The Magic of Puffins: May Island

My photographic journey to Scotland began on the Isle of May, a seabird sanctuary in the Firth of Forth. The main objective: to capture images of the charismatic puffins, or puffins.

Upon landing on the island, I found myself immersed in a world teeming with avian life. The cliffs were dotted with the black and white of puffins, with their distinctive coloured beaks. The photographic challenge here was twofold: to capture the details of these birds in motion while contextualising them in their natural environment.

I spent hours crouching near the burrows, patiently waiting for the perfect moment. One particularly satisfying image was of a puffin returning to its burrow with its beak full of fish, illuminated by the warm light of sunset. The use of a 400mm f/5.6 telephoto lens allowed me to isolate the subject from the blurred background of the sea, creating an image with a strong visual impact.

Breathtaking scenery and avian life: Skye Island

The next stop took me to the Isle of Skye, famous for its dramatic landscapes and rich bird life. Here, landscape photography became the main focus, with the majestic Cuillin Hills providing a spectacular backdrop.

At dawn, I positioned myself at the Old Man of Storr, using a wide-angle lens to capture the grandeur of the rock formations against the blazing sky. The challenge here was to balance the exposure between the bright sky and the deep shadows of the terrain. The use of graduated filters helped me to manage this high contrast.

But Skye is not just landscapes. I had the opportunity to photograph white-tailed sea eagles in flight above the island’s lochs. These majestic birds of prey required all my skill in tracking fast moving subjects, pushing the autofocus capabilities of my equipment to the limit.

The kingdom of gannets: Bass Rock

The last leg of the trip took me to Bass Rock, an island in the Firth of Forth that is home to the largest colony of gannets in the world. As I approached by boat, the sight was breathtaking: the island appeared white from the density of the birds that populated it.

Photographing gannets presented unique challenges. Their bright white plumage against the dark background of the rocks created a high contrast, requiring careful handling of the exposure. I experimented with different techniques, from classic portrait images to more dynamic shots that captured the spectacular dives of these birds while fishing.

An unforgettable moment was when I managed to capture a sequence of a gannet diving into the water at over 100 km/h. The use of a camera capable of shooting at 20 fps allowed me not to miss a single moment of this lightning fast action.

Final reflections

This trip to Scotland offered me an extraordinary variety of subjects and landscapes to photograph. From the tenderness of puffins to the majesty of eagles, from the dramatic landscapes of Skye to the incredible spectacle of Bass Rock, each day brought new challenges and opportunities.

But beyond the images captured, I bring with me a renewed appreciation for the wild beauty of Scotland and the importance of preserving these unique habitats. I hope my photographs will inspire others not only to visit these wonderful places, but also to contribute to their conservation.

As I return home with my memory cards full and my heart filled with memories, I already know that Scotland will soon call me back for new photographic adventures.