Puffin Portrait

[Rich Steel]

Hi

Another image from my trip up to the Farne Islands at the start of this week. I was attempting some puffin flight photos when this one came speeding in and landed in right in front of me with a full beak of fish. It then stood there quite happily for about 15 minutes allowing me to take some full frame head photos, as shown below, as well as others of the entire bird. The sea behind the edge of the cliff providing a blue background. Certainly does not seem much room for any more sandeels in that colourful beak.



Taken with 1Dmk3 and 500mm lens hand held at ISO100 1/500s at F10 -0.67EV

Cheers

Rich

[Lorant Voros]

Hello Rich,

Nice story...you got lucky with this one and got away with some nice shots for sure. Nice portrait,; love the water drops. I guess you will be posting more of this series. Looking forward to see them. Congratulations.

[Dave Barnes]

Superb IQ and great capture with all the fish.

[Richard Stern]

Agreed - superb in every way, particularly the sharpness considering this was hand-held at 500mm., exposure, head angle and the presence of the fish. I'm envious! BTW, although I have lived in Canada for 30 years, I grew up in West Kirby, and have many fond memories of New Brighton as a teenager.

Richard

[Randy Stout]

Rich;

Great fun. Wonderful exposure. Nice head angle (bird and most of the sand eels)

I haven't seem these guys in person, so take this with a grain of salt, but I wonder if the eye could be brightened just a bit, plus a little more contrast. Don't want it to look unnatural of course.

Looking forward to more!

Randy

[Ramon M. Casares]

Wouldn't change a thing here. Love the natural moment, the great light, detail, colors, tight comp and species! Big congratulations!

[denise ippolito]

Rich, I love the comp. The nice full mouth of fish w/ good HA's is a bonus! Lovely portrait shot w/ great details!

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Great details, and the sandeels make this special, particularly that they are not overexposed. I also like the wet plumage. I might lighten the shadow on the chest a bit.

[Morkel Erasmus]

this is splendid! super details. do they only eat these sand eels?

[Bruce Enns]

An excellent portrait, details, soft light, BG...water droplets and beak very full of fish puts it over the top for me!

Cheers!
Bruce

[Jay Gould]

The different species of Puffins are so wonderful to shoot. While on the one had you might consider a darker eye; on the other hand you can see the pupil and darkening the eye might loose the pupil.

This is image is more than a keeper - it is a printer!!

[Gal Shon]

I'm hopeless when it cames to Puffins,
Superb exposure, cracking portrait.

[Stu Bowie]

Super close up, sharp, and like the detail and colours. His beak full of sandeels takes this over the top, as if he is showing off.

[Rich Steel]

Thanks for the replies. Anyone coming to the UK from late May through to the end of July should definately add the Farne Islands on their places to visit with a camera. If you need are planning a visit and need any info, then please feel free to contact me.

Cheers

Rich

[Art Kornienko]

Lovely portrait, great exposure, I agree with Randy about lightening the eye a touch more contrast. Love the lighting.

[Krijn Trimbos]

Great catch for both of you! Like it a lot with the sea BG and the fish are excellently exposed, the bird also ;) Nice pose! Great shot