Every summer, for the past eight, I've tried to photograph a portrait of a Hummingbird here in Wind River Canyon, Wyoming.  The reason for the emphasis on tried is simple; it's really, really difficult to get exactly what I may have had in mind in the first place.  Whatever results I get are never ever what I'd seen in my mind's eye.  A Hummingbird isn't quite as cooperative as a squirmy child, no matter how much you hear otherwise.  I recently finished working on portraits of grandchildren for a lady, they came out great and, it was much easier to photograph children than to make portraits of Hummingbirds.

     Number one on my list would be kids usually speak English, and I don't speak Hummingbird, yet.  After sixteen summers of working with Hummingbirds in the Wind River Canyon, I do have a good understanding of their behavior and sounds; but Hummingbirds take lousy direction: "Sit over there!" doesn't work at all....yes, I've tried even that.  So what I do is get the hummers used to me being around, always wearing the same hat and shirt.  And eventually I can start photographing in close.  You can use a much longer lens, I have, but the intimacy with your subject just isn't the same as getting in tight for that close-up.  It's a genuine thrill to be so close to Hummingbirds that you can feel the wind they create with their amazing wings.  And sometimes their wings even brush my ears!  

     Good camera equipment is a must, because Hummingbirds are so very small; I'm sorry, but that ninety-nine dollar camera isn't going to cut it in the world of Hummingbird Portraiture.  But,  most important of all is this little secret....patience and quiet, quiet and patience.  That's the real deal advice from someone that's done this many, many times before.  Oh, and a good understanding and confidence in your software is a help, as this will aide you in making your Black-chinned Hummingbird, Portrait, Wind River Canyon, WyomingBlack-chinned Hummingbird Portrait 2014. portrait subject that much more beautiful, and this advice applies to people portraits as well.  

     This week's photograph is a portrait of a Black-chinned Hummingbird male, a first in many respects.  Black-chinned Hummingbirds first started nesting in Wind River Canyon only last summer! and it's a rush being able to present a portrait of one on my website and this blog.  I took this photograph only just this morning at 9:30am.  I knew when I viewed it on the camera back that this photo had to be this week's blog.  It took me a couple of hours to get the picture just the way I wanted it; to be honest with my readers, I never thought any of this would ever happen.

     Young Rufous Hummingbirds kept coming and going....then He showed up.  I tried to keep my emotions under control, when in fact I wanted to jump up and yell.  I'd waited so long for an opportunity, and here it was....just don't screw it up! or you'll have to wait another year for a shot!  Unlike photographing people, you just can't set up another shoot next week, or tell them to go sit over there and smile.

     So there you have it, patience, quiet, luck, confidence, understanding, software, quality, timing, quickness and a good eye, and the Hummingbird needs to cooperate....sounds simple enough.  Maybe I should start teaching classes................