Hummingbirds

A hummingbird takes aim at another wild iris bloom along a trail in the Ludington State Park. Fortunately for me, the bird was attracted to the same flowers I had already discovered.

I enjoy visiting my Grandma Reed after work and having a drink with her. We sit in her kitchen and watch the different birds come to her feeders and chit chat. Every August she gets several humming birds that frequent her yard. I made it my mission to capture a photograph of one of the ruby red hummingbirds for her. After several failed attempts, I finally captured a moment that I was proud of.

Cherry Point Farm

Grandmas Angel

I know photographers who set up feeding stations and sophisticated lighting systems to increase their odds of making fabulous photographs of hummingbirds. I appreciate the thought and work that goes into that style of shooting as well as the outcome. As for me, my unplanned, unexpected encounter with this hummingbird at Dow Gardens in Midland is the kind of hunting in the wild approach I prefer. My adrenaline is flying off the charts but I have to work fast and smart to capture the hummingbird image I have always dreamed of making.

My mom loves her hummingbirds. They are often the topic of conversation with anyone who enjoys summer days on the farm’s porch. I sat most of the afternoon, working on my patience, and watching these fast birds. Finally, I was able to capture one in my lens that was sharp but showed movement in the wings.