Atlantic Puffin

[Herb Houghton]

offshore Maine, at Machias Seal Island. Mark IV, 500L, iso 800, F4, 1/1250 handheld from a tour boat.

[Haim Ziv]

Fascinating. Love the texture and form waterץ

[Scott Frye]

Very nice -- wishing for a catchlight - -there might be something there -- zoom up big time on the eye and there is any semblence of a catchlight -- you can select and brighten the light --

[Bill Dix]

Great capture, tough to do from a tourboat, I'm sure. Lovely colors and spectacular bow wave. Ditto the catchlight.

[Ken_Bower]

Beautiful photo and I love the texture of the wave. Did you make onto the island or did you go around in the smaller boat?

[Stu Bowie]

I find the detail and colours around their heads so spectacular. Good comp, and I like the colour of the water. The head is turned slightly away.

[Herb Houghton]

Thanks for all of the comments. On this particular day, which was overcast, the waves were rolling at 2 to 3 feet and they were too treacherous to land small craft safely. The birds would pop up and down in and out of view on the waves, limiting chances of better head angles, etc. I was able to land on the island, the previous day and I had time in a blind with clear skies, but harsh lighting. There wasn't much catchlight available on this day.

[Michael Zajac]

Herb, Not an easy shot from a moving boat. I think you did very well. I like the water color but feel it may have a bit too much cyan. I also think the bird's head could be turned a bit more towards the viewer but understand the difficulties.

[Jory Griesman]

Very nice image. Not easy to get that close, and get any kind of a decent angle, before they fly away. I really like the water in front of the bird. The puffin looks somewhat contrasty to me.

[stuart wanuck]

lovely color good capture

[Arthur Morris]

Wow, I love the tones of color in the water and that killer bow wave. Sharpness perfect. With a bit of a head turn towards you this would have been a contest winner, at least if I were judging. Still superb though.

[denise ippolito]

Herb, The little wave in front of the Puffin makes this one special. I like the sharp details. The chest appears to be a little hot. I do think that I would have put the bird a bit lower in the frame if it were mine. Nicely done HH from a tour boat-that is not an easy thing to do!

[Art Kornienko]

The in the water shot sure does it for me. Tough conditions to shoot. I find it contrasty too, not sure about the crop.