Humming Bird Moth 2 by David Clarke
These amazing insects visit the lavender in the garden at our house during the summer months. They spend their time darting from flower to flower at incredible speed. They don’t settle on the flower but grasp it with two legs, their probosces flick out and back in a tiny fraction of a second and then they are off to the next flower. Capturing their images therefore required a bit of patience and experimentation. I used flash for some, extension tubes and various lenses. Some of the shots remind me of old photos of military aircraft refueling in mid-air.
Canon 1DMkII with Canon 70-200f2.8L lens at140mm and 25 mm tube; ISO400 f5 1/4000
Humming Bird Moth 5
Humming Bird Moth 4
Humming Bird Moth 3
Humming Bird Moth 2
Humming Bird Moth 1
Best Viewed Large
Comments
We don’t have HBHM very often in Yorkshire & when we do, it’s a photographer’s dream time. This is a wonderful series which reminds me (with envy) of a 15 day bonanza a few summers ago.
Lovely, lovely images.
Welcome to RB
j
Many thanks jesika – I don’t know how I missed your comment when you posted it – still getting used to RB. However, it’s much appreciated.
– David Clarke
Great shot & timing David. These moths are NOT easy to photograph!
Many thanks, Renee.
– David Clarke
What a great close-up..They are so hard to get a good picture of…Very nice David.
Thanks very much, Donna
– David Clarke
Fantastic image, David, I’ve seen these wonderful creatures in my garden and they are like lightening! Dee
Thanks very much, Dee. I agree, they really do not hang around despite the false illusion of serenity at 1/4000!
– David Clarke
Wonderful!
Many thanks!
– David Clarke
Wow! Thanks so much, Isa, I’m absolutely thrilled!!! :)))
– David Clarke
Outstanding images…David!!! These Humming bird Moths are really hard to capture , they are so fast !!! I seen my 1st one last summer and I had two different kinds of them ,one like this one and the other was black and yellow like a bee… and I had no clue what they were so I posted a picture and ask if anyone could tell me . I have a couple of photos in my gallery that came out pretty good. Excellent work on all of these wtg!!
Carla, when I replied I hit the comments button by mistake, so you might not have seen this:
Thanks for your lovely comments, Carla, I’m very pleased you like them. They’re certainly fast!! I also didn’t know what they were when I first saw them. They are regular visitors in the summer, but seem to be getting even more camera-shy!! Great portfolio you have there – love the grandchild shots! – we’ve just had grandchild no5 arrive on Saturday, so there might be some of her posted soon!!
– David Clarke
brilliant shot!
Many thanks, Nancy!!
– David Clarke
What a Stunning catch!
Thanks very much, Terry!
– David Clarke
WOW !!!
ALL your shots are totally AWESOME !!! :)
Thanks very much, Pene, for your lovely comments:))
– David Clarke