18th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Natural World
Hummingbird at Santa Ines Mission CA

This photo was taken at the Santa Ines Mission CA, in the rose garden area. I spent more than an hour tracking the hummingbird, until I finally captured this amazing image of the hummingbird hovering over the beautiful lavender. The amazing thing was that we never see hummingbirds there, but in this particular day there were 2. One green back, and one red back, and I was able to capture both. My wife’s aunt was in the hospital and was very sick and about to pass away very soon. We went to the mission that day to pick up some items to bring back to her in the hospital. Her aunt was obsessed with hummingbirds, so this was a very special day and photo.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 10.2019
Date Uploaded: 10.2020
Photo Location: Solvang, California, United States of America
Copyright: © Kevin Hill