Black-Chinned Hummingbird (Archilochus Alexandri) photography

During the day, when we were not out photographing in the blinds are and other areas, we had the opportunity to photograph black-chinned hummingbirds.  Larry put a high-speed flash set up, which contained five flashes so we could photograph hummingbirds coming in to feed at a flower.  What made this an easy project is that Block Creek Natural Area, has five feeders hanging around the porch, with greater than 50 hummingbirds present almost all the time during daylight hours.

Black-Chinned Hummingbird At the Feeder

After we adjusted our settings, using an on camera flash, set to command mode plus still providing a flash.  The reason for this two of the flashes utilized a radio signal and three of the flashes were fired by the flash on the camera.  Two of the flashes illuminated the background, and the other three flashes illuminated the birds.  Camera settings were f/22, ISO depending on which camera was being used by the participant, ranged from 200-320, manual on the mode and by pre-focusing on the flower the autofocus was turned off.  The whole setup was mounted on a tripod and by using a wired trigger, you could sit back and fire the camera when the hummingbirds approached the flower.  It was easy photography sitting back in a rocking chair, watching the action, and then firing the camera.

Set up

set up

Male and Female Black-Chinned Hummingbird

Male and Female Black-Chinned Hummingbird

Male Black-Chinned Hummingbird Showing the Purple Stripe on His Throat 

Male and Females Black-Chinned Hummingbird

Even at the setups at the blinds, we were able to photograph black-chinned hummingbirds as they flew in to feed on the flowers.

Black-Chinned Hummingbird Photograph from a Blind

Black-Chinned Hummingbird Feeding on a Flower

Black-chinned hummingbirds are a small, slender hummingbird with a fairly straight bill.  Both male and female color dull metallic green above and don't grayish, white below.  The males have a velvet ugly black throw with a thin, evidence purple base while the females have a pale throat.  The females three out of tail feathers have a broad white tip.

Black-chinned hummingbirds are found in most of the Western United States, parts of British Columbia in Mexico.  They are found in a variety of different habitats: mountains, woodlands, orchards, meadows, and chaparral.

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