Photographing the Northern Fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis) of Iceland

Northern Fulmar Portrait , Fulmarus glacialis (Fulmar boréal) Látrabjarg, Iceland ©Christopher Dodds www.chrisdoddsphoto.com All Rights Reserved Canon EOS-1DsMKII, 300mm F2.8IS. ISO 400, 1/320s F5.6 Manual mode. Canon 550 EX Flash in manual mode. Tripod and Wimberley Head. CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE A PRINT OR LICENSE IMAGE FOR PUBLICATION.

Northern Fulmar Dorsal View , Fulmarus glacialis (Fulmar boréal) Látrabjarg, Iceland ©Christopher Dodds www.chrisdoddsphoto.com All Rights Reserved Canon EOS-1DsMKII, 300mm F2.8IS. ISO 250, 1/1000s F4.5 Manual mode. Canon 550 EX Flash in manual mode. Hand-held. CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE A PRINT OR LICENSE IMAGE FOR PUBLICATION.

Northern Fulmar on nest , Fulmarus glacialis (Fulmar boréal) Látrabjarg, Iceland ©Christopher Dodds www.chrisdoddsphoto.com All Rights Reserved Canon EOS-1DsMKII, 500mm F4IS. ISO 400, 1/800s F8 Manual mode. Canon 550 EX Flash in manual mode. Tripod and Wimberley Head. CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE A PRINT OR LICENSE IMAGE FOR PUBLICATION.

Northern Fulmar on cliff edge in rain , Fulmarus glacialis (Fulmar boréal) Látrabjarg, Iceland ©Christopher Dodds www.chrisdoddsphoto.com All Rights Reserved Canon EOS-1DsMKII, 300mm F2.8IS. ISO 250, 1/800s F2.8 Manual mode. Canon 550 EX Flash in manual mode. Tripod and Wimberley Head. CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE A PRINT OR LICENSE IMAGE FOR PUBLICATION.

Cool Northern Fulmar Facts:

  • The Northern Fulmar is one of the longest-lived birds. Data from one study indicate a mean adult life span of about 32 years. In Scotland, several Northern Fulmars banded as adults in 1951 were still breeding in 1990, at ages likely greater than 50 years.
  • The Northern Fulmar begins breeding at an exceptionally old age. Most do not breed until they are at least 8 to 10 years old; one study found an individual that started breeding at age 20.
  • The Northern Fulmar is well known among commercial fishermen for its avid scavenging of offal thrown from whaling and fishing boats.
  • The population of Northern Fulmars in the northeast Atlantic has dramatically increased over the past 250 years. Once only one colony was found in northern Iceland, and none off the Faeroes or the British Isles. Now hundreds of colonies exist across all the coasts of these islands. It is unclear whether this change has resulted from natural oceanographic changes, from increased food availability from fishing vessels, or from some other factor.
  • The Northern Fulmar can dive to a depth of at least 3 meters (10 feet).

LensFlare Live & NatureScapes Radio LIVE:

On Tuesday, April 6th, 2010, I was honoured to be the first invited guest on the new NatureScapes Radio Live. Hosted by LensFlare 35's very own Dave Warner, with Greg Downing and E.J. Peiker of NatureScapes.net. Be sure to give it a listen HERE:

Lens Envy

Atlantic Puffin (Fratercula arctica, Macareux moine, ATPU) Vertical PuffinScape latrabjarg, Iceland. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds www.chrisdoddsphoto.com All Rights Reserved. Canon EOS 1DsMKII, 17-40 F4 @21mm. 550EX Flash manual mode. ISO 250, F10 @1/250s Manual mode. CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE A PRINT or LICENSE IMAGE FOR PUBLICATION.

I hear it all the time: "I could make some great bird images, if only I had a 500mm Lens" or "wow, look at that lens, I bet you get some great shots with that".

There's nothing better than the resulting dramatic storm clouds from bad weather to add drama to a wide-angle image of a bird in it's environment, and I love being out in the rain or snow to increase my chances of creating  artistic images. The problem during a recent trip to Latrabjarg in Iceland was that the better part of the first half of the trip was plagued with very heavy rain and a featureless, dark and less than pleasing sky. I first visualized this image shortly after arriving, so I was ready the moment the clouds started to lift, and become more appealing. Pre-visualization and planning is key when conditions are likely to change.

TIP:

Think wide, think different and think environment. The lens of choice among bird photographers is the 500mm F4, but don't limit yourself to close-up "bird on a stick" images. The lens you choose is probably the single most important decision you make while trying to create unique images. While out in the field, I strive to capture compelling, artistic images of birds, often including the environment that my subject lives in and the weather they often endure. Try to step back and visualize unique, wide images that give a sense of place to your subject. I love being out in foul weather, and stormy clouds certainly add emotion to wide-angle captures. Some of my favorite bird images were made with the Canon 17-40mm F4 and the 16-35mm F2.8 Lenses.

To learn about my Deluxe Puffins Galore Photo Tour, CLICK HERE.