Sunbirds

[elsa hoffmann]

So much to see and do - so little time.
I did a tour yesterday and it was so amazing. So many sunbirds I couldn't keep up - within 3 - 5m of me.
A whopping 12 hours for a 260km trip, and if the light was there it would have been a much longer day. Such is life if you tour with photographers.

[Thomas Stellwag]

i like the whole series
no 2 has good correlation between birds beak and bokeh shape
my fav is the last one - what were you both discussing about?

[elsa hoffmann]

Thank you Thomas
The Penguin - very inquisitive - came to look af my lens!
I came away with more than 900 images for the day - very difficult to choose

[Anthony]

What beautiful birds.

And the least beautiful, the last, makes the best image!

[Jakov Minić]

Elsa's wide angle close ups of animals are always my favorite

[Fons Baerken]

There is Fernkloof Nature Reserve just above Hermanus, are these images from upthere, we were there in September 2008 , cold, wet and windy it was.

[Frank Fremerey]

love the whole series. What color & beauty in Biodiversity!

Could you share some technical information too?

[tommiejeep]

Elsa, love the 3rd image but that 4th is just too cool of a bird.   S.A, Aus. and India share quite a few birds but have never seen one like that.  A question, do you have Hummers?  Some years back I bought Hummingbird feeders in Mexico and US only to get home and realize no Hummers in India    .  None of the other birds used the feeder but the ants did .. lol ... Janette hates ants !
Tom

[elsa hoffmann]

Thank you all for looking.

I always knew we had plenty birds  - but I am beginning  to realise just how many birds we really have here -

Fons - We did stop at Fernkloof as well. There is no other place on earth where so many different species can be seen growing in such close proximity. In Fernkloof more than 1400 species have thus far been collected and identified. Best time to go there is in spring when one would see more flowers - but it was awesome walks and a brazillion tortoises.

Frank - not sure what technicals you want - but here goes the birds were all shot with the D800 and 200-500. I try to keep the SS as high as possible - 1/2000 - it was overcast every 10 minutes (thats how it works here), and f5.6. I should have gone to f8 as I was so close to the birds.  I also should have pushed my ISO more.

Tom - we do have hummingbirds - and I have at least 2 different species visiting my garden. But I have to admit - I have more ants than birds here too.

[Erik Lund]

Outstanding images! Thanks for posting

Yes WA shots just work so well when close up,,,

[elsa hoffmann]

Thanks Erik - next time it will be the 14-24

[PeterN]

What a wonderful series.
I want to go to SA.... My photos will never be as good as yours but at least I can bring back the memories.
In the meanrime I will enjoy your photos as much as possible!

[elsa hoffmann]

Thank you Peter - it is easy to take good photographs if the opportunities are good.
DO visit Cape Town - I am sure you will enjoy it!

[Akira]

For whatever reason, I have missed the thread until now.

How beautiful these images are!  I'm also impressed by your reflex nerve!

[elsa hoffmann]

Thank you so much Akira - I try take care of my reflex nerve   (every Saterday)