Atlantic Puffin

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Photographed on Machias Island a few days ago. In the BG is a large boulder. I didn't convert to sRGB to keep the reds and yellows from being oversaturated.



1D3, 500f4, 1/1000s, f/11, EC -0.33, ISO 400

[Brian Barcelos]

Very nice portrait Axel, I'll have to take a ride up to Maine one of these days to see these adorable birds. Beautifully exposed Whites/Blacks and HA. Wouldn't change a thing here. Congrats.
Brian

[kevinmat]

This is a stunning portrait Axel, beautifully exposed. Colors are spot on. Big congrats!

[Randy Stout]

Axel:

Very nice. The bill on this guy is, to quote a famous bird photographer "a killer"

Nice exposure and comp.

Cheers

Randy

[David Roach]

All those miles were well worth it!! Pose, EXP and details all perfect!!! The subject doesn't hurt either. Can't wait to see more from this trip!

[Stu Bowie]

Amazingly sharp, excellent exposure, and like the pose. Great portrait Axel.

[Dave Barnes]

Love the detqail on the bill and face.
Please tell us a bit more about the reds and yellows with sRGB?

[Morkel Erasmus]

nothing to crit - sublime portrait here Axel! I would also like to know regarding sRGB and red/yellows?

[Ramon M. Casares]

I would only suggest a tad more contrast, but other than that, I love the DOF, pose, comp, BG, colors, detail, and exposure. Love these birds!
Congratulations!

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Love the detqail on the bill and face.
Please tell us a bit more about the reds and yellows with sRGB?

Thanks, Dave! I processed the image as 16 bit Adobe RGB TIFF file and the histogram and colors looked good. Since I know that reds and yellows tend to look oversaturated after sRGB conversion I made sure it wouldn't go much over 230. Despite that the reds and yellows were clipped when I saved it as 8 bit sRGB file. I assume that most people use a color-managed browser such as Firefox 3.5 or Safari by now and the image shouldn't look flat even if it is saved as Adobe RGB. As far as I know only Internet Explorer does not have color management, although I'm not entirely sure about Chrome and Opera.

[denise ippolito]

Axel, Really nice exposure and the details are great!! I think the coloring in the bill is outstanding!! Very complimentary BG color also!!

[Rich Steel]

Beautiful photograph Axel. I am a big fan of the 'over the shoulder look', especially with puffins. Excellent exposure and details and colours looking great in RGB. Did you lighten the eye at all? I find puffins have strange eyes. Sometime looking light but at other times very dark.

Cheers

Rich

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Beautiful photograph Axel. I am a big fan of the 'over the shoulder look', especially with puffins. Excellent exposure and details and colours looking great in RGB. Did you lighten the eye at all? I find puffins have strange eyes. Sometime looking light but at other times very dark.

Cheers

Rich

Thanks, Rich! Yes, I lightened the eye a bit and agree they sometimes look darker than one might expect.

[Amy Marques]

Hi Axel. You have nicely captured the essence of this bird colorful, whimsical bird. However, the blacks come across a little flat on my monitor. Looking forward to seeing more!

[A_Maddah]

Hi Axel
I like this portrait . pose, comp, BG, colorsand detail too

Asad

[John Chardine]

Axel- That is one of the best portraits of a puffin I have seen. I am fixed on the eye detail and colour. I must get back to MSI!

[Harold Davis]

this is superb!! i like that you didnt oversat the reds. or oranges? looks like it's been eating shrimp to get that orange glow like a flamingo. well done, axel.

[Fabs Forns]

Terrific pose and colors, I like how you were able to get the eye light.
Nice specimen too!

[Gal Shon]

I have such a thing for Puffins...
Very well done.

[Patricio Murphy]

One of the worst things about living in South America is that we don't get to see these birds... :p
Amazing detail. Love the colours, and the BG really makes it stand out.

[Juan Carlos Vindas]

Hey Alex!
Good idea about not converting to sRGB!
Love the personality of this guy and the killer BG.

[John Chardine]

One of the worst things about living in South America is that we don't get to see these birds... :p
Amazing detail. Love the colours, and the BG really makes it stand out.

Ah Patricio- pero tienes los pinguinos!

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Ah Patricio- pero tienes los pinguinos!

Exactamente! :)

[Harshad Barve]

Simply awesome , Loved the pose and colors
Harshad

[Paul Lagasi]

What else can I say "SUPER" job...

[Ilija Dukovski]

Congrats! Nice one.

[Chris Kotze]

What a super looking bird. Excellent detail and colours

[Krijn Trimbos]

Although the light looks on the harsh side you did very well with the exposure and no extreme shadowy parts are to be seen. Well done on that! Nice job on the eye. I like the look back pose but don't particularly like the cut off wing do you have any with the entire wing as a reference? Nice job

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Although the light looks on the harsh side you did very well with the exposure and no extreme shadowy parts are to be seen. Well done on that! Nice job on the eye. I like the look back pose but don't particularly like the cut off wing do you have any with the entire wing as a reference? Nice job

Thanks, Krijn! I tried out different crops but liked the proportions of this one best. I used all the room I had at the bottom, though.

[Gyorgy Szimuly]

Simply stunning image. The head turn, sharpness and lights are perfect. A real winner Axel.

Szimi

[Patricio Murphy]

Ah Patricio- pero tienes los pinguinos!

True, of course. And beautiful indeed.
Still miss the puffins :)