COMMENTS:
 

Bailey Donnally	This is a charming picture of a man enjoying a close-up encounter with the pretty little hummingbirds.  It is amazing that these birds can be induced to come near to people for just a little sweetened water.  Once upon a time there was a little old lady who lived in the mountains overlooking Montego Bay and who fed the birds every day.  The birds, but especially the hummingbirds, got very comfortable around people.  In fact, if one held up a bottle of sweetened water with a hole in it, the birds would hover while satisfying their sweet tooth.  If you held you finger out at the appropriate distance from the bottle, the hummingbirds would perch on your finger while drinking.  In any case this is a very pleasant image that makes people smile.  There are two things I would suggest.  First, crop out almost the entire right half of the image, leaving only the face and the left bird.  The right half only confuses.  Second, try some deconvoluting sharpeners on the remaining hummingbird.
Bob Jump	I like the expression on the man’s face. He really seems to be enjoying the birds. I am also impressed that the birds let him get so close. The only thing I might suggest for improvement is to darken the image and crop it some. I would crop in from the right to get rid of the out of focus bird and from the left to get rid of some dead space.
Ingrid Borecki	This is such a happy picture Fred!  I think you caught delight in Don’s expression – that is the subject for me.  I also like the composition – the placement of his face and the crooked arm shoring up the other side and embracing the feeder.  Perhaps a greater depth of field could have been used to catch the hummingbird in focus, but again – Don is the subject, not them.  Very nice shot.
Graham Budd	One of the great things about smaller cameras like the G12 is they give everyone the opportunity to work quickly to capture the moment. For me this is what makes the shot. I am unconcerned that the focus could have been better because the shot tells a story and it does it well. The expression on Don's face is one of pure joy and I like the fact it is repeated in the reflection of the feeder contents. The danger of findling with camera settings along with perspective and other technical aspects of photography in order to improve the shot must be weighed against the possiblity of missing it in its entirity. Good decision!
David Temple	Enjoying the Hummingbirds:  Amazingly tame (and hungry) hummingbirds.  Perhaps once the feeder was up and stationary a few tripod shots of the birds zoomed in might have been fun.  Maybe you could have caught one in flight with a fast shutter speed and in focus as he neared the feeder.
Douglas Hart	The shot from sight lines showcase the scene nicely.  The focus of the subject on the birds is well depicted.  The exposure supported the scene for depth and viewing in fine fashion.  The focus on the face could be enhanced by a tighter cropping, but that is purely a personal choice.  My other preference would have been to have captured more of the two birds that are partially in the shot.  But in such action oriented shots you have to get what you can and keep trying to get that perfected combination of technical and aesthetic output.

Member Bio

Fred Dueren - Biography Photography has always been fascinating to me, both image I take and looking at the work of others. I think I have a good eye for composition and for seeing things that make a good image, but I need now to work on the technical aspects of getting the image (aperture settings, shutter priority, etc). I also need to learn to be more creative in use of software to enhance the image and make it more forceful or focused. Now that I am retired I have more time to pursue those goals. I just recently joined the Coachella Valley Desert Camera club and then PSA.