More from Texas

[billtils]

They do come bigger in Texas - this is the largest Robber fly I have encountered - it was about 3 cm long. It was also dead - found it early in the morning after a visit from the "bug guys" the previous afternoon.




I'm not sure if this one is S, M or L but it was certainly doing its best to look as large as possible (I'd estimate it's body was about 6 cm).




Lastly, something small and tricky - the best I have been able to get so far from the occasional humming bird visitor (from 4 sessions):

[Shadowman]

Nice series.

[purplehaze]

Nice, Bill. Gives me something to aspire to. Keep at that hummingbird. I imagine it takes a lot of practice.

[Tom Barry]

Fine work. Hummers are a bit tricky. One thing I do is watch one for a while to see which flowers it favors, and concentrate on it, pre-focused if possible, then hit the motor drive. I try to make sure the eye is in focus.

[billtils]

Fine work. Hummers are a bit tricky. One thing I do is watch one for a while to see which flowers it favors, and concentrate on it, pre-focused if possible, then hit the motor drive. I try to make sure the eye is in focus.

Thanks Tom. How close do you get? We are visiting my son and his family for the first time since they moved house and I wasn't sure what to expect in regard to wildlife (they didn't tell me they had hummers visit) so am a bit limited in regard to gear - D810 FF body and 300mm prime without TC (left at home). I'd guess at 15 to 20ft distance for this one, with centre point exposure and single point focus on the head. I've only ever seen one at a time, usually between 08:00 and 09:30.

[billtils]

... I imagine it takes a lot of practice.

Thanks Janice - patience and luck more than anything!

[Tom Barry]

Thanks Tom. How close do you get? We are visiting my son and his family for the first time since they moved house and I wasn't sure what to expect in regard to wildlife (they didn't tell me they had hummers visit) so am a bit limited in regard to gear - D810 FF body and 300mm prime without TC (left at home). I'd guess at 15 to 20ft distance for this one, with centre point exposure and single point focus on the head. I've only ever seen one at a time, usually between 08:00 and 09:30.

I can get within 6' if I move in slowly. Sometimes, a hummer will hover right in front of my face, too close to focus. A 300 prime should do fine, especially if it will focus closely. My 400 f/5.6L is a wonderful lens, but it will not focus closer than about 11' and I usually use a 25mm extension tube when after hummers. It also lacks stabilization, so I must keep the ISO high enough to enable 1/1000th sec. speed. I prefer the 70-300 and moving in close if possible. The old 40D has only 10MP, so I try to get close with it, and when I can't, I usually use the 70D, which has 20MP and is more forgiving of a moderate crop. I am, I suppose, a bit of a fuddy-duddy when it comes to MPs. Since I seldom print bigger than 8"X10" the 10MP of the old 40D is plenty, and processing is quicker than with files from the 70D or the SL-1, with 20 and 18MP respectively.

[lesno1]

These are great Bill wish we had hummers over here you are so lucky

[Wavelength]

fine shots