings, you will need a high speed flash but you can still get some great pictures with a good compact camera by using these tips.

And once you get some great hummingbird pictures, make sure to share them by putting them in frames that make the photo stand out. If you have a picture with a green or dark background, simple dark green picture frames or dark wood picture frames can help set off the colorful jeweled tones of the hummingbird beautifully.

Even though hummingbirds can be very tricky to photograph, by using these tips and having some patience you will soon be enjoying your beautiful collection of hummingbird pictures displayed in photo frames on the wall.

One of the most popular aspects of animal photography is bird photography. Taking perfect pictures of birds in the wild can be very challenging, but you can create many wonderful photo opportunities in your own backyard.

Setting up your Backyard Photo Shoots

The biggest challenge isn't actually attracting birds to your yard. Once feeders are out and discovered, word will get around fast! The biggest challenge with bird photography is getting the birds to perch where you want them. So, consider the location carefully before setting up your feeding station or birdbath.  

Choose locations that won't make the birds easy prey for cats and other predators, and at the same time that will provide you with the opportunity to photograph them with nice backgrounds and good angles.  

Do remember that if you set feeders out in the winter to consistently provide quality seed so  your feathery subjects aren't filling up on something like bread that won't provide them with the energy needed to stay warm at night.  

Birdbaths also make great places for photos and help encourage birds to visit your yard regularly.

If you are trying to attract certain bird species, check with The Audubon Society to see what types of seeds or plants are best for them. You can also find good tips at the National Wildlife Federation's “Gardening for Wildlife” pages.

Don't limit your photographs to the bird feeders and baths either. You can also take pictures of birds in your yard that perch on tree limbs and fences nearby so make sure to look for these areas too.

Camera Settings

Have you ever noticed that birds are in almost constant motion? They are always moving no matter if they're foraging on the ground or sitting on a tree branch. With so much movement you want a higher shutter speed for bird photos, so use the Sports mode or set your shutter speed to at least 1/250.

If you have an optical zoom on your compact digital or have a telephoto lens on your SLR, this will make taking bird photos a lot easier. Depending upon the camera, an optical zoom of 6x can give you about the same magnification as a 200mm lens which means that a photo taken from 10 feet away will look close up.

Some of the so called “bridge cameras” offer zooms from 10 to 20 feet, but not all produce quality results so check around before purchasing. When using a high range zoom, you should also consider using a tripod or other camera stabilizer.

Given a big enough lens, you can also get some great photos of birds in flight or perched high in the tree tops too. Professional nature photographers will often use a 600 lens to capture images with good detail of birds in flight or far away.

Telephoto lenses of this size are very expensive, but there is another way, brought to us from birders. It is called digiscoping. Digiscoping is where you combine the birder's spotting scope with a digital camera. Here is one of many good articles online introducing the digiscoping method to bird photographers: Birdwatchers Digest: Photography.

When taking birds in flight, blue skies are always best. And the bluest sky of the day is usually the hour after dawn. Also, look for times of the day when you have flocks of birds around your house or flying over. Or, if you're looking to take pictures of birds of prey like osprey, go to a lake or river early in the morning or evening when they fish. This is also a perfect time for soft, warm and even lighting.

And once you get a great bird picture, don't forget to share it and display it in a quality picture frame. Although there is a huge selection of frames available, you should choose a frame that has simple, clean lines like a thin metal picture frame or a natural wood picture frame as it won't compete with your photograph.
Hopefully by using these tips, you'll attract more birds to your yard and be able to capture some great bird photos that you'll be proud to display.