Like Puffins in Love

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Like Puffins in Love
Photo Information
Copyright: Paul Prince (PDP) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2964 W: 366 N: 3848] (11733)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-06-11
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 20D, Sigma 50-500mm f/4-6.3 EX APO RF, Digital ISO 200, Hoya skylight (1B)
Exposure: f/13.0, 1/400 seconds
Details: Tripod: Yes
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): 5 favs. and up, Puffins, Other birds, The best photo on TN?, 100 points or more (Chapter 2), Birds of World, posts with a difference, 10 fav's and more, Characters on TN [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2006-06-13 20:52
Viewed: 3832
Favorites: 21 [view]
Points: 116
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Puffin

Fratercula arctica

AKA: Atlantic puffin
An unmistakable bird with its black back and white underparts, and distinctive black head with large pale cheeks and a tall, flattened, brightly-coloured bill. Its comical appearance is heightened by its red and black eye-markings and bright orange legs. Used as a symbol for books and other items, this clown among seabirds is one of the world's favourite birds. With half of the UK population at only a few sites it is an Amber List species.

Where does it live?
Breeding
They prefer offshore islands and high seacliffs, and breed colonially, with nests in burrows, under boulders or in cracks in cliffs where predators cannot easily reach them.
Wintering
At sea

Where to see it
Best looked for at a breeding colony. Try the RSPB's Bempton Cliffs (N Yorks) and South Stack (Anglesey) reserves; the Farne Islands (Northumberland); the Isle of May (off the Fife coast); and the Shetland and Orkney Islands.

What does it eat?
Fish, especially sandeels

What does it sound like?
A growling laugh

When to see it
Adults arrive back at the breeding colony in March and April and leave again in mid-August. Some remain in the North Sea at winter, other move further south to the Bay of Biscay.

I hope you like it.

Notes are from rspb.co.org.uk
slrnovice2, Pictures_Collec, marhowie, ellis49, scottevers7, Janice, glazzaro, thistle, TAZ, manyee, red45, AndyB, dew77, deud, aido, soccer, gerhardt, coasties, wkshelton, sandpiper2, reina, Signal-Womb, jeanpaul, Luc, SkyF, thor68, liziafa, liquidsunshine, Demetrio, ddg, Runnerduck, elefantino, lovenature, firelord, captainsgirl, mlines, alejandroguzman, greenpinkorange has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To AdrianW: CheersPDP 1 07-04 19:59
To Demetrio: thanksPDP 1 06-18 14:44
To Callie: Hi CalliePDP 3 06-16 04:11
To sAner: How do I do it?PDP 1 06-14 15:10
To marhowie: ThanksPDP 1 06-14 07:21
To flagman: compression artifactsPDP 1 06-14 05:55
You must be logged in to start a discussion.

Critiques [Translate]

This is perfect Paul, everything is awesome about this shot! I mean dynamite! Boom baby! This one should definitely get you front cover of a magazine. :)

Hi Paul,

Awesome picture. Technically good and funny too. Thanks for the explanations.

Hi Paul,
lovely picture with beautiful light and colours.
The POV and compostion are very good too.
Great work.

Your site is very good.
Thanks Howard to let me know.

  • Great 
  • BeBe Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 133 W: 0 N: 254] (895)
  • [2006-06-13 22:15]

Hi Paul, excellent sharp photo, the combination of colors and the composition is very good, the way one of the birds is looking makes honor to the title of the picture, Juan

Hi Paul,
An outstanding shot on these two Puffins. Dead on exposure has rendered some beautiful colors. Tack sharp detail. The framing and pose are perfect. Extremely well done!
Scott

  • Great 
  • Janice Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3337 W: 144 N: 5637] (16707)
  • [2006-06-13 22:54]

Oh, cute, Paul! I love the expressions, but especially the angle they're on. Amazing birds, so unreal, like clowns! Great shot, well done,
Janice

Hi Paul
Spectacular capture of these surreal creatures. It's hard to believe that they can even stand on such a slope. Technically and aesthetically perfect - not much else to say.
Greg

What can I say, superb shot, the detail and exposure are right on and the comp is perfect, hats off to you.

