Hummingbird Hawk-moth (Head/Side on)
Feeding on nectar. Tight focus, f/2.8.
I just proudly showed this to my wife, and she said "out of focus isn't it!" No pleasing some people eh! We're moving house soon though, so she'd rather I was packing.
SO not out of focus!
I got pretty close-up with this shot, as you can see. This is where the macro lens starts to come into its own. I think I used manual focus here too - I find it easier to judge focus through the viewfinder when I get close to a moving object. The autofocus tends to hunt at this range.
The sunlight is off to the left here, which you can see by the shadows cast across its face from its antenna. I actually thought I could only get the light on its face if it was facing the sun, so this shot shows me how wrong I was. Maybe if its wings were further into the downcycle they would have cast a shadow across its face, or maybe not - because the light seems further up. Anyway, it works! So easy to get shots messed up by shadows and bad light!
Comments and faves
Immacolata Giordano added this photo to her favorites. (9 months ago)
Torsten Hansen (Berlin) (9 months ago | reply)
superb, the focus and the bokeh are awesome!
nondesigner59 (9 months ago | reply)
Spot on..
martyn61 (9 months ago | reply)
stunning capture
Joe__M (9 months ago | reply)
Wow! Best one yet! Such a great series of this awesome little animal :)
The f/2.8 aperture is great too, lovely dof.
richard.heeks (9 months ago | reply)
Thanks all. Thanks Joe.
BenHaldane added this photo to his favorites. (9 months ago)
Chris Bainbridge1 (9 months ago | reply)
Fantastic in flight shot!
MorningRosie, Joe__M, and www.paulmirfin.co.uk added this photo to their favorites.
www.paulmirfin.co.uk (9 months ago | reply)
Brilliant again mate
steeple_jackuk (9 months ago | reply)
Wow mate a great capture
Wun Wacky World added this photo to their favorites. (9 months ago)
Wun Wacky World (9 months ago | reply)
Like the motion by the wings -- looks almost like a bat here ;-)
This photo was invited and added to the Butterflies and Moths of Britain- Winner Announced! group.
judyac81 added this photo to her favorites. (8 months ago)
tuckertessamom (8 months ago | reply)
Awesome capture!!
tuckertessamom added this photo to her favorites. (8 months ago)
silversven (8 months ago | reply)
Great shot. Have not seen one this year - well it has been one of those summers! Brilliant shot!
Margaret Edge the bee girl (8 months ago | reply)
Brilliant shot. I know how difficult these are to photograph.
I've only seen one of these this year.
Detail of it's face is very good.
Christopher Harry (8 months ago | reply)
Great focus with a narrow DOF that emphasises the wing action and adds to the sense of scale in this macro! I would be very proud indeed to capture one of these fast flying creatures this well. I never seem to actually get the chance to click on one before it's long gone!
Christopher Harry and Adrian Midgley added this photo to their favorites.
MikefromSouthport (8 months ago | reply)
I've just come across this, but simply must add a comment. A superb series of shots, and taken over 2 days as well. I have had these stunning moths in my garden, but they never stay still long enough for me to frame/focus/shoot. Maybe the flower head with lots of small florets keeps it still for longer - must grow some of my own like this for next year.
richard.heeks (8 months ago | reply)
Thanks Mike. Yes, these flowers are ideal. The moth flies from one nearby flower to the other, meaning it stays in the same small area for a while. So you get plenty of time to get some shots, change focus etc.
Jane in Colour (7 months ago | reply)
I think this is amazing!!
.......CaRiTo...... and Snoos Pix added this photo to their favorites.