This photograph captures a Brown Violetear (Colibri delphinae) at La Minga Ecolodge in Valle del Cauca, Colombia. The hummingbird, with its subtle green plumage accented by the violet patch on its ear, was perched momentarily in soft natural light, creating an opportunity to study both its delicate details and its calm presence within the forested setting. The muted tones of the background contrast with the iridescence of the bird, allowing its features to stand out while still preserving the quiet atmosphere of its Andean cloud forest habitat.
To achieve this image, I worked with a Canon camera paired with the RF800mm f/11 lens. The choice of this super-telephoto lens provided the reach necessary to isolate the bird from its dense forest environment, compressing the background into a soft blur that highlights the subject. Shooting at f/11 allowed for sufficient depth of field to maintain clarity across the hummingbird’s small but detailed body, ensuring that both its plumage and characteristic violet ear patch remained sharp.
I set the shutter speed to 1/250 second, which balanced two goals: capturing the stillness of the perched hummingbird while also working with the subdued lighting conditions of the forest. Given the filtered light beneath the canopy, I increased the ISO to 800 to maintain proper exposure without sacrificing too much detail to noise. Each of these choices reflected both the technical challenges of photographing fast, small subjects and the patience required to adapt to the environment in which they live.
This image represents not just a study of a single species but also the harmony between equipment, technique, and the unpredictability of nature. For me, it is a reminder of how precise decisions behind the lens contribute to translating fleeting wildlife moments into lasting works of art.
©2025 Adam Rainoff Photographer