Greg

Hello Paul,
Good to see a post from you at last! ;-)

This is a beautiful picture, technically more than perfect!
I love the look of this couple, their poses, the amazing colours of whole picture, the stone covered with lichen, the blue sky in BG, POV, light, framing ... and everything else :-)

One of the best pictures I've ever seen!

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1675 W: 8 N: 4021] (13255)
  • [2006-06-14 1:25]

Perfection! What a glorious shot. And absolutely adorable.

Jane

  • Great 
  • TAZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2395 W: 50 N: 3190] (10896)
  • [2006-06-14 1:32]

Hello Paul,
Nice to see sometime a picture from you. And this one is another pleasure for my eyes. These Puffins are so lovely. Composition, colors, exposure and sharpness are perfect !!!
Congratulations my friend and thanks for sharing.

  • Great 
  • manyee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3082 W: 231 N: 5811] (19540)
  • [2006-06-14 1:36]

Spectacular shot, Paul. : )
Besides being superb in every way (such as sharpness, exposure, colors, POF, and composition). the expressions of the puffins are priceless. The posture and look of the one on the left is so amazing and human-like.
I love this picture. TFS.: )

  • Great 
  • red45 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2765 W: 75 N: 7513] (25121)
  • [2006-06-14 3:10]

Hi Paul!
Great to see something new from you! Very colorfull and touching picture. Flawless. Razorsharp, ultradetailed and perfectly composed. And what a moment! Return of Master :-)

  • Great 
  • AndyB Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1593 W: 32 N: 1363] (3978)
  • [2006-06-14 3:13]

Hello Paul,
An excellent capture.
Perfect exposure,superb colours and a great POV.
A real winner.
Just had a look at your site,looks great!

TFS

Hi Paul,

This is a fantastic picture. I really like the pose of the birds and the interaction between them. Big f-stop to get the fantastic DOF, but a good shutter speed nontheless cause you were on ISO 200. Tripod as well. Very impressive. Well done, but it's what I've come to expect of you. :-)

Jan-Hendrik

Wonderful pose, beautifully composed, excellent exposure.
There are compression artefacts in the sky but I guess there always will be on such a plain surface when you're trying to get to 200kb. I bet the full size image is stunning!

Hi Paul
Beautiful puffins,picture is so sharp!
Well done.

  • Great 
  • aido Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1103 W: 173 N: 1227] (4038)
  • [2006-06-14 6:06]

Hi Paul,
Excellent shot. I could list all the technical aspects and say they're all perfect (which they are) but this goes beyond that I think, a beautiful shot.
Cheers,
Adrian

  • Great 
  • deud Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 486 W: 2 N: 454] (2055)
  • [2006-06-14 6:08]

wow! great. great combination of beautiful colors on this shot. i like the blue sky against the rock with little yellow vegetation! the pair of puffins is fantastic! great pose. amazing focus, details.
just fantastic shot. tfs

Aaarrgghh #$@&!^@ Wish it was mine! @#*%$!!!

Enter the competition... Nuff said.

Paul,

Very sharp, well composed pic that has excellent Lighting, colour, detail and a very interesting looking subject. TFS,
Sheriff

Hello Paul

Do ya love me, ha... do ya? Very cute shot. Lovely composition and excellent exposure. How I would love to see Puffin in real life! They have beautiful coloured beaks. Stunning work Paul. Thank you!

Well done Mr. Prince.
Lovely website you've developed at pdprince.com as well.
I especially appreciated your architecture offerings..the night shots in particular.
Cheers,
Howard

Hello Paul, Excllent work, great photo, perfect lighting, colors, POV, BG, perfect Job, TFS Kyle

Superior image as expected from a master.
Out-of-this-world composition, one could search for this for a long time and not encounter it, I hope you realise that.
Superb sharpness and exposure.
Nothing else to say, damn you!

Hi. Paul!
Excellent shot! I like bright colors, in particular orange and them eyes. Wonderful moment and capture. TFS. Tanya.

