Another disappearing wing, but for a different reason.
Yesterday I posted a photo of a hummingbird whose whirring wings seemed to have disappeared due to a slow shutter speed and resulting extreme motion blur. Today we have another disappearing wing, this time caused by something else.
Yes I know, I’ve been posting a lot of hummingbird photos lately and today I’m posting more of them, for two reasons:
- Monsoon season has hit us with a vengeance, so due to clouds and poor light it’s been a week since I’ve photographed anything but the hummers at my trumpet vine.
- I’m always intrigued when I see weird, wonky, seemingly unexplainable results in my photos so I like to share them. And try to explain why I got them.
1/1250, f/5.6, ISO 2500, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
Last week I photographed this Black-chinned Hummingbird (a juvenile male I believe) in flight near my trumpet vine. It isn’t a photo I’d normally post to my blog but I’m including it here to provide some perspective and context for the photo below, which was taken in a burst less than 1/10th of a second before this one.
1/1250, f/5.6, ISO 2500, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
Where’s his left wing?
It seems to have disappeared and it certainly wasn’t caused by extreme motion blur with a shutter speed of 1/1250, as evidenced by his reasonably sharp and very evident right wing. When I first saw this photo it threw my tiny brain for a loop but then I figured it out. Can you?
His left wing is there but it’s pointed almost directly at the viewer so we’re seeing it edge-on, which makes it seem to disappear amongst the similarly colored feathers of his upper back and flank. The fact that it’s slightly soft facilitated its disappearing act.
Once I saw it my brain understood and all was right in my little world again. Before that I was thoroughly confused.
Ron
The hand is quicker than the eye. Especially with your finger on the camera.
Love all the hummingbird shots, Ron! Sometimes serendipity lies in our own backyards.
I’m imagining this youngster pointing out the nearest emergency exit — or the way to the beach. 😉
Marty, I think I know where he was pointing. When I’m photographing hummers at the trumpet vine I selfishly take my feeder down so they don’t go there instead. He may have been pointing at where the feeder SHOULD be, telling me to hang the damn thing up again.
😂 Feed me, Seymour!
I am ashamed to admit that it would have taken me a long, long time to work out this illusion. I blame it on early morning mind. And jealousy. Even with one wing the hummer moves better than I do.
Thanks for always challenging and delighting both of my brain cells.
Me – “my tiny brain”
You – “both of my brain cells”
You’re always more creative with words than yours truly, EC… 🙂
You have skills I can only dream of. And am very grateful for. I like words (and my father often told me I had a tongue that was hinged in the middle and wagged at both ends)..
I see where you got your creativity!
Love this, EC! Language is definitely meant to be played with! 💜
It does make an interesting photo. It only took a moment to figure it out because the right wing is forward in relation to the body and the bird is slightly turned away from you. That puts the left wing in a position to be pointed directly at you, which you confirmed by circling it for us. It does make a fun illusion. I’m glad you shared it.
And I’m glad you enjoyed it, Dan. Thanks.
Keep the hummers coming Ron! Would have NEVER figured out why his wing disappeared! Fun shot – happy that it took you a second to figure it out!
Kathleen, it took me far more than just a second. I won’t admit how long.
WOW! I’d never have figured it out – thought maybe there was a leaf in front of it tho that didn’t make sense either as his back was too smooth….. 😉 Thx for sharing!
Thanks, Judy.
WOW! That’s amazing, and it seems to br able to function!
Charlotte Norton
Thanks, Charlotte. It “functions” because it’s a normal bird with nothing wrong with it.
I got it, but it took me a little while. One of those great puzzles for our aging brains. 🙂 Thanks for the challenge, Ron. Fun photo!
Glad you enjoyed it, Ellen. Thanks.
What a surprise– in reading your headline ( before the photograph)
I had a mental vision of a poor little hummingbird sculling the air in
perpetual circles, like a one-oared rowboat ! This is an interesting
illusion–thanks for the illusion…….
“poor little hummingbird sculling the air in “perpetual circles, like a one-oared rowboat”
Good description, Kris. I’m glad that wasn’t the case.
Your photos are not only amazing, but also informative and entertaining as well! I look every day. Thanks for the entertainment.
Much appreciated, Gail.
I so appreciate your fascinating explanations. It’s such fun to learn a little something each day ! I’ve visited Bear River many times but usually in cold weather en route to family in WY from Durango. Some time soon I hope to get there in warmer weather. Thank you Ron
Thanks, Trish. Try to get to Bear River in May or early June. It can be amazing then.
Very interesting Ron. I don’t think I would have figured that our or found the wing if you had not pointed it out. Sorry the monsoons are keeping you home, but at least the hummers keeping you entertained.
Everett, I finally got out this morning but I think I might just as well have stayed home. Haven’t looked at my photos yet but that’s my prediction.
Actually did see it before seeing your circled . There was just enough of a visual anomaly in the breast feather pattern, and seeing the other wing was in a forward stroke, to realize the on-edge view of the left wing.
I for one never get enough of whatever you choose to share.
Michael, you were better and faster at spotting it than most of us, including me. Thank you for the kind words.
AMAZING! What a shot! We are in a drought in central Illinois. I would take a little monsoon about now.
Thanks, Cindy. Our thunderstorms are causing flooding and other problems. Where there’s no damage the rain and much cooler weather are nice though.
We’re hoping for a bit of that this weekend – this 100 + in front of the house with the tree gone is getting REAL old. Need the moisture tho farmers that are harvesting aren’t interested in that! 😉
Amazing how things have changed in 30 years. I remember my 5 summers in central IL as being very hot, humid, and stormy. (But with fireflies and frozen custard stands, so that made things much more tolerable!)