📸 How to Take Amazing Hummingbird Photos with Your iPhone

Hummingbirds beat their wings 50-80 times per second. To the human eye (and most cameras), they are just a blur.

But your smartphone is powerful enough to freeze time—if you know how to use it.

Here are 3 tricks to get National Geographic-level shots with your phone.

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1. Use “Slo-Mo” Video 🎥

This is the cheat code.

• The Setting: Switch your iPhone camera to Slo-Mo.
• The Result: Record the bird hovering. When you play it back, you will see every wing beat in graceful, slow motion. You can then take a “screenshot” of the perfect frame for a still photo.

2. Lock Focus & Exposure (AE/AF Lock) 🔒

Hummingbirds are fast; your autofocus is slow.

• The Trick: Tap and hold on the feeder (where the bird will be) until you see “AE/AF LOCK” in yellow.
• Why: Now the camera is pre-focused. When the bird flies into the frame, it will be sharp instantly.

3. Get Closer (Without Moving) 🔭

Digital zoom ruins quality. You need to get the lens close physically.

• The Tool: A Smartphone Tripod with Remote.
• The Setup: Set the tripod up 12 inches from the feeder. Walk away. Use the Bluetooth remote (or an Apple Watch) to snap the photo from your patio chair.

Happy Snapping!