Month: May 2025

Spring Hummingbirds

I am continuing to fine tune my hummingbird garden and have planted some early blooming flowers. This is the second year I have had this pink bloomer in the garden. I can’t remember what it is called but the Hummingbirds are loving it. Some of my plants didn’t make it through the winter so this one with plentiful pink bells is providing the only flower nectar at this time. I have feeders out to help the birds, but I am not keen on photos of birds and unnatural feeders.

August is the best month with the multitude of the Rufous variety that migrate through here. At this time and into mid-summer I have to work harder and wait longer to get photos of the locals, Anna’s and Black-chinned hummers.

Hummingbirds use spider webs along with other material to build their nests. This is the first time I have caught them gathering the sticky web stuff.

I’m Not a Wedding Photographer

What do insects have to do with wedding photography? Well, after years of turning down gigs using the kind of photography that I have no interest in, weddings, kids, family reunions etc. I have been asked to photograph a wedding that I could not turn down. My nephew and his bride to be, both of whom I love dearly, called me a month ago and asked if I would photograph their upcoming nuptials. They are a lovely couple and since they are having a very small wedding in my hometown in conjunction with our annual family reunion, I said yes.

I have been meaning to update my photography equipment for a while and this presented the perfect excuse. I finally bought a mirrorless camera and some new lenses to go with it. Wildlife lenses of course but also a macro lens I have been wanting for a long time. This lens will also work well for portraits and for most of what I will need at the wedding. I also got a speed lite for the interior of the church photos. Lots of hummingbird photographers use a flash so I am looking forward to trying this on hummingbirds this summer.

I have been playing with the camara lens combo and while I still have some kinks to work out it is exciting to see the level of detail you get with the macro application.