36 8 June 2019 I http://www.amateurphotographer.co.uk I subscribe 0330 333 1113
Photo Insight
L
ocated less than a mile off the
Pembrokeshire coast, Skomer is
perhaps best known for the puffi n
colony that migrates to the island
for the breeding season between March and
April. It is a busy time for the puffi ns as they
ready their burrows to raise their young before
departing in mid-August back to the North
Sea and Bay of Biscay. With half of the UK
population at only a few sites, the puffi n is
on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species,
which is why Skomer is so very special and such
a unique wildlife habitat.
Given the fragile ecology of the island
managed by the Wildlife Trust of South and
West Wales, access is understandably limited
and closely monitored for the most part by
a team of dedicated volunteers. If you are
fortunate enough, you can stay overnight on the
island but accommodation is very limited and
typically fully booked months in advance. For
those less fortunate, you’ll face a hefty drive
from your home, a three-hour queue to ensure
you get a space on the small ferry and a healthy
degree of optimism in the hope it will sail at all,
as this is wholly dependent on the prevailing
weather conditions.
Because visitor numbers are carefully
managed, you are limited to around three hours
on the island, which can present a series of
unique challenges for the wildlife photographer.
Typically, this will be between 11am and 2pm
when the light is very harsh, so it really pays to
do your research beforehand to make the most
of the time you have on the island. I’ve been
fortunate enough to visit Skomer on several
occasions and always found the local wardens to
possess a wealth of information. It pays to listen
as not only will you be richly rewarded with a
detailed insight into some of the best locations
your subject typically frequents, but you
will also gain a better understanding of the
behaviour, mannerisms, patterns and habits
the puffi n is likely to exhibit.
Just spending time watching your subject as it
interacts with the environment can help as you
learn to anticipate behaviours, which can really
make the diff erence in that split second which
defi nes that signifi cant moment captured in
your image. To observe, wonder, photograph
and be utterly beguiled by the behaviour of
the puffi n is a privilege. However, as with all
wildlife, it should never be taken for granted
or interfered with when in its natural habitat.
The welfare of your subject must always be
paramount in your mind.
In this image, I had spent some time watching
this puffi n preen himself and was just intrigued
by the way he appeared to be shielding his body
from the harsh midday sun. I think the best
wildlife images tell a story or otherwise trigger
an emotion, and I felt that this image worked
as the viewer is drawn to the puffi n, which has
been isolated using a shallow depth of fi eld.
Positioning myself low and at the same
perspective as the subject has really helped
to build that connection.
The choice of crop to a 1:1 aspect ratio in the
fi nal image is a personal one and, although a
hotly debated topic among the photographic
community, there are no fi xed rules in my mind.
It is what suits the image and here my subject
is off set to the lower right quarter of the frame
creating a degree of negative space. As the
image was taken in a shaded area, the tonal
range was balanced for the time of day and what
work was done in post was limited to tweaking
the levels, together with some slight dodging
and burning. I also consciously chose to
desaturate the overall image. Again, I felt
that this added to the overall mood and
atmosphere of the frame in contrast to many
puffi n images, which commonly feature
strong colour and tonal range.Nick Hurst reveals the story behind his intimate shot
of a puffi n on Skomer Island and the importance of
getting to know your subject, writes Oliver Atwell
Seeking Shelter
By Nick Hurst
Nick Hurst
Nick Hurst is a Suffolk-based freelance
wildlife photographer and naturalist, who has
dedicated himself to ensuring that the wide
variety of British wildlife is seen in all its
diversity and under every season. You can visit
his website and see more of his images at
http://www.bearprintsphotography.info.Nikon D850, 200mm,
1/800sec at f/4, ISO 140