In the Field

Mantle of a Calliope. Findlay Creek, BC, Canada. June 4, 2005.

This is an extreme close-up shot of the mantle (upper back) of a Calliope Hummingbird - North America's smallest bird. It shows the amazing detail and beauty of their feathers.

I'm often asked how I captured this image (it was a living, breathing bird). Without going into nauseating detail, it involved watching EXACTLY where one particularly bird liked to perch, placing a remote-controlled camera with a long focal length macro lens in the correct location (with an autofocus control on the remote release) and spending a lot of time waiting. And, shooting a LOT of shots (thankfully I wasn't using film).

Behind the Camera

Mantle of a Calliope. Findlay Creek, BC, Canada. June 4, 2005.

Digital Capture; Compressed RAW (NEF) format; ISO 100.

Nikon D2X with Nikon AF Micro 200 mm f/4 ED lens (300 mm equivalent with digital conversion factor) supported on Gitzo G2220 Explorer tripod with Really Right Stuff BH-55 ballhead. Autofocus system and shutter triggered by radio-based remote release (adapted from a model airplane controller).

1/5s @ f22; No compensation from matrix-metered exposure setting.

At the Computer

Mantle of a Calliope. Findlay Creek, BC, Canada. June 4, 2005.

Details to follow.

Conservation

Mantle of a Calliope. Findlay Creek, BC, Canada. June 4, 2005.

Information to follow.