Fifteen-year-old photographer Marlin Shank was fortunate enough to capture several images of a rare albino ruby-throated hummingbird while in a park in Staunton, Va. This is normally where I’d add some commentary to the scene… but I’ll just let these amazing photos speak for themselves this time.
See more pictures of this dazzling hummingbird after the jump!
Source: Marlin Shank/Nature Friend Magazine
-
-
Copy & paste this:
![\"Quantcast\"/](\"http://pixel.quantserve.com/pixel/p-94wNw88f65Rhk.gif?labels=MTVN%20Digital%20Tribes\")
Oh. My. WOW. Those pictures are fantastic!!!! That kid should be really proud!!!
+1!!!
That kid should get an award!!!!!!
I second that!
This is so cool. I’ve never seen an albino hummingbird.
Me neither. I didn’t know they existed… but what a beautiful bird!
Amazing pictures!
These pictures are amazing and that bird is beautiful!
Beautiful pictures! I think this post just made my day.
That kid has a bright and beautiful future in photography! I wish him the best and hope he goes far!
I agree totally…. magnificent work, and such a stunning little bird!
I agree; does anyone know what kind of camera he or she used? I’d love to know; am in the market for a camera now.
Simply stunning…
“Like the hummingbird sipping nectar from every flower, I fly joyfully through my days, seeing beauty in everything.”
Amethyst Wyldfyre
nice!
Ohmygodohmygodohmygodohmygod!
Dude! I’m right next door to Staunton. Cool to know something this unique is flying around my back yard… so to speak… actually he might be in my back yard now. *LOL*
GO LOOK!! QUICK!!
Dude… not only does that kid have talent with the camera (I’d never figure out how to use those professional cameras D; too many buttons and settings to wrap my head around), but he sure was lucky! I’d be happy to even see a regular humming bird.. and one that’d stick around long enough for me to photograph o;
oh and I must say, the last picture is EPIC! so cool to see the ring around it’s eye o-o like little gems :3
His eye looked like it was bedecked with opals.
I would have tried to take pictures and screw it all up they be jst a big blur im sure.. This guy did a great job taking pitures so beautiful. it looks like dimonds around the humming birds eye.
I just love hummers, and this group of pics sent me to heaven! Way to go young man.
Wow! This is a birder’s dream to not only see a bird like this but also to be able to get not just one but several great pics like this!
The young photographer has mad skills:-)))
Agreed–great photos and I’m SO jealous that I didn’t get to see this little bird!
Gorgeous photos!
i am a hummer person and love attracting them to my yard. i have NEVER seen an albino before. sadly, this is likely a juvenile and may not make it to Mexico and back. being white, he or she (no way to tell) will probably stand out to predators. but, this is just such a beautiful bird! i hope he or she makes it through the season and returns!
if she does, perhaps we’ll have pics of her again, next year! i hope our photog can catch her again!
unfortunately, she probably won’t mate, none of the opposite sex would recognize her. but, on her own she just looks like a little angel!
How fabulous. We only rarely see them here in MI but I 2 this summer in my back yard. I didn’t even know there were albinos.
These pics are gorgeous! But I’m still trying to comprehend the irony of the name “Marlin Shank”.
Omg just…wow. So pretty!!! I luv hummingbirds!
Wow! Gorgeous photos of an equally gorgeous bird! Someone has a future in photography ahead of them!
Just another of His many “suprises” and wonderment! Precious! “Laus Deo”
The one of the bird with the rose has to be the most stunning of all of them.
I Love Hummingbirds!!! Look forward every year to their return.
Wow, that’s awesome! Never even heard of anything like this.
beautiful!
Just Beautiful!!!! what wonderful pics. I just love Humming Birds,
The photos are truly amazing. Espec the picture of the hummingbird putting its beak into a purple flower for food. When you see this picture you feel that you are right next to the bird. It is really a great shot.
What a wonderful sight. Thank God it lives in the USA, because if it lived in Europe, or especially the UK, it would not be alive, Sparrowhawks would have killed and eaten it long ago. Birds of prey are sacred here, and NOTHING is allowed to impede their growth in numbers. Beauty is a bad word, but talons and hooked beaks are worshipped. How lovely to have seen one of God’s miracles in flight before one of the RSPB’s killers butchered it.
I watch the Hummers every day on my porch in Narrows Va., I only wish there would come to my porch, but I also enjoy the ones that come they are so interesting.
Beautiful!!!
Marilou
Jan.16, 2012 11:51 PM
WHAT A MASTERPIECE! THANK YOU LORD for giving us Marlin Shank.
His ingenious way of catching the moment of the rare Albino Hummingbird,
feeding on the gorgeous purple flowers, and getting details of the birds features, especially around the eyes described by some as diamonds, opals…etc is breathtaking. Because of you, many people have been reminded of God’s greatness in this time of turmoil. I love Hummingbirds,
and now I hope to see an Albino Hummingbird someday, here in Palmview Texas.
Marlin, you are a great Photographer and Artist! I wish I had a tad or a modicum ability so I can get sharp beautiful pictures of my orchids and plants. What camera did you use and how long have you been taking pictures? God Bless you and Best regards to your parents!
1/17/12
I already post my comment above. It has “Your comment is awaiting moderation.” What does that mean?
I received Comments from a friend, “Amazing – reminded me of the
Holy Spirit, graceful, powerful and peaceful.”
I have no website. I’m new to this technology. I don’t know what you mean by filling the details and I don’t know what to click.
Marlin, you make my day today, you know I love Hummingbird. At my veranda I have a Hummingbird feeder and they come everyday. There is one that I like very much he is very attach to me. His name is Gabriel, he has a red color around his neck very beautiful. When I whistle he comes to the feeder, comes around the veranda and showing off to me. Sometimes bunch of them playing around the feeder or he will shoo some of them. I guess they are very territorial bird. Thank you for this rare Hummingbird.
God loves you.
marietta
It’s so wonderful when someone this young has so much talent! Is even more wonderful for him to have the kindness to share it! And it is wonder that our Father in Heaven has made such beautiful and rare being to make us all thankful to be alive! Thank you young man for sharing this we so many of us! Michael Heindl
Congrats on some wonderful pics! How awesome!