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A Rare Photo... a life lesson!

By
Education & Training with Retired Executive Director of Education at eXp Non-Licensed

I have always wanted to capture a photo of a hummingbird in flight, but it is almost impossible.  If you're a photographer, you know what I mean.  I went into the backyard this afternoon to help my son do the yard-work, and we noticed that the bougainvillea tree needed some trimming. 

As I got closer to the thorny limbs, I noticed a hummingbird sitting on the branch not two feet away from me.  Getting a shot like this was like capturing lightning on film.  Definately a rare photo opportunity.


I slowly backed away, ran into the house, grabbed my Panasonic with the Leica lens, and managed to return before the bird had received clearance from flight control.  This time, he let me come within a foot to capture this shot just before he flew away.  These birds are FAST! In two seconds, he/she was gone!!  I took 40 shots in burst mode and got a couple really good ones from different angles. 

I know this has nothing to do with anything, other than sometimes, it's just being in the right place, at the right time.  Isn't life the same way? 

Sometimes we are in the right place at the right time, but sometimes, we just miss it!  I am guilty!

For me, today was a lesson in life.  I have never been able, or quick enough to get a photo of the hundreds of hummingbirds I have seen in my lifetime, yet I have always wanted to.  It's true, good things do come to those who wait.  Are you reading between the lines here?  What good things are waiting to happen for you.  Don't give up, they may be just around the corner!!  Don't miss your Kodak Moment!  :-)

Comments(153)

Earleene Woods
Keller Williams Experience Realty - Murray, KY
ASP, CRS, GRI

Here is the best I have been able to do.  They sure are fun to try an dcatch though aren't they??

Aug 25, 2008 04:34 AM
Lynn Afton
Greenridge Realty Oakmont - Big Rapids, MI
REALTOR® Near Big Rapids, MI, Mecosta County

Some hummingbirds in our yard actually seem to be sitting for a picture.  They are curious when I come out with the camera, and will change from branch to branch in the pine tree for quite a long time.  Unfortunately, they only seem to want to do this at dusk, and my camera flash changes the lool of the hummers drastically!  Great photos, Brad.  We only have the ruby-throated variety.

Aug 25, 2008 09:33 AM
Brad Andersohn
Retired Executive Director of Education at eXp - Boulder Creek, CA
ActiveBrad - 707.646.1876

Earleene - great shot.  Thanks for sharing that with us. :-)

Aug 25, 2008 06:43 PM
Brad Andersohn
Retired Executive Director of Education at eXp - Boulder Creek, CA
ActiveBrad - 707.646.1876

Lynn - would love to see some shots if you ever get the chance.  :-)  The subliminal message here is to capture that Kodak moment by being in it, so many times the moment and opportunity is right there and we miss it because we are consumed by thinking we are always chasing something.  It's good to stop and smell the roses once in a while, the hummingbird comes when we least expect it and we're least prepared. 

Aug 25, 2008 06:48 PM
Earleene Woods
Keller Williams Experience Realty - Murray, KY
ASP, CRS, GRI

Brad.

Thanks for the compliment.  I have only owned a DSLR for less than 2 months so am learning.  Haven't figured out yet how to set the camera to get the shot without blur and be able to see the wings!

Aug 26, 2008 01:01 AM
Brad Andersohn
Retired Executive Director of Education at eXp - Boulder Creek, CA
ActiveBrad - 707.646.1876

Earleene - I know the DSLR has some great features but you have to know about shutter speed, f stop etc.  My son is a photographer too and he's always trying to teach me all the technical stuff. Kids these days are just too darn smart.  Here's a shot I did get of some wings, but they're dragonfly wings, another rare photo of mine I feel fortunate to have captured.

Aug 26, 2008 02:06 AM
Davey and Tammi Ellis
Keller Wiliams Realty - Owasso, OK

I just had to comment on this post.  I am brand new to ActiveRain and to real estate.  My husband and I love it though!  I just had my first person ask us to remove her from our mailing list.  It completely deflated me.  After reading your post, I'm inspired again!  There's no telling what's out there for us!!  Thank you so much!

Davey and Tammi Ellis

Dec 02, 2008 05:55 AM
Tony and Libby Kelly
Keller Williams Realty Portland Premiere - Lake Oswego, OR
CRS, ABR, ePro, SRES, CLHMS, CDPE

So cute.  Congrats on the accomplishment!

