70mm Puffin

[Rich Steel]

Hi

On the recent trip to Norway, while out on the Island of Hornoya I decided to try a few wide angle photos of the puffins to capture them in some environment. This was despite pledging to myself that I would try to ignore the puffins while on the island, but as usual 'puffin fever' took hold of me! Having got so accustomed to using the 500mm its not until you put a wide lens on that you realise how close you actually need to get to the bird to get a reasonable size with the frame! I spotted this puffin on top of an enormous boulder which I crawled up the side of before peeking over the top to take the photo.



Taken with 1D mkIV and 24 - 70 at 70mm. ISO 400 at F9 and +1EV and 1/160s.

Cheers

Rich

[denise ippolito]

Rich, I really like this. The composition w/ the FG being in sharp focus and the BG fading away is lovely . It might need an ever so slight rotation. The Puffins beak and feet seem a little more yellow/orange than red/orange- (I'm not saying that it is wrong). I love the pose and the details. I wish I thought to get a scenic:)

[Judy Lynn Malloch]

This is beautifully composed Rich and Love the pose of the puffin and low angle. Just can get much better than this !!! Awesome work and TFS.

[Grace Scalzo]

I love this, Rich. The subject is still the center of your composition yet there is so much additional interest in the habitat. A good reminder to pull back and look at the entire scene.

[Harold Davis]

rich, fantastic idea!! and i love this composition. i played with the shadows and it does look a little better to me if you open them up a little and lighten the eye area. well seen and well done!!

[Rich Steel]

Thanks for the comments :)

Cheers

Rich

[Austin Thomas]

Nicely done Rich,

A very proud looking Puffin !

Cheers

Austin

[Juan Aragonés]

Excelent image Rich. Very nice perch and pose. You did a very good job using such a short focus lenght to capture the landscape surrounding the bird.

[Daniel Cadieux]

This is a very impressive habitat image, Rich! Well done on the planning and execution of the image. If anything, some fill-flash would have nicely filled in those shadows on the face and chin.

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Great use of short focal length. I like the unusual pose, soft light and setting, too. Does it need a tiny bit CW rotation?

[Steve Kaluski]

I think Axel is right Rich, just a fraction based on where the land meets the sea. Also there looks like a slight halo running down the back of the Puffin? Might also take out the faint bit of land after the point on the lhs to give a cleaner result.

Steve

[Jonathan Ashton]

That is a cracker Rich - well done - love the natural colours.

[Hendri Venter]

Wow, absolutely stunning!!! Lovely angle and soft light. Well done Rich.