The OC Air Show was fabulous.  The jets, helicopters, and Harrier put on an astounding, astonishing, amazing demonstration of flight, but their zooms, hovering and incredible maneuvers were not original acts.  They’ve been done before long before there were pilots, planes and probably people.  Barry Goldwater Air Force Range in Arizona near the Mexican Border is just north of Organ Pipes Cactus National Monument (OPCNM).   That’s where I’ve camped for a week the last four years in either April or May amongst the cactus forest after being in Florida for January and February, then in south Texas and other places where it’s warm before there.
    At OPCNM I see two kinds of zoomers performing.  The original ones and the people-piloted USAF ones, too.  Both displays are impromptu, at least to me.  They always catch me by surprise. The jets are practicing their combat, elusive and evasive maneuvers and it’s startling and enjoyable to watch.  The jets appear out of nowhere with their flight and engine noise trailing behind them and streak along above the cactus and between the canyon walls.  They can’t out do the other little jets and hoverers that zoom and pause in their flight, though.
    The USAF type are just imitating the humming birds antics, although I haven’t seen a hummingbird fly upside down like the Thunder Birds do.  I won’t be surprised when I do, though.  They are so quick it’s hard to photograph them in flight and sometimes they fly and hover right in front of my nose, with no warning and much too close for a picture.  They seem to be as curious to know what I am about as I am amazed to watch them.  I can hear the sound of their tiny wings long before I see them.
    Last year there was a brook cascading through Alamo Canyon that is just a short walk from four isolated campsites where I camp about ten miles from the visitor center and main camp ground where most of the tourists stay. The rocks in the ravine at the canyon’s base caused little water falls and trapped some of the water as it flowed through.  This year there was no water flowing, but some pools remained.  The hummingbirds hovered in the water falls and splashed and splashed each other as they vied for position in their favored shower.  Hummingbirds are very territorial and chase other species of hummingbirds, their own kind and other birds, away.  I think the cascading water gave them reason to stay longer and congregate in this canyon last year.  There were lots of them and included Rufus, Anna, and Costa species.  This year there were fewer in number. I saw more in the cactus forest, and I didn’t see all three species.
    The best time of day seems to be just after sunrise.  I don’t bother to be there before the sun clears the canyon wall, though.  Before that the air is chilly and a pair of gloves, socks with my sandals and jeans sure would increase the comfort level, plus the metal camera barrel gets pretty cold.  The hummers aren’t dumb, though, they’re not there when it’s cold, but once the sun’s rays are sparkling in the water I hear that tell-tale whizzing of their wings.  It’s like radar.  I avoid the reason to wear gloves, jeans and/or socks and shoes - ugh.  I catch a few more winks, wait, take my time, and arrive after sunrise to catch my stars of the canyon.  The sun does not help my photography, though; although the extra light lets me use faster shutter speeds, it casts shadows. An object completely in a solid shade is lit wonderfully soft and even; part in the shadow and part out is terrible.  It’s what I call split light.  There is no way to set the camera for both at the same time.  With something that moves as fast as a hummingbird, getting any photo at all is an accomplishment.  Getting one in sharp focus, correctly exposed (lit), well composed, and full frame takes lots of time, patience and fortitude.  Frequently my arms ache as I keep the camera aimed on the spot where the bird is or flits in out of that area.  I use fairly light weight camera bodies (ie. Canon Rebels v. the 40D).  Sometimes a tripod can be a solution, but a tripod restricts camera movement and I can react much faster if the camera is in my hands. This is another instance when I/you have to be ready.  The camera has to be available, not in it’s case/bag, but in the hands.  Walking sticks, coffee cups (my mix tastes so good in the morning and I don’t want to put it down, plus it warms my fingers), and other superfluous stuff needs to be discarded. The applicable settings must be made ahead of time; flash on, charged and right intensity; and memory card with lots of space, a lens selected that allows a full frame photo to be accomplished that doesn’t have to be cropped later losing all those megapixels that I/you paid so many hard-earned $$$ on.  A shutter speed of at least 1/400 of a second (the higher the sharper the focus will be) is needed to “stop the action.”  I usually use the Tv mode and let the camera set the Fstop (the smaller the sharper the image, though), especially when I’m also using the flash.  The flash may be needed prior to sunrise.  If I’m really close, less than a foot or two, I lessen the flash intensity by a stop or two or you’ll “blowout” (it’ll be white detail less) the subject.  I try to maintain an ASA/ISO of 100 to limit grain, but newer digital cameras don’t have that problem they say, so jack it up increasing the range.  Also, select high speed sync on the flash or it will automatically change the ASA to 1/200 and you get a blurred image.
    Here in OC you can see ospreys and swallows diving and zooming for challenging pictures and use these suggestions to photograph dolphins jumping. Check out http://picasaweb.google.com/o.c.fotoguy2009 for more bird, OC AirShow and other pics.  Life’s a fantasy, keep a handle on it, treat people right, and everything will be OK!  Lighten Up & Enjoy!  If you’d like to set up a family photo on the beach call PHOTOS As You Want Them at 410-289-7339 (PHOTOSAsYouWantThem.biz).