How To Improve On A Reoccurring Subject? I've been very fortunate to have travelled to Newfoundland for the past three years. I will be catching the ferry on Sunday, to visit the...

Feiertag Loc: British Columbia, Canada

I've been very fortunate to have travelled to Newfoundland for the past three years. I will be catching the ferry on Sunday, to visit the Puffins.

I have taken hundreds of photos of these fascinating bird with some good result and some not so good!
Not that I am getting bored with them but I was wondering if you had any hints or tips that I should explore, to spice things up?

Harold

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Quixdraw Loc: x

Very nice imaged. Can't imaging getting bored with them - fascinating creature. My self challenge is to get a bright and shining eye in every bird shot. I will still take any interesting opportunity regardless, but that's my goal.

Fotoartist Loc: Detroit, Michigan

Do their eyes ever show catchlights?

Earnest Botello Loc: Hockley, Texas

Great captures, Harold.

Feiertag Loc: British Columbia, Canada

quixdraw wrote:

Very nice imaged. Can't imaging getting bored with them - fascinating creature. My self challenge is to get a bright and shining eye in every bird shot. I will still take any interesting opportunity regardless, but that's my goal.

Thank you for your kind comment.

Feiertag Loc: British Columbia, Canada

Fotoartist wrote:

Do their eyes ever show catchlights?

Good question! I have rarely been able to get catch-light in their eyes. I Google photos of the Puffin and did notice a handful with the light. They may have used a flash (which I never do) or PhotoShop them into the eye(s).

Feiertag Loc: British Columbia, Canada

Earnest Botello wrote:

Great captures, Harold.

Thank you Earnest.

Cwilson341 Loc: Central Florida

Just keep getting great shots like these two!

Haydon

Maybe bring a flash to create a catchlight when it's not available. To me animals and humans come to life when they are present. You can also use a flash for fill when you get have backlight opportunities.

Feiertag Loc: British Columbia, Canada

Cwilson341 wrote:

Just keep getting great shots like these two!

I'll try, Carol. Cheers.

Feiertag Loc: British Columbia, Canada

Haydon wrote:

Maybe bring a flash to create a catchlight when it's not available. To me animals and humans come to life when they are present. You can also use a flash for fill when you get have backlight opportunities.

Good tip. Thanks.

martinfisherphoto Loc: Lake Placid Florida

Excellent captures.. If your like me you soon get bored with the average shot. How many photos of One specific bird can you keep. Ask yourself what's the best photo of this bird you have and how can I take it to the next level. I'm sure you have seen other Puffin captures that out shine yours. A long exposure under starry skies, back light with a rising sun, a dozen small fish in their beaks. There always is, The Perfect Shot, at all levels. You just have to reach above the level your on now. You could spend a whole week shooting and only have a few keeper shots. If you take pride in your photography it's just natural for it to get Progressively Harder to Out Shine Yourself....... Have Fun, hope you meet your challenge.

Feiertag Loc: British Columbia, Canada

martinfisherphoto wrote:

Excellent captures.. If your like me you soon get ... (show quote)

Thank you for the delightful comment, Martin. I have seen many Atlantic Puffin captures that outshone my collect. Especially the ones that were photographed in Scotland. Their waters are filled with small fish called Sandeels. The Puffins are capable of holding a dozen or more in their beaks. Not so with the larger Capelin fish. Two or three would be a good average catch. I may travel to Scotland, next year to get the shot.

G Brown Loc: Sunny Bognor Regis West Sussex UK

Feiertag wrote:

I've been very fortunate to have travelled to Newfoundland for the past three years. I will be catching the ferry on Sunday, to visit the Puffins.

I have taken hundreds of photos of these fascinating bird with some good result and some not so good!
Not that I am getting bored with them but I was wondering if you had any hints or tips that I should explore, to spice things up?

Harold

As you have said to one post - google puffin images and see 'what' makes a particular image stand out (Or be outstanding) and attempt to recreate it.

There is the technical....and then there is 'that certain something' that makes one image 'better' than the rest for each individual......(You). So look at other people's images till you find one that makes you question 'HOW'.....

We can learn from other people's work without it being 'a copy'.

have fun

Photocraig

Try moving from "portraits" of photos of the birds themselves as subjects. Try telling a story about an aspect of their lives. Eating, sleeping gathering food/hunting, making shelter, interacting with chicks, mates and others, over different seasons, and times of the day.

The best wildlife photography comes from the life cycle study of these creatures. Not only does our ecology impact them but they impact their surroundings, also. Tell those stories, getting those stunning faces and marvelously sleek bodies in their natural context. Think Street photography or Social Condition or environmental portraits for inspiration.

Check out the work of Franz Lanting and Art Wolfe among others.

Your conscious conscience is telling you something. Get past those pretty faces and tell us something about the animal and the species.
C