Wholesome Puffin

[Fabs Forns]

I can't claim to be a Puffin expert, but I've had the opportunity to photograph them from very close for on three different years and I had never seen one with such an abundant breast!!!
If I didn't not that they were not mammals, I'd swear this one was pregnant! Very good looking specimen and looking pretty pleased with him/herself :)
Machias Sea Island, from blind.

Model: Canon EOS-1D Mark IV
Lens (mm): 330 (100-400L)
ISO: 400
Aperture: 8
Shutter: 1/2000

[Randy Stout]

Fabs:

Too many sand eels for lunch!
Harsh light, but well controlled exposure.
Like the placement in the frame.
The small patch of blue is an interesting element. I know it wasn't by chance. My first inclination would be to lose it, but it does at some color and plays well with the orange/red bill.
Cheers

Randy

[Judy Lynn Malloch]

Oh my Fabs I am drooling. Love this and the beautiful lighting, composition, detail, Bg and perch. !!!!!! Did I forget anything ? ;) Love this !!!

[Jory Griesman]

Agree with above, re: good exposure, great detail in blacks and whites, and good head position (not always easy - they never seem to be looking at me!). I really like the unwhitewashed perch and crop.

[Scott Grant]

lovely puffin image Fabs! you worked this photo well for such direct overhead light with good details in both blacks and whites. and yes, this does seem like quite the fat puffin!

just a quick question if you don't mind? i've noticed people posting images from Machias and it seems like their bills are deeper in color from the birds in Newfoundland. Or is this just a case of oversaturation? The orange legs/feet seem dead on in color.

[Fabs Forns]

lovely puffin image Fabs! you worked this photo well for such direct overhead light with good details in both blacks and whites. and yes, this does seem like quite the fat puffin!

just a quick question if you don't mind? i've noticed people posting images from Machias and it seems like their bills are deeper in color from the birds in Newfoundland. Or is this just a case of oversaturation? The orange legs/feet seem dead on in color.

Scott, I think it may be due to personal tastes in post processing. They seem to be very red out of camera, so I take some saturation out of the reds because they don't look realistic, but agree that in breeding times, they tend to be very saturated.

Thanks all for you comments.

[Nancy A Elwood]

Fabs we can call him/her a Proud Puffin with that larger breast! I like your post processing a lot! Very natural looking.

[Sid Garige]

One good looking puffin Fabs. You did excellent job dealing with harsh light conditions.

[Nicki Gwynn Jones]

That is one chubby puffin ;)
Leave the blue - it makes the image :)

[arash_hazeghi]

excellent Fabs, love the details, sure is handsome bird!

[Stu Bowie]

Excellent sharpness Fabs, and very well exposed too. Good comp, and if this was mine, I would blend in the little part of the blue BG in the URC.

[Scott Grant]

Thanks for the insight Fabs. Wishing you the best!

[Rich Steel]

Lovely looking puffin and an excellent pose, exposure and sharpness. Looks like someone has been over indulging on the sandeels.

Did you lighten the eye at all, I find puffin eyes react strangely to light, sometimes as shown here at other time almost black.

Cheers

Rich

[Fabs Forns]

Lovely looking puffin and an excellent pose, exposure and sharpness. Looks like someone has been over indulging on the sandeels.

Did you lighten the eye at all, I find puffin eyes react strangely to light, sometimes as shown here at other time almost black.

Cheers

Rich

Yes, Rich. I lighten the eye when it looks darker, because they can be this color if the light hits them right.

Thanks all!

[Kiran Poonacha]

I some how missed this Fabs, you are a master indeed. Loved the details in the blacks, nice pose as mentioned showing the bird well.. Its very nicely done.