Dec 02, 2008 06:22 AM
Debi Boucher
Real Estate Showcase Photography - Woodland Park, CO
"Realtor Showcase" - Real Estate Photography/Virtual Tours

Hi Brad! These are wonderful photos! I posted some that I took a while back. Sat outside on the deck for HOURS to get these shots! But it was certainly worth it. Some of these shots are of the not-so-common Rufus hummingbird.

http://activerain.com/blogsview/724867/The-Birds-and-the

What is it about these magnificent birds that so warm our hearts? I think it's the tiny-ness coupled with the stamina - against all the odds, so to speak!

Debi

Dec 02, 2008 02:56 PM
Debi Boucher
Real Estate Showcase Photography - Woodland Park, CO
"Realtor Showcase" - Real Estate Photography/Virtual Tours

Brad, PS I'm still waiting for that elusive lightning, too! ;)

Debi

Dec 02, 2008 02:57 PM
Brad Andersohn
Retired Executive Director of Education at eXp - Boulder Creek, CA
ActiveBrad - 707.646.1876

Davey and Tami - never let anything or anyone deflate your spirit!  I am glad you were inspired by this post.  Thank you for your comment and for making this post have more value than what meets the eye.  :-))

Dec 04, 2008 02:20 PM
Brad Andersohn
Retired Executive Director of Education at eXp - Boulder Creek, CA
ActiveBrad - 707.646.1876

Tony and Libby -thanks!  Right Place, Right Time, for the Right Reasons...   :-)

Dec 04, 2008 02:22 PM
Brad Andersohn
Retired Executive Director of Education at eXp - Boulder Creek, CA
ActiveBrad - 707.646.1876

Debi - what an awesome shot, thanks for sharing that,  I loved it and your Blog layout too. The water looks great, especially on Active"RAIN".  LOL~  Your comment would make a great caption for the Wordless Wednesday group on this photo, maybe I'll use that.  :-)

BTW - I did get lightning on a shot in Hawaii, but for the life of me, I can't find it right now on my external drive.  I have over 10,000 photos on that thing, now to sort it so I can find photos when I need them. haha.

Dec 04, 2008 02:25 PM
Debi Boucher
Real Estate Showcase Photography - Woodland Park, CO
"Realtor Showcase" - Real Estate Photography/Virtual Tours

Brad, You are free to use the comment in any way you wish! (You could use it even if I DIDN'T owe you for all your help!) I hope you find the lightning shot, they are precious! Few and far between...I've never managed one, but hey! I'm not dead yet, there's still time LOL! I have managed spectacular fireworks shots, tho...Maybe that's my next WW photo!

Because of my DVD business, I have 20K+ photos on my drive. Have finally bought an external drive to back it all up- but can't imagine if I didn't have it sorted! You've got one very big job ahead of you! Consider hiring someone to do it for you. If you disappear for a couple months, we'll know what you're doing! ;)

If you know of a post re: using HTML to change font, color, etc. - Could you pass it on? I just got used to the <font> thing, and need to learn the RIGHT way now!

Debi

Dec 04, 2008 02:53 PM
Brad Andersohn
Retired Executive Director of Education at eXp - Boulder Creek, CA
ActiveBrad - 707.646.1876

Debi - I'll be doing a post on the HTML font thing and widgets shortly.  Let me wait and see how things go after the upgrade at midnight tonight. Thanks. 

 

 

Dec 04, 2008 03:13 PM
Debi Boucher
Real Estate Showcase Photography - Woodland Park, CO
"Realtor Showcase" - Real Estate Photography/Virtual Tours

PS Brad, My blog background is a shot of the river in 11 Mile Canyon. I loved the contrast between the frozen sections and the running water. It was 16 degrees that day - even the ducks were shivering - but I got some nice photos...

Debi

Dec 04, 2008 03:15 PM
Debi Boucher
Real Estate Showcase Photography - Woodland Park, CO
"Realtor Showcase" - Real Estate Photography/Virtual Tours

Thanks, Brad, I'll look forward to to your post.

Debi

Dec 04, 2008 03:19 PM
Brad Andersohn
Retired Executive Director of Education at eXp - Boulder Creek, CA
ActiveBrad - 707.646.1876

Look forward to seeing them soon.  Now let me go look for that lightning photo...  haha!  :-)

Dec 04, 2008 03:19 PM
Debi Boucher
Real Estate Showcase Photography - Woodland Park, CO
"Realtor Showcase" - Real Estate Photography/Virtual Tours

When you find it, I wanna see it!

Have good night.

Debi

Dec 04, 2008 03:29 PM
Brad Andersohn
Retired Executive Director of Education at eXp - Boulder Creek, CA
ActiveBrad - 707.646.1876

I promise I'll find it someday!!  :-)

Dec 06, 2008 10:58 AM