The sunbird brood

Kim Hui Yu's Image

The olive-backed sunbirds had their work cut out feeding their growing clutch of babies.

Hui Yu counted them coming to the nest five times in ten minutes. The mother had built the nest in Hui Yu 's back garden in Sungai Petani, Malaysia. She had threaded spiderwebs among the other materials, including bits of string, so the nest could stretch as the babies grew. 'After a week,' says Hui Yu, 'the babies' heads poked out of the nest, and we could watch them being fed.' The parents would fly in so quickly that Hui Yu's camera's autofocus was no use. So with her parents' help, she set her camera on a tripod, on manual, and focused on the centre of the nest, finally getting the shot she wanted.


Behind the lens

Kim Hui Yu

Malaysia

Kim’s father inspired her to start taking photographs at an early age. She loves photographing nature, often with her family, and would like to become a professional photographer when she grows up.

Image details

  • Nikon D300
  • 70-200mm f2.8 lens
  • 1/1000 sec at f4  •   ISO 400  •   cable release
  • Sungai Petani, Malaysia
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