Puffin Take Off

[SamFisher]

My first visit of the year to RSPB Fowlsheugh.
I met quite a few visitors who claimed to have seen 2 Puffins.
I was lucky enough to spot 8

7D, EF300 f4 + 1.4 ext, ISO 500, 1/800 @ f5.6


Puffin 3 by mike.stephen99, on Flickr

[vdzande]

Re: Puffin Take Off

Wow, that first visit is a memorable one ;)
Allthough I feel the focus is on the bacjground in stead of the bird, I love the moment! That makes it a nice picture for me.
Well done,
Rutger

[Hereford_EOS2]

Re: Puffin Take Off

Well spotted Mike and well captured , a once in a lifetime shot.

[DeeGee]

Re: Puffin Take Off

Base jumper push off!

[tigerburnie]

Re: Puffin Take Off

Well taken

[Nathaniel]

Re: Puffin Take Off

Mike, A very capture. However, the old problem seems to persist- the image is still a bit soft. See the eyes for starters! & the beak! Check with your computer image.

[mikep]

Re: Puffin Take Off

Rubbish!

Seriously - good capture, very well timed, and I know there's an element of luck, but catching the wings up is a great pose!

Mike

[Nathaniel]

Re: Puffin Take Off

Rubbish!

Seriously - good capture, very well timed, and I know there's an element of luck, but catching the wings up is a great pose!

Mike

It could be my monitor, which gives a bit of softness. However, if the image looks fine with other members then thats it.

[mikep]

Re: Puffin Take Off

It could be my monitor, which gives a bit of softness. However, if the image looks fine with other members then thats it.

Nat - my earlier 'rubbish' remark wasn't aimed at your 'soft' comment - I was just trying to be funny as it was quite a remarkable shot! I think the Puffin looking soft is due to the movement in the bird, as the background rock he's launching off is in focus. Sorry if you took my remark as a criticism of your comments.

All the best, Mike.

[Nathaniel]

Re: Puffin Take Off

Nat - my earlier 'rubbish' remark wasn't aimed at your 'soft' comment - I was just trying to be funny as it was quite a remarkable shot! I think the Puffin looking soft is due to the movement in the bird, as the background rock he's launching off is in focus. Sorry if you took my remark as a criticism of your comments.

All the best, Mike.

HI! Mike. I did not misunderstand your remark. So cheer up. I have seen the "other Mike"'s bird pics and they have all been pin sharp- from beak,eyes etc but this Puffin take off, on my monitor atleast,appears to be soft. By the same token if other members see the image pin sharp, then I'd put it down to my monitor and nothing else.

Regards
Nat

[mwphoto]

Re: Puffin Take Off

The image appears soft because of the 1/800 element - not quick enough to freeze the bird, even one that for a puffin is relatively stationary. So this is nothing more or less than motion blur. Years of frustration trying to photograph these birds in flight has told me that 1/2000 is a minimum - but of course given the light where Mike was photographing the bird that would have meant upping the ISO and possibly also gaining an extra stop by removing the TC! Lovely capture though - just one of those 'my God that's close but not quite shots' - if it was easy everyone would be doing it!!

[Nathaniel]

Re: Puffin Take Off

Thanks MWphoto. I am relieved that my monitor is not at fault and I also now understand the motion blur you have mentioned. I also note your advice re 1/2000 as a minimum- entered it in my photo advice notes before I visit some of the rocks/crags in North Wales, nearer to Holyhead. Numerous birds flying around there.

[mwphoto]

Re: Puffin Take Off

No worries Nat - flying birds are tricky at the best of times. Had a wee project last year where tried to get flight pictures of the birds around the feeders - noticed that the sparrow, goldfinch and chaffinch had an approach which involved a bit of hovering first, even if only briefly. Finally managed to get the shot I needed and that was taken at 1/4000 - even at 1/2500 the wings were still slightly blurred. As for flying puffins, I've got nothing sharp below 1/4000! By nearer to Holyhead do u mean around South Stack etc? Nice place (look out for the chough) I was first introduced to on a climb called Dream of White Horses and have been back a few times since (these days just with the camera - rock climbing is in the distant past). Hope it's productive for you.

Incidentally have a colleague in the States who'd been trying to photograph hummingbirds - with a DSLR it's impossible to freeze the wingbeat even at 1/8000 so he's had to use other approaches!

Cheers

Mark W

[Nathaniel]

Re: Puffin Take Off

Yes, around South Stack exactly. Thanks

Nat