Ruby-Throated Hummingbird

[Brenda]

As I mentioned previously, I've decided that I want a tattoo of a male ruby-throated hummingbird for my 50th birthday which is next June. I've decided that I want "him" approaching a wild columbine flower, so here's the challenge: I need a male hummingbird, in flight, in full sun (so his throat shows red), looking up. I would prefer to have the colors of his back showing too, so it will have to be from the side (to a certain extent). Your reward? Having an artist's rendition of your photo on my calf for the rest of my life.

[JPaige]

As I mentioned previously, I've decided that I want a tattoo of a male ruby-throated hummingbird for my 50th birthday which is next June. I've decided that I want "him" approaching a wild columbine flower, so here's the challenge: I need a male hummingbird, in flight, in full sun (so his throat shows red), looking up. I would prefer to have the colors of his back showing too, so it will have to be from the side (to a certain extent). Your reward? Having an artist's rendition of your photo on my calf for the rest of my life.

Sounds simple enough.....Matt, please get on this right away.

[Brenda]

Oh now Joel, I was sure that you were the "man for the job." That last photo is almost perfect, except for the belly showing. I already have a photo of a wild columbine flower that I want to use. I suppose that we could always do some photo manipulation...There's still almost a month left of hummingbird photo ops though. I'm trying, but you and Kelly have much more talent than I do.

[Kelly]

If worse comes to worst, you can have Bill, Matt or another expert Photoshopper give this bird a sex change operation and swap out the bee balm for some columbine.

[Brenda]

You absolutely nailed it Kelly!!! It's perfect, beyond of course the sex. I thought about bee balm, as well as cardinal flower but they both seem a bit busy for a tattoo. Trumpet creeper and trumpet honeysuckle are both at the opposite end of the spectrum. I definitely want a native flower.

[Bill_K]

I wanted to see if it was possible to turn a female into a male....this is not good by any means and I only spent about 10 minutes. The images were saved from here and were small...if I had some full resolution shots and spent some time on it I think I could manipulate an image that would work. I went online looking for images and couldn't find any I could snatch. I don't have any shots myself of hummingbirds or columbines. Brenda if you have the columbine you want and someone can get a shot of a hummingbird you like, I'll give it a try.
Sandi's columbine, Kelly's hummingbird and Joel's male throat.

[Brenda]

You're awesome Bill! I couldn't find a good hummingbird photo online either. Here's a wild columbine that I found somewhere though. My Newcomb's guide indicates that they're 1 - 2" wide:

[Brenda]

The numbers have been dwindling rapidly over the past few days! That marks the end of summer for me, more than anything else.