Puffin

Camera Maker: Canon
Camera Model: Canon EOS 7D
Focal Length: 400.0mm
Aperture: f/7.1
Exposure Time: 0.0006 s (1/1600)
ISO equiv: 400

It wasn't the best day to visit Farne island, the boats usually arrive to late for the best light and this was a particular sunny day with harsh light. I went for a spot where I could get the puffins with lichen covered rocks as a background. I am not sure whether this looks better than blue sky but at least the rocks helped a little to get some fill light.

http://www.hofmann-photography.de/BAN/IMG_4192.jpg

I like the BG, and the image is quite sharp. Good downstroke wing position. I'd go for more room around (particularly bottom and right), purer whites (less grey) especially on the face, and a bit better HA would have been good. Also wish for either a catchlight or reflection on the eye. Bill full of sand eels looks great. Harsh light dealt with best you could...and I like the details in the blacks.

too good of a shot. agree with deniel about the extra space around.

Thanks for the comments Daniel and Milta,

I have a little more room to the right but the bottom is rocks totally covered with bright white bird droppings ( which was my reflector to get some fill light :-) ) . I will give it a try with more room to the right, Thanks.

The head color is actually pretty accurate this bird (actually lots of the birds we observed there) had this grey head feathers. I f memory doesn't play tricks with me these are birds which have their first year adult plumage... but it is a couple of years ago I handled this birds for a blood-parasite project. I fully agree with the head angle but the next picture with a good wing position is worse - the head is cut off … the shot posted is nearly the original frame cropped about 5-10%.

Thanks !

I think all of the above suggestions are good (space, brightening a bit) but the most important brightening to me would be some selective brightening of the fish, especially in the shadow areas. I think it would draw the eye to the most important part of the photo. Despite these points, I love the photo. These are wonderful photo subjects and you've done a great job of dealing with the difficult lighting. I think the background works well.

Yes Geraldo, lovely image well exposed in the blacks and sharp against a great background. Would also like to see a little more room on the right.

Excellent shot, I agree a little more room would help the fish look OK to me but I suppose a little light would help lift them.