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I took this photograph for a project that may or may not ever see the light, but I wanted to share the picture regardless.

I was in the backyard when I noticed that the salvia (“hot lips”) plant was backlit by the afternoon sun. Knowing the flowers are popular with our local hummingbirds, I thought, “How cool would it be if a hummingbird came by right now and I got a backlit shot?”

No kidding, at that very moment a hummingbird flew in. I went and got my camera, then took a burst of photographs. This one was my favorite.

Location: Silverton, Oregon

Exposure: 1/1600 second, f/6.3, ISO 900

Focal Length: 500 mm

Gear:

• Camera: Nikon D850

• Lens: Nikkor 500mm PF ED VR