Hey Guys, I have been working on this new hummingbird project, I call it "Stained Glass Wings". Nothing artificial has been added and no AI used. Some slight color saturation boosts and pulling color from the background is really the bulk of the post processing. The real trick is on the front end, shooting into the sun, correct angles, wing position, camera height etc.
What do you guys think of my project so far?
The wing translucency is really working. I spent years trying to get that kind of light through subjects and it's all about patience with the angle like you're saying. The moment has to line up just right or it doesn't happen at all. I'm curious how many frames it took to get the wing position where the light structure shows through that cleanly. That's the part that always killed me when I was shooting faster-moving wildlife early on, waiting for everything to align at once.
Hey Malcolm, thanks for taking the time to comment. Angles and light and wing position...and tons of patience. For every one good shot I get, there are hundreds of backlit shots with little to no color...but that is the challenge and what makes this pursuit so fun and rewarding when it all comes together.
The wing position timing is the real thing here. You're catching the translucency at the exact angle where light structure becomes visible, not just color. That's the shot.
Thanks, Luther, for the comments. You are so right, the wing position is critical and that is what makes these shots so fun (and frustrating). For every one good shot I manage, there are hundreds of others that are backlit, but little to no color at all.