Atlantic Puffin

Gallery: AvianPosted July 22, 20081,402 views27 comments

D80, 300mm f/4.0 + 1.7 tc
ISO 250, f/9, 1/1250 sec, tripod used as a monopod because of the small workspace in the blinds used by the naturalists.
Cropped from horizontal to vertical format
Sharpening, contrast, saturation adjustments in Lightroom and PS3

July 5, 2008, Machias Seal Island near Cutler, Maine

Comments and suggestions most welcome.

Comments

27 comments

Comment posted by Stephen on July 22, 2008 at 9:17 PM

Wow! I love this image! It's sharp! The colors on this puffin are incredible. Nice open beak, good light and the background is very neat. It looks sand then water in the background.

Registered on November 11, 2007, 42 Posts, 803 Comments

Comment posted by Buck Ward on July 22, 2008 at 9:34 PM

These are such strange looking birds. (I've never actually seen one)
I really like the soft color changes in the background.

Registered on December 8, 2003, 96 Posts, 1917 Comments

Comment posted by Pat Sampson on July 22, 2008 at 9:51 PM

Beautiful image David. Excellent whites mgt. Great looking bird, bg and perch. I hope to see one of these some day.

Pat

Registered on May 19, 2007, 953 Posts, 15989 Comments

Comment posted by Michael Twaddell on July 22, 2008 at 10:04 PM

Superb detail in both the blacks and whites. Very crisp, and great pose. Not a nit from me!

Registered on August 16, 2007, 199 Posts, 2132 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on July 23, 2008 at 12:30 AM

A very nice study of the colors and shapes of this wonderful species. The brilliant blue watery background is a must for a successful image of these guys in my mind.

Registered on January 28, 2005, 879 Posts, 12098 Comments

Comment posted by Terry Sohl on July 23, 2008 at 12:56 AM

Well done David. Great catch with the open beak.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 513 Posts, 6889 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on July 23, 2008 at 6:30 AM

So sharp and vibrant David, great shot

cheers Rob

Registered on November 8, 2003, 617 Posts, 8267 Comments

Comment posted by Simon Bennett on July 23, 2008 at 6:45 AM

Superb image - classic subject made even more interesting by the open beak - also like the sense of depth the bird has, crispness and plumage detail, and background - well done David.

Registered on February 4, 2007, 350 Posts, 4614 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on July 23, 2008 at 9:15 AM

I love this shot David. It's certainly one of the very best I've seen of the species. Wonderful exposure, interesting background, open beak and tack sharp. Congrats!

Registered on March 30, 2007, 437 Posts, 10915 Comments

Comment posted by Peter Conway on July 23, 2008 at 9:29 AM

They are the damndest looking birds, I hope to one day see one.

I think this is perfect. All the detail in the blacks and gray coupled with that great pose and a BG that does not detract but still gives a sense of place.

Peter

Registered on June 25, 2007, 347 Posts, 3913 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on July 23, 2008 at 10:22 AM

Great exposure control, David. I like the open beak in this one. What's the yellow band in the center bg? I like it, just curious.

Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments

Comment posted by David Sparks on July 23, 2008 at 11:05 AM

Dennis wrote
"What's the yellow band in the center bg? I like it, just curious."
The white is rock, the yellow is seaweed and lichen on the rocks and the blue is the sea.
This was a special trip for me. I've sailed in Maine a lot and we often sail around Matinicus Rock to see the Puffins. You cannot go ashore there. But I've never made a "keeper" photo of a Puffin. Tough to do with long lens on a rolling boat. I was excited about going ashore and seeing the birds up close and photographing them with my feet on solid ground.
Thanks for the positive comments on the puffin and warbler shots I took on this non-sailing trip to Maine.
David Sparks

Registered on May 26, 2007, 290 Posts, 4270 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Saunders on July 23, 2008 at 11:56 AM

This is exceptional. What a a bird and the colors are magnificent. I would love to see one of these.

Registered on February 6, 2008, 321 Posts, 3035 Comments

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on July 23, 2008 at 12:43 PM

David,

This is a marvelous photo of this Puffin, your techs are great, the sharpness is wonderful and the colors are perfect. I would not change a thing on this image.

Excellent image as posted.

Registered on June 25, 2007, 491 Posts, 12566 Comments

Comment posted by Krijn Trimbos on July 23, 2008 at 1:04 PM

Gorgeous shot David! Love the open beak

Registered on October 18, 2005, 260 Posts, 2979 Comments

Comment posted by raymond j barlow on July 23, 2008 at 10:53 PM

wonderful image David, sweet detail, and great pose!

Registered on March 29, 2007, 218 Posts, 964 Comments

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on July 24, 2008 at 11:23 AM

Great photo Davd! I hope I have the opportunuity to shot these one day. I love the eyes and beaks on these guys. You captured this beautifully.

Kurt

Registered on June 19, 2008, 1005 Posts, 8028 Comments

Comment posted by Alex Mody on July 24, 2008 at 2:58 PM

Nice shot! How'd you manage to even set up the "monopod?" When I was there it was so cramped that I had to resort to using the blind's window to stabilize.

Registered on December 25, 2007, 163 Posts, 1896 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on July 28, 2008 at 2:10 AM

Terrific shot David, congrats

Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments

Comment posted by Peter Evanoski on July 28, 2008 at 9:37 PM

Congrats on your EP David

Registered on March 27, 2008, 51 Posts, 176 Comments

Comment posted by Catherine Reilly on July 29, 2008 at 1:10 AM

Incredible!! Wow! The bg is very complementary to the subject, too. What a great shot. Congratulations on a well deserved EP.

Registered on August 16, 2006, 603 Posts, 9192 Comments

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on July 29, 2008 at 1:28 AM

Absolutely deserving of the EP. Congratulations, David.

Registered on August 28, 2006, 1240 Posts, 8506 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on July 29, 2008 at 8:29 AM

Way to go David! I love this image. Kudos on the EP.

Registered on March 30, 2007, 437 Posts, 10915 Comments

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on July 29, 2008 at 8:55 PM

David,

Big congrats on your EP for this image, it is well deserved and this image is excellent

Registered on June 25, 2007, 491 Posts, 12566 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Chambers on July 29, 2008 at 9:51 PM

Wow, a wonderful shot of a beautiful bird! The layered colors in the BG really accent this well. Congrats on the EP - well deserved David!

Registered on April 10, 2005, 753 Posts, 21216 Comments

Comment posted by Brian J. Porter on August 4, 2008 at 1:56 PM

Congratulation on the "editor's pick" selection this week, David -- an amazing shot.

Registered on March 16, 2008, 55 Posts, 323 Comments

Comment posted by Dan Walters on August 10, 2008 at 9:08 PM

Beautiful bird. Love the colors and the pose. Congratulations on the pick.

Registered on October 30, 2005, 405 Posts, 3693 Comments