Some of the most rewarding wildlife photography does not require travelling far from home. Photographing hummingbirds around Malvern, Pennsylvania — particularly at Rushton Farm — means working with one of nature’s smallest and most fascinating birds right where I live.
They are known for vibrant colour, extraordinary speed, and a flight ability no other bird has.
Hummingbirds at Rushton Farm
Rushton Farm is a beautiful setting for this — flowers, greenery, and the colours of the season all around you.
The challenge is catching these birds in live action. They move quickly, hover in place, then change direction instantly. Freezing that movement reveals detail the naked eye simply cannot hold on to.
Colour and vibrancy
One of the most striking things about a hummingbird is its colour. Depending on the light and the angle, the feathers appear to shift in vibrancy, producing flashes of brilliant colour as the bird moves from flower to flower.
The only bird that can fly backwards
Hummingbirds are the only birds capable of sustained backward flight. Their wing movement lets them hover, move forward, shift sideways and reverse with remarkable control.
A fraction of a second can show the wings mid-beat, a bird holding station above a flower, or the instant before it changes direction.
Wildlife close to home
Photography has taken me to national parks and wildlife destinations around the country, but there is something particular about finding a subject like this a few miles from the house.
Memorable wildlife moments can happen right in your own community.