
I called this file "the money shot." I've been after this shot for many years, and finally, I've managed to capture a decent quality shot of the Hummingbird Hawkmoth.
Id describe it as Skittish,Erratic,Frenetic and fleeting, among others.
To freeze the frame, I used a shutter speed of 1/2500 second, and to capture a decent amount of depth of field, I used F9.0
ISO was a reasonable 1250, which was remarkably low in my humble opinion.
The hummingbird hawk-moth is a fascinating insect that looks and acts remarkably like a tiny bird. It is famous for its incredible speed, hovering ability, and unique physical features.
Physical AppearanceThe Body: Plump, fuzzy, and covered in grayish-brown hair.The Tail: Features a distinct black-and-white fan shape that looks like bird feathers.The Wings: Dull brown forewings, but the hindwings flash a bright, beautiful orange-copper color in flight.The Tongue: A remarkably long, curled feeding tube (proboscis) used to reach deep into flowers.
Behavior and FlightThe Hover: Beats its wings so fast—around 70 to 80 times per second—that they become a total blur.The Sound: Produces a low, distinct humming noise while suspended in mid-air.The Movement: Darts rapidly and erratically from flower to flower without ever landing to rest.
The Vision: Unlike most moths, it flies during the brightest parts of the day and has excellent eyesight.