The Beauty & Magic of Hummingbirds

By Local Los Angeles Photographer Matthew Partsch

I stumbled on some fascinating creatures that amaze me every day - Allen’s Hummingbirds.

I have been photographing the hummingbirds for about 4 years. At first, I captured them as soon as I found them. I would chase them around, and wonder how wonderful photos were taken by other photographers. I quickly discovered that you cannot chase these little birds.

I figured out that they will always come back to a favorite perch. In fact, with most wildlife photography, watching their behaviors is the most important factor to get the right pose or backgrounds.

When I first walk through the gardens, I have my eye open to find out where they are landing that day. Then I set up my tripod, find pleasing background and wait.

They will come back every 10 to 20 minutes and rest on that perch.

Each photo below took over 1 hour at each perch to get the right photo.

I use a Nikon D850 with a 500mm lens. I am always asked how I took the photos with my phone.

The Allen’s hummingbirds are special to the Los Angeles area as they don’t migrate south. They will stay year round while most travel to warmer areas.

Feeding Tips

If you want to feed hummingbirds in your backyard, make a mixture of 4 parts water (boiled) to 1 part table sugar.

Let cool and place in a clean feeder.

Do not buy the red liquid or put red food coloring in the food. They do not need it.

Clean out the feeders and replace every 3-4 days. If you see cloudy liquid, or black spots, that is mold. You must remove / clean immediately.

Once the birds find your feeder, they will be back and gather more birds to visit your back yard. I have 5 feeders set up in my little yard and I have up to 6 come by at once.

They are very territorial and will work as hard as they can to protect their new food source. It did take them a couple of months to find the spot, though. Don’t give up, and keep changing that food!

You will see Allen’s Hummingbirds, Anna’s, and Black Chinned.

Photo Tips

1. Find a garden the birds are visiting, or plant your own

2. Photograph in the morning or evening, when the sun is low for the best light

3. Photograph when the sky is white and cloudy - this lighting is best and makes their feathers pop and have no shadows

4. Avoid flash - they are startled and are already nervous enough

5. Find their perch, set up and wait. They will keep coming back, don’t move, Wait for 3 to 4 cycles of their coming back. Sometimes they land backwards and you have to wait again.

6. Take lots of photos. It is ok to hold the shutter down. You can pick the best pose later in post, and delete the rest. They are fast!

7. Use Aperture priority, set at F11 to make their beaks sharp. Some of my photos below the beak is not sharp - this is before I knew this tip.

ISO at 800 minimum, shutter speed at 1/800s or faster. Adjust the ISO to get shutter speed up to 1/4000s if you need to get the right shutter speed.

8. Use a tripod to get them in their spot, but also hand hold. Get a tripod where you can to disconnect quickly.

9. Use fast memory cards - the Nikon D850 will take 250 photos before it slows down

10. Be patient and keep trying

I am Matthew Partsch and I enjoy taking wildlife photos, landscapes, sunrises and sunsets around the Los Angeles, San Pedro and Palos Verdes areas. I have been in California for 7 years and enjoy every day I am here. I have been a photographer for over 20 years.

Here is a sample of some of the birds I have captured.

https://www.bluecloud.photography/HUMMINGBIRDS/

My photos are available for purchase as fine art prints, or for commercial licenses.

https://www.bluecloud.photography

I also offer 1 or 2 hour photography sessions on the weekend if you are interested.

https://www.bluecloud.photography/SHOP

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/the_orangeskies/

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