Puffin resting + repost

Gallery: AvianPosted September 17, 2010116 views14 comments

Another Puffin photo taken on Skomer Island in West Wales, UK.

I try to isolate single birds whenever possible while also looking for a nice background, in this photo it's a dark cliff face.

I like this one not only for the cute pose but also for the single flower, well, it works for me anyway

I hope this isn't too dark, it looks ok on my monitor but mine is set a bit bright so I'm told.

The histogram is telling me that the whites are starting to blow, I lightened the mid tones a bit but wanted to keep the shadows, especially in the background.

Any advice is very welcomed.

Sony A350
Sigma 50-500 EX
1/250th second
f8
420mm
ISO 100
-0.7 stop exposure compensation
Centre-weighted metering
Hand held

Comments

14 comments

Comment posted by Terry Sohl on September 17, 2010 at 10:44 AM

Very nicely done...has the look of a painting. The one flower is a terrific feature. Beautiful!

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

Comment posted by Glenn Bartley on September 17, 2010 at 11:49 AM

Such a beautiful setting for this image. Well done!

Registered on June 29, 2004, 448 Posts, 1180 Comments

Comment posted by Ajit Huilgol on September 17, 2010 at 12:39 PM

It works for me, too, Geoffrey!

Registered on December 19, 2008, 302 Posts, 2055 Comments

Comment posted by Matt Taylor on September 17, 2010 at 2:22 PM

Nice moody shot. I think your exposure is good and I think that you have captured the Puffin well.
Matt

Registered on July 31, 2010, 5 Posts, 91 Comments

Comment posted by Doug Gilham on September 17, 2010 at 5:41 PM

Another nice shot Geoffrey. I love the sad little expressions these birds give, which you've captured here IMO. The whites look good on my end and you have nice detail in the dark feathers.. The foliage looks a bit oversharpened to me. IMO the flower distracts from the puffin, although it kinda mocks the solitude of the puffin.

Registered on September 20, 2009, 77 Posts, 489 Comments

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on September 17, 2010 at 5:47 PM

cute pose and a nice comp, Geoffrey. I might reduce the brightness on the brightest of the vegetation.

Registered on March 21, 2009, 202 Posts, 4187 Comments

Comment posted by Geoffrey Baker on September 17, 2010 at 6:40 PM

I wasn't very happy with the first version, looks like brightening the mid tones didn't do the background much good so here's an attempt to salvage things.

Registered on August 20, 2010, 192 Posts, 980 Comments

Comment posted by Angela McCain on September 17, 2010 at 8:04 PM

I like that flower. Plays off the clown-like eye of the puffin in this picture.

Registered on April 19, 2009, 367 Posts, 3589 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on September 17, 2010 at 9:07 PM

Neat shot Geoffrey, I prefer the repost as the color of the vegetation works better I think.

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

Comment posted by David Schoen on September 17, 2010 at 10:19 PM

Repost is much richer in tones. Thanks.

Registered on November 6, 2006, 1213 Posts, 4587 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on September 18, 2010 at 12:00 AM

Another vote for the repost Geoffrey - lovely setting

cheers
Rob

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

Comment posted by Chris Ross on September 18, 2010 at 8:17 AM

Great shot, like the expression on your puffin and works well with that single flower. Repost is good on vegetation but I think I like the BG from the first image more so.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 403 Posts, 2729 Comments

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on September 19, 2010 at 9:41 AM

Geoffrey,

I like seeing this Puffin at rest, different from what we typically see posted here and I enjoy that. I like the background colors of the original post better, though I would run some NR on it to reduce the noise I see. The repost background is so dark it looks artifical or some thing. I prefer the sharpening on the repost. I also like the little daisy in the background, it does not distract me and I feel it adds a sense of whimsy to this image.

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

Comment posted by May Haga on September 23, 2010 at 10:11 AM

This is a great shot Geoffrey. Like the single flower and the dark background. The puffin is pretty nice too.
May

Registered on February 22, 2007, 714 Posts, 8470 Comments