I have always been drawn to the vibrant, energetic nature of hummingbirds. These tiny creatures are a joy to photograph, but they can also present a unique set of challenges. Below are 5 tips for taking great photos of hummingbirds in flight.
Use a very fast shutter speed: Hummingbirds have incredibly rapid wing beats, which can exceed 50 beats per second. So you'll need a fast shutter speed to freeze their motion, though you may like to have a little blur on the wings to convey motion. Aim for at least 1/2000th of a second to ensure that you get a crisp, clear image. If you want to blur the wings more, go down to 1/800th of a second. However, I suggest starting out with a high shutter speed as a “safety” shot, and then gradually reduce your speed. Reducing your shutter speed has the bonus of allowing lower ISOs, which reduces noise and provides a cleaner image. Noise is a matter of personal preference and also depends on how much post-processing you want to do, but I generally will keep ISO at 6400 or less for full frame (e.g., Nikon Z9), and a lower ISO for cropped sensor cameras like the Nikon D500. Just keep in mind if you’re lowering your shutter speed that you need to have sharp eyes above all else. If the eyes are not sharp, keep trying with higher shutter speeds or shoot a lot more frames. By the way, double-check that you’re using continuous focusing mode, not single. If you’re using a mirrorless camera like the Nikon Z9, try using animal or bird subject auto-detect to increase your odds of getting the eye in focus.
Use a low aperture...but maybe not your lowest aperture: Using a low aperture let’s in the maximum amount of light to the camera sensor, which is great for allowing fast shutter speeds and low ISO. Low apertures also lead to beautifully out-of-focus backgrounds. This helps isolate and place attention on the hummingbird, especially if the background is cluttered and distracting. However, pay attention to Depth of Field (DoF). If you’re using a long lens at a very low aperture, you may have sharp hummingbird eyes, but the rest of its body may be a bit out-of-focus. Also, you’ll want to decide how much of a flower to have in-focus if you’re photographing hummingbirds coming in for a taste. So, even if your lens can stop down to f/2.8 or f/4, you may want to consider going to f/5.6 or f/8. Try it and see what you prefer, though bear in mind that you’re also balancing trade-offs with shutter speed and ISO when you’re using higher apertures.
Use the longest focal length lens you have: Hummingbirds are tiny subjects, and ideally you'll want to fill the frame. A telephoto lens with a focal length of at least 300mm is good, though the longer the better. For the photos above and below, I used Nikon’s 200-500mm f/5.6 lens set at 500mm. This will allow you to stand or sit further away and zoom into the hummingbird, capturing more detail without disturbing its behavior. Furthermore, in combination with a low aperture, you’ll get a nice blurry background, which is critical if you have a busy background. If you have a shorter lens like a 70-200mm, try using a blind. I purchased this blind from B&H Photo (no affiliation). It’s very compact for travel and seems to work quite well.
Use a tripod: Because of their small size and hyperactive movement, handholding your camera while photographing hummingbirds is a losing proposition, particularly if lighting conditions are not very bright or you have a hefty lens. A tripod will help you get sharp images, and has the bonus of not straining your biceps from having your lens ready to shoot for long stretches of time. If you have a tripod and a camp chair, you can relax and enjoy the sounds of nature as you wait for hummingbirds to arrive at the nearest flowers.
Be patient: Hummingbirds are skittish and challenging subjects to photograph. You probably won’t get the perfect shot on your first try. Just keep at it. It's also a good use of time to spend some time observing hummingbirds before you start taking photos. This will give you a better understanding of their behavior and habits, which will make it easier to anticipate when they are most likely to pose for a photo. If they’re frequenting a flower or cluster of flowers, you can pre-focus on them to help your camera to get focused on the hummingbird more quickly. Try also to pre-visualize what type of image you want to take. For example, what background would you like behind the hummingbird, how would you like the composition to be, and what shutterspeed, aperture and ISO do you need to get a sharp, clean image?
In conclusion, photographing hummingbirds can be a very rewarding and challenging experience. They’re also very accessible for the backyard bird photographer with appropriate flowering plants or hummingbird feeders in many parts of the world. Click here or here for informative articles on attracting hummingbirds. With these tips in mind, you'll be well on your way to capturing stunning images of these beautiful birds. It takes patience, a lot of practice, and a bit of luck, but the results are well-worth it. Happy shooting!
