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<blockquote data-quote="Don Kondra" data-source="post: 323845" data-attributes="member: 17688">Okay, I still feel you have a metering issue.&nbsp; That shot is basically under exposed, ie., not enough flash power or too slow a shutter speed. IMO the cameras flash is useless for quality images but an on board flash used correctly can add some &quot;fill&quot; light.&nbsp; But, too much flash dead on from the front will blow away any shadows on the feathers that give them detail.&nbsp; I understand many use flash extenders such as The Better Beamer with good results, but I still maintain, for hummingbirds especially, it may make the body &quot;shine&quot; but it is very easy to lose that feather detail and chances are the image will not look natural.&nbsp;&nbsp; I certainly don't want to discourage you from experimenting.&nbsp; Personally I don't care for &quot;flash&quot; unless it is a studio like off camera portrait set up, ie., two or three lights off camera with a staged flower/background. That way the &quot;light&quot; from the side maintains the shadows on the feathers.Anywho, I still shoot hummers in less than ideal conditions to practice my editing skills but I'm still selective in trying to capture a good pose.&nbsp; Under normal conditions I shoot in Aperture Priority, wide open (F5.6) or one stop down (F6.3).&nbsp; With good light I like to go to F8.I use whatever ISO I need (up to 1650) to keep the speed up to at least 1/500, preferably 1/1000.&nbsp; Center point focus point with the metering/exposure/center weighted area @ 13mm. Cheers, Don</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Don Kondra, post: 323845, member: 17688"] Okay, I still feel you have a metering issue. That shot is basically under exposed, ie., not enough flash power or too slow a shutter speed. IMO the cameras flash is useless for quality images but an on board flash used correctly can add some "fill" light. But, too much flash dead on from the front will blow away any shadows on the feathers that give them detail. I understand many use flash extenders such as The Better Beamer with good results, but I still maintain, for hummingbirds especially, it may make the body "shine" but it is very easy to lose that feather detail and chances are the image will not look natural. I certainly don't want to discourage you from experimenting. Personally I don't care for "flash" unless it is a studio like off camera portrait set up, ie., two or three lights off camera with a staged flower/background. That way the "light" from the side maintains the shadows on the feathers. Anywho, I still shoot hummers in less than ideal conditions to practice my editing skills but I'm still selective in trying to capture a good pose. Under normal conditions I shoot in Aperture Priority, wide open (F5.6) or one stop down (F6.3). With good light I like to go to F8. I use whatever ISO I need (up to 1650) to keep the speed up to at least 1/500, preferably 1/1000. Center point focus point with the metering/exposure/center weighted area @ 13mm. Cheers, Don [/QUOTE]

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