Female Allens HB - Click image to view larger!

Just beautiful! Ken

Beautiful! The combination of the shape of the flower and the Allen are perfect. Your Allen even cooperates with the diagonal rule!

Thanks Ken & Greg & Verena! .. I hope for better shot but that's all I can get for now  :-)  ... thinkhing of using the extension tube to increase the image size.  :-)  

I am very much at the minimum focusing distance!  ... I am bordering 15.4 feet!

Exquisite!  Beautiful shot and very nice background!

Congratulations!

Dick

Thanks Jim! Do you have Hummingbird up high in Colorado ?

Thanks Richard! In previous year, I use to shoot with a closed-down f-stop (like F6.3, F7.1 .. ) but I've found that I should shoot wide-open to blur out the clutter background. Open wide  also allow faster SS which helps freeze the wings better, prevent camera shake (handheld shot) and lower ISO (less noise). I use manual mode to shoot lately, btw (again)

Very nice for handheld.  Did your flash fire?

I have been using my Nikon 80-400 at f5.6 to attempt these shots, which are quite tricky.

I'm toying with the idea of getting the new Tamron 150-600.  The reviews for the Canon mount are surprisingly good for a lens that you can get for $1100.

The Nikon mount isn't out yet.

Enjoy these shots!

Dick

Hi Richard, the flash does fire but the bird is out in the bright sun and it probably does not make much different. Also, I don't shoot with full power, I set it at 1/8 power (just for when she is in the shade or the clouds cover the sund) . I know a fellow who got a Tamron (Canon guy) and he said it's not as good as Canon lens mainly because it focus slower but the result is not bad at all.