Hummer ghosts

When using dialled-down manual flashes for hummingbirds you generally need around 4 flashes. You need an artificial background that must be lit by flashes at the same power as those illuminating the bird. You don't mention if you had a background in place.
The flashes as you know provide the 'shutter speed' around 1/20000th second. Your shutter is however open for 1/125 second at f13. Despite it being a dull day they is likely some ambient light come into play and it is that the causes the ghosting on the wings

Solution....background card, more flashes, and increase your camera settings 1/250sec, f16 (eliminate the ambient light)


Graeme

Graeme Guy wrote:When using dialled-down manual flashes for hummingbirds you generally need around 4 flashes. You need an artificial background that must be lit by flashes at the same power as those illuminating the bird. You don't mention if you had a background in place.
The flashes as you know provide the 'shutter speed' around 1/20000th second. Your shutter is however open for 1/125 second at f13. Despite it being a dull day they is likely some ambient light come into play and it is that the causes the ghosting on the wings

Solution....background card, more flashes, and increase your camera settings 1/250sec, f16 (eliminate the ambient light)


Graeme

Thanks ... I have a third flash for the stone background only 3 feet from the bird ... but didn't use it for this image.  Yes, I will try cutting the ambient light, and close distance of speed lights by half, and increase the ISO if needed.