  • Great 
  • OzBY Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 182 W: 2 N: 299] (1021)
  • [2006-06-14 10:45]

Great picture of these Puffins. Great color, position and BG

Oz

  • Great 
  • sAner Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1655 W: 79 N: 1457] (4742)
  • [2006-06-14 14:09]
  • [+]

My God!! I went all the way to Alaska to shoot Puffins and I didn't get a picture which came even near to the quality of this superb image! How do you do this? Wonderful pose, great colors, razorsharp details and excellent composition. Well done & TFS!

Regards,
Pieter

Ps-Your website looks very professional. What did it cost you to get it?

  • Great 
  • valy67 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1318 W: 52 N: 1782] (5274)
  • [2006-06-14 14:26]

Wow, this is a wonderful shot ! Everything is just perfect : details, colors, composition, light, exposure, POV... And this blue sky is amazing, mzkes a wonderful BG for these puffins in love. The pose of the birds is also very nice, I love the way the left bird is looking at the other one. Very well done !
Valérie.

Hi Paul - that's only WOW!
Is it a shot or a painting?
What a posing, she's soooo in love with him.
And those colours - and the sharpness, I don't have more words - only - PERFECT!
Thank you so much for sharing
Sabine - wishnugaruda

  • Great 
  • reina Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 262 W: 1 N: 324] (1968)
  • [2006-06-14 15:54]

Hi Paul, what a composition!!!!! The yellow on the stone is so perfectly matched that looks like a designed picture.
Goes to the favourites. Thanks for sharing reina

Stunning capture Paul, THIS IS BLOODY BRILLANT! You know I wanted the "Puffin Shot" when I traveled down the west cost of Ireland recently hoping for the Skellig islands were you are falling over them but because the weather was so good coach loads of Americans booked the whole fleet of fishing boats for that day leaving no room. Needless to say I missed my chance. I did see some puffins on Tory Island but I fear to post after this masterpiece. Top shot.

Well, Paul, you outdid yourself on this one. That is just precious besides being perfectly exposed with perfect color saturation and sharpness. Superb!

Thanks


Evelynn : )

  • Great 
  • SkyF Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2447 W: 207 N: 2035] (8113)
  • [2006-06-15 7:44]

Hi Paul,
this is quite the pair :-). Lovely capture, great pose from both of them. POV, colors and details are lovely. A beautiful compostion.
TFS..Sky

perfect and wonderful shot, paul! :-)
excellent pov and composition,
great and funny pose from the two clowns,
razorsharp and terrific exposure.
very well seen & done, thor.

Hi Paul,
Excellent shot.
Wonderful framing and composition.
Very good details, colors, sharp.
TFS Malgosia

Paul My friend, I trust you are well? Looking at the quality of this shot, you must be bored by the properity coming your way.
This is stunning, I love these guys and wish I could see them for real.
I have seen many Puffen pics, I rate this one as on of the very best. As gerhard say, I canhear that John Deere starting up.
Take care
Callie

Hello Paul,

Wow! That one is perfect. That's no really constructive, but I had to say it. Congratulation an TFS.

Nicolas

  • Great 
  • Dando Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 643 W: 32 N: 790] (3052)
  • [2006-06-15 16:56]

Hi Paul, great to see you back on TN. Excellent shot, cute but at the same time funny. Exposure, colours, composition, details, everything perfect. Can't say anymore really but great to see the master back. TFS.
Dean.

  • Great 
  • Karin Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 418 W: 5 N: 268] (2089)
  • [2006-06-15 18:41]

Hello Paul,
Just discovered you, great photos!
I think this one is realy beautiful. Perfect composition, colors and details. And a very cute couple that realy looks in love.
TFS

Hiya Paul, priceless shot, brilliant :) Great technique and artistry from you as always. Out of interest which of the sites did you go to for this one and when? Were you around the Shetland Islands while the Springwatch crew were there?
Ooops, just noticed it says Ireland :)

Fantastic crisp clear in your face picture. Colours are fantastic. Thanks Allan.

