Atlantic Puffin

[Francis Bossé]

Hi,


I created this image of puffin on the Parrot Island near Longue-Pointe-de-Minganon the north shore of the St-Laurent. My goal was to make a picture of them on water since they are pelagic. To achieve that, I had to spend 2 hours in 39F water up to my hips at the end. As the tide rise up they get use to me and they approach at a point where I was not able to photograph them. The water temperature was not that bad since the air temperature was 83F…


Thanks for looking!






Camera settings:
Camera Model:Canon EOS-1D Mark III
Image Date: 2009:07:11 13:18:12
Flash Used: No
Focal Length: 700.0mm
Exposure Time: 0.0008 s (1/1250)
Aperture: f/10.0
ISO equiv: 400
White Balance: Manual
Exposure: Manual
Exposure Mode: Manual

[Axel Hildebrandt]

I had no idea the water temperature is that low up there. I like the sharpness, exposure control and calm water. Since we just discussed catchlights, it's interesting to see that there is no catchlight in the eye but in the reflections of it. I might lighten the part of the chest that is not sunlit a little bit.

[Francis Bossé]

Thanks Axel for your comment.... If you look really closely the eye you will see a very small catchlight and I don't know why the reflections as bigger one...

[Ákos Lumnitzer]

39F? That's freaking cold Francis! Hope you wore waders or a drysuit. :D
Love the image as it is so unusual for most puffins I remember seeing were BIF or on rocks. Very nice! I just read Axel's explanation of the eye shape, so I can understand why no catchlight. Great colors. Congrats! :)

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Thanks Axel for your comment.... If you look really closely the eye you will see a very small catchlight and I don't know why the reflections as bigger one...

I'm not sure if that is the 'real' catchlight since you made this around 1 PM. Could this be a reflection of the sun in the water? I'm not sure if that would explain the larger catchlights in the reflections, though.

[Ed Schneider]

The puffin in water I shot in Newfoundland were in 3' waves! Amazing to see one in such serene, calm, glassy water as here- congrats!!! Nothing to add :)

[Harshad Barve]

This is fantastic image ,
Calm water and cute bird make it for me
TFS

[Brian Zwiebel]

Beautiful image Francis, I love the water, you did a great job with exposure in what looks like somewhat harsh lighting. I would consider adding in the catch light in the eye, there is a small reflection of light in the top left of the eye from the lighter sky but the sun doesn't seem to be reflecting directly in the eye.

Good Shooting!

BZ

[Graham Smith.]

Stunning capture Francis,
Your patience and determination really paid off here! Phenomenal detail and great exposure.

[Brian Barcelos]

This is a super image, love everything about. The refletion puts this over the top for sure. Congrats

Brian

[Dominic Cantin]

Excellent image Francis ! You succeeded your plan to show the pelagic side !

they approach at a point where I was not able to photograph them.

Good problem :D Thanks for the view !

Dom :)

[Stu Bowie]

We see them perched on rocks, we see them in the air, and now one having a swim. I like this lots. Excellent exposure, sharp, and I like the overall colours in this. Well captured.

[Kiran Poonacha]

Wow.. this is so good, nice to see one in the water, loved the details, the light is good, the colours of blues around adds so well.. congrats...

[Krijn Trimbos]

Lovely shot! The calm water, colours, nice HA and reflection do the job. I would maybe enhance the catchlight in the eye a bit more and maybe take the catchlights in the reflection out. I wish this was mine!

[Erich Stevens]

Francis,

Love this. Very sharp, great detail, love the ripple and reflection, love the colors. This is such an interesting species. Well done!

[Subharghya]

I love Puffins :) They are So Cute !!! You have done a Gr8 Job with exposure ... this is a tricky subject for camera exposure .. when the sun is High you will get this catch light problem .. I too have a Black Wing Stilt image where I didn't get any catch light in the bird's eye but the reflection has a beautiful catch light :) ... Only fill flash or a shiny reflector can help in this situation but it depends on the photographer's personal ethics. I am happy without catch light.

[Arthur Morris]

This is pretty darned good, as good as any I have seen of a swimming puffin. What a rare opportunity. In re-reading your post I am getting the feeling that you were not wearing chest waders. Is this correct?????

Love the HA, EXP, and the REFL.

[Wayne Wood]

I agree with everyone else, beautiful image Francis, one that sits atop my list of birds that I would love to photograph

[Francis Bossé]

Thanks to all for your comments!

Axel, the water over there say between 39 and 43F all year round.

Artie, I didn't wear chest waders...

Thanks,

[Arthur Morris]

Wow, that's cold without waders. I did the same thing once in Anchorage and got sick for 9 weeks! Since you have confirmed that you are totally nuts I would suggest for the next time that you lower your tripod so that the bottom of the camera is one inch above the surface of the water, 2-4 inches if there are small wavlets.... A much lower perspective would put a swimming puffin image over the top.