Synopsis: Our late afternoon at Tandayapa Lodge transformed into a masterclass in high‑speed flash photography, where we learned to freeze hummingbirds in mid‑air and reveal details the human eye could never catch on its own.
Ecuador Birding – Where Every Feather Tells a Story
From October 26, 2025 through November 8, 2025 I joined 5 other adventurers and an outstanding photographer and birding guide (Liron Gertsman) with Eagle-Eye Tours to Ecuador. This blog series highlights the animals (mostly birds), people and locations we encountered over the 14 full days in this beautiful land.
A Reflections of the Natural World Blog Post Series by Jim Gain
**Due to the high resolution and quality of the images in this blog series it is highly recommended
that readers view posts in Landscape Mode on a desktop PC from the actual blogsite at Ecuador Birding**
DAY 11 – Late Afternoon
Freezing Wings in Mid‑Air: An Afternoon Flash Photography Class
Our second afternoon at Tandayapa Birding Lodge unfolded in two very different acts. The first was spent photographing hummingbirds the way most of us always have—tracking their movements around the feeders, working with natural light, and trying to anticipate those split‑second moments when wings, flowers, and background align. It was a lively, kinetic session, full of the usual challenges and small triumphs that come with photographing birds that never sit still. While we were still reviewing our images and catching our breath, Liron Gertsman was busy transforming the lodge’s patio into something entirely different. Stands went up, flashes were positioned, transmitters tested, and a backdrop arranged with meticulous care. By the time he called us over, the space had shifted from a casual observation deck into a full‑fledged hummingbird studio—ready for an afternoon lesson in the art of multi‑flash photography.
Turning a Cloudforest Patio Into a Studio
Liron’s setup looked like a small outdoor film set—flash stands, transmitters, a black backdrop, and a carefully arranged cluster of flowers. He explained that while you can use almost any flash for this technique, he prefers Godox TT520 II speedlights. They’re inexpensive, reliable, and easy to trigger wirelessly. He had roughly eight flashes arranged for the group, though he noted that four is the bare minimum and five or six is ideal.
The key, he reminded us, is understanding how flash freezes motion:
- Flash bursts are extremely fast, far faster than any shutter speed we could set.
- By exposing for the flash rather than ambient light, the camera records only that split‑second burst.
- The result is a perfectly frozen hummingbird—every feather, every wingbeat, every tiny detail suspended in time.
We used a black backdrop for our session, but Liron pointed out that you can print any background you like—lush green foliage, soft gradients, even custom scenes—as long as you dedicate a flash to illuminate it. Without that extra light, the backdrop simply disappears into darkness.
The Birds Step Into the Light
Once everything was in place, the patio transformed into a hummingbird studio. Birds zipped in and out of the flowers, completely unfazed by the equipment. And with each flash burst, the impossible became visible.
Brown Inca
Usually a shadow‑dweller, the Brown Inca revealed velvety chocolate tones and subtle iridescence when frozen mid‑hover.
White‑booted Racket‑tail
The star of the session. Its tiny white “boots” glowed brilliantly, and the twin rackets at the end of its tail hung suspended in perfect clarity.
Rufous‑tailed Hummingbird
Bold and ever‑present, it gave us some of the most dynamic poses—its coppery tail and emerald body lighting up beautifully under the controlled flashes.
Fawn‑breasted Brilliant
Larger and more deliberate, the brilliant lived up to its name. The warm fawn tones of its breast and the greens along its back appeared with stunning precision.
Each species felt like a new revelation. What the eye sees as a blur, the camera—guided by a burst of light—renders as sculpture.
Behind the Scenes: What It Takes
As Liron emphasized, the technique isn’t complicated, but it is gear‑heavy. You need:
- Multiple flashes
- Stands to hold them
- A transmitter/receiver system
- A backdrop
- Patience
- A willingness to experiment
But the payoff is enormous. For one afternoon, we weren’t just photographing hummingbirds—we were capturing moments too fast for the human eye to perceive.
Looking Toward First Light
As the session wrapped up and the last racket‑tail zipped back into the forest, we packed up the flashes and headed inside. Tomorrow would begin well before dawn, when we’d rise early to photograph the birds gathering at the moth‑light feeding station—a completely different kind of spectacle, where the cloudforest’s shyest species step briefly into the open at first light.
NEXT UP: EB#72 “Drawn to the Flame: Photographing New Birds at Tandayapa’s Moth Light“
Previous Ecuador Birding Blog Posts:
- EB71 – Freezing Wings in Mid‑Air: An Afternoon Flash Photography Class
Our late afternoon at Tandayapa Lodge transformed into a masterclass in high‑speed flash photography, where we learned to freeze hummingbirds in mid‑air and reveal details the human eye could never catch on its own. This blog series chronicles Jim Gain’s experiences with birds and nature. - EB70 – Behind the Scenes: My Photo Processing Process — From Download to Gallery Display
This behind‑the‑scenes look walks through my complete post‑processing workflow—from organized hard‑drive folders and Lightroom edits to eBird documentation and SmugMug gallery uploads—showing how each image travels from field capture to final presentation. This blog series chronicles Jim Gain’s experiences with birds and nature. - EB69 – Illuminating the Iridescence: Hummingbirds of Tandayapa Lodge Through Forest Light
A late‑afternoon return to Tandayapa Lodge offered the perfect chance to capture hummingbirds in their natural light—iridescence glowing, wings blurring, and the cloud‑forest atmosphere turning every moment into a fleeting spark of color. This blog series chronicles Jim Gain’s experiences with birds and nature.
>>Ecuador Birding Blog Home Page Link https://reflectionsofthenaturalworld.com/ecuador-birding/
*This Ecuador Birding blog post was shaped and polished with the assistance of Microsoft Copilot, helping bring clarity and a consistent flow to my field notes and dictated memories.
**Unless otherwise indicated in the image caption, all photographs (>99%) are mine.
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