Ralph Paonessa Photography Workshops (RPPhoto.com)

Violet-tailed Sylph, Ecuador

Violet-tailed Sylph
Tandayapa, Ecuador   –   October 8, 2022
— Ralph Paonessa
Canon EOS R5   *   RF100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM   *   ISO 12800   *   1/320 sec @ f/7.1

The male Violet-tailed Sylph is one of the few hummingbirds that looks better from behind, with its elegant, iridescent tail.

A bit of fill flash helps to bring out the colors, but the ISO was 12,800 in low overcast light. AI Denoise in Adobe Lightroom did anexcellent job of reducing the noise in this handheld shot at 500mm.

This is one of my favorite Ecuadorian hummingbirds.

Photo ID: 20221008-247-Enhanced-NR