#blueheaded

Blue-headed Sapphire by Adam Rainoff Via Flickr: High in the Andean foothills at Mirador Barlovento above Pradera, Valle del Cauca, Colombia, I photographed this male Blue-headed Sapphire (Chrysuronia grayi) perched in elegant profile on a slender branch during soft late-afternoon light. His head glows with intense violet-blue iridescence that transitions beautifully into vibrant emerald and turquoise across the body, while a long coral-red bill adds striking precision against the soft forest bokeh. Shooting in Program mode on the Canon R5 with the RF 100-500mm at 500mm, I pushed the ISO to 3200 in the fading light and let the camera select 1/350 second at f/6.7 from 3 meters away. This gave me clean detail on the iridescent plumage while preserving the gentle atmosphere of the scene. This image highlights the remarkable beauty of one of Colombia’s more localized hummingbirds and the rich biodiversity of the western Andes. ©2026 Adam Rainoff Photographer

by sas_evers

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no pressure of course ♡

Blue-headed Sapphire by Adam Rainoff Via Flickr: High in the Andean foothills at Mirador Barlovento above Pradera, Valle del Cauca, Colombia, I photographed this striking male Blue-headed Sapphire (Chrysuronia grayi) in clean profile on a vibrant green stem during soft late-afternoon light. The bird’s head glows with intense violet-blue iridescence that flows beautifully into rich emerald-green across the back and wings, while his long coral-red bill creates a bold graphic line. The dark body and subtle white undertail provide excellent contrast against the smooth forest bokeh. Working handheld with the Canon R5 and RF 100-500mm at 500mm, I chose 1/350 second at f/6.7 and ISO 800 to balance motion control with clean files and pleasing subject separation at a respectful distance. The combination delivered the sharpness and color fidelity I was hoping for in these transitional light conditions. A beautiful example of one of Colombia’s more localized hummingbirds and the rich biodiversity of the western Andes. ©2026 Adam Rainoff Photographer

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