Nothing spectacular, but broke my dry spell!

[MN Shutterbug]

A new acquaintance phone me yesterday and let me know his hummers were back. When I first met him, he told me they always come back on August 15. He was right on the money. This friend lives just 6 miles out of town and attracts quite a few species of birds, and has the most marvelous flower garden. It's like a piece of heaven.

Anyway, I went out there this morning and only had opportunities with this one female hummer. She was quite the challenge. i had never attempted a hummer shot before. I couldn't resist the goldfinch with that colorful background. That's also the only reason I shot the dragon. These flowers sure add to the photos.

Hopefully next time, I'll find the male hummer.

[Steve Foss]

Mike, I'm way glad you got these. And you nailed them.

IMO it's the setting, not only the subject, that makes an image something to catch your breath. All this sweating over tight portraits of birds on perches with blurred backgrounds is fine, and there are some great images made that way, but it's not what most bird lovers want to see.

IMO, your first two images, with the male goldfinch echoing the brilliant yellows of the coneflowers, are excellent. The light is a little harsh and still fairly high overhead, but a small amount of work in shadows/highlights in photoshop can knock that down, and the flowers and the way you framed them are top notch.

Also IMO, the last of your hummer images is the best of them.

You've got images there to be proud of.

[mmeyer]

Those are really great Mike! I also like the last Hummer and the dragon fly. Very good compositions!

[Dbl]

I am in complete agreement with Steve on your images. First two and that last hummingbird, really some excellent work!

[DeeDee]

I love 4 and 5

[Jim Almquist]

They are all great shots Mike with the Dragonfly as my fav and the hummers a close second and I never get tired of seeing Gold Finchs as they are one of my favorite birds.

[WCS]

Nice work Mike! Those Goldfinch shots are excellent!