This is a cracking capture Paul,
I bet you had to wait around for a while before getting this shot.
Good detail, colours and sharpness. exposure and lighting are good. Good POV and composition. This is a brilliant shot.

Thanks for posting, enjoy the rest of the weekend.

Hi Paul, still a little tied up myself at the moment, anyway this is really nice makes yet another perfect card. I had no idea that you could see these from places around the UK. Tempting me to come back now.

Excellent work as usual. Nice one. Speak soon.


Demetrio

Paul - this is beautiful - these are one of my favourite birds, I even have a picture of them one the wall at home, the whites in this picture are spot on and I love the way one of the puffins is looking directly at your, the symentry in its face is stunning.

TFS

Emma

  • Great 
  • ddg Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 881 W: 19 N: 923] (4953)
  • [2006-06-19 5:20]

Hello Paul, excellent shot with a great composition and colors that blend well. Great sharpness too, best regards, Didier.

  • Great 
  • Fisher Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1540 W: 309 N: 2234] (8915)
  • [2006-06-26 15:38]

Hi Paul,

Now, this puts a smile on my face. Splendid, just super. Excellent shot and well done on the composition and details. It's a beauty.

Mike

What a gem. You know I was only complementing Adrian (Aido) on his puffins the other day.
This is another great shot of these incredible birds.
Great low pov, and I really like the birds on that steep ledge.
And of course a superb pose.
Great stuff, thanks for posting.

Hi Paul, amzing sharpness in this pic.
Colors and details are great, the pose lovely!

ANdrea

Hi Paul
All I can say is WOW....WOW. I love the angle the Puffins as standing, it really adds interest to the photo. The lichens on the rock also add lots of interest, colour and texture. The Puffins are just doing their natural thing. AAAA++++ Janice

I think my girlfriend said it all: "That is so spawny!" ;)

The colour contrast between the yellow lichen and the blue sky is perfect, and as for the pose of your subjects... Grrr... Yes, it's actually annoyingly good ;) Focus/DOF/exposure are all spot on too - very nicely handled considering the contrasty nature of the subject.

If I'm going to nitpick, and trust me, these are very minor things compared to the quality of this shot: There's a slight colour difference in the sky to the left of the puffin vs that above it (OOF cloud?). Despite their sharpness there's a slight smoothness to their plumage that seems odd - but maybe they were recently preened, and not being blown by the ubiquitous force ten gale that seems to accompany my only sightings ;)

Excellent work! Thanks for adding it to my theme :D

  • Great 
  • dew77 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5171 W: 297 N: 4050] (13069)
  • [2006-07-26 4:22]

Hello Paul,
I dont know how i missed this great post before.Wonderful scane and capture.POV,vivid colors,details,lighting,pose of puffins and composition are excellent.
TFS...:-)

Hi Paul,
Splendid capture!
Wonderful looking birds!
Superb colors and great POV!
TFS
Alex

Fantastic funny shot Paul. Interesting pose. Excellent capture with good details.
Yes, I like it! Very well done
Regards, Krzysztof.

OH MY GOSH!! Paul this is the cutiest photo!! I love these birds I have made this photo one of my favorites and hope you don't mind but also added it to my birds of the world theme as I'm collecting my favorites. What a great shot not only because of the awesome quality but also the great pose they were in...wow..TFS!
Donna :o)




Thanks for your comments on my photo" Sun trying to melt the frost" :o) And also thanks so much for the workshop as well..:o)

  • Great 
  • mlines Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 493 W: 14 N: 528] (2378)
  • [2007-02-10 20:03]

Hi Paul. Very good capture of these two puffins. Excellent clarity and colours. Murray.

It's an extraordinary & touching photograph !!!
I can only say CONGRATULATIONS !!!
It's just perfect...

hugs
Edgar.

Hi Paul,
Lovely picture.
POV and compostion are very good.
Great work.

Biswarup

amazing pic, TFS Ori

Wow.. excellent colors and sharpness. they really look like a couple. good composition. Salute!

steph

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