Atlantic Puffin 18

Yesterday, I spent 6 hours editing, processing, keywording, and sizing my Atlantic puffin photographs for the web.  As busy as my summer is, I am not going to finish processing the rest of my Iceland trip any time soon.  This is one of my favorites.  I like how the puffin’s breast is pointing forward with the orange bokeh from the sunset illuminating the cliff.  I always preach that the most important part of a great wildlife image is not the subject, but what is going on behind it.  Clean, simple background like cliffs and mountains in the distance yield the best results.  I created this image with my Canon 7D and 400mm f4 DO IS lens on a Gitzo GT2931 tripod with an Acratech Ultimate ballhead and Wimberley Sidekick.