Ruby-Throated Hummingbird with Red Cardinal Flowers

Every August, hummingbirds arrive in my area, but capturing them on camera is no easy task. They move so quickly, darting in and out, never staying still for more than a second. My neighbor has a plant that seems to attract them, so I set myself up nearby, hoping for a chance.

At first, they zipped around me, swooping so close that I half expected to be dive-bombed. I thought I might not get the photo at all. But then, one finally hovered by the flowers, wings beating in perfect rhythm, the light catching just right. I raised my camera and snapped — and in that instant, I managed to capture the magic of their speed and grace.