Puffin on Gull Island, Witless Bay, NL

[JDGagne]

I had plan that trip for long. With the paper work to get the permit from the government of Newfoundland to land on Gull island where nest more than 200,000 pairs of Atlantic Puffins as
well as common murres and herring gulls.

To make along story short, we plan to be in NL for 8 days. It rained or there was thick fog for 6 days. Lucky us, the day scheduled for our Gull Island expedition was great with sun and some clouds to
help photograph these contrasty guys.

Here is a souvenir I came back with.
http://www.bytephoto.com/photopost/data/959/medium/PUFFIN_2011-08-01_JDG4937-Edit-8001.jpg

Canon 1D MK IV, 300mm f/2.8L IS + 2X III @ f/5.6, ISO 400, 1/1250s, -1/3

Cheers

JD

[Alan Murphy]

Love the pose, grasses and the sweet BG.

[Daniel Cadieux]

Beautiful image JD. I do feel the comp is a bit tight above, but all else looks good to me. Glad you had a successful outing despite all the fog and rain!

[Arthur Morris]

Good but could easily be better. I transformed (stretched) a Quick Mask of belly feathers to cover the hot spots on the breast and then painted the black feathers back in with a regular Layer Mask. Then I added canvas above in two seconds using an APTATS II technique. Lastly pulled the curve up to lighten the whole thing.

ps to Dan: in your new avatar you look a lot like my Galapagos guide, Juan Salcedo.

[JDGagne]

Here is my try at Art's recommendations,

http://naturephotographycanada.com/img/v34/p365378815.jpg

JD

[Arthur Morris]

Excellente! You took a lot more care with the top of the image than I did.

[JDGagne]

Thanks Art,

It was a pleasure getting your advice on this one.

Best of light !

JD

[Arthur Morris]

YAW JD. Good luck getting back there next season!