How to Photograph Puffins on the Isle of Lunga

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11 ай бұрын

Welcome to my exciting adventure on the enchanting Isle of Lunga, home to one of the most mesmerising seabird colonies in the world! In this captivating KZfaq video, I take you on a journey to discover the secret world of puffins and share invaluable tips and techniques for capturing stunning photographs of these charming creatures.
Join me as I embark on a thrilling wildlife photography expedition, where I explore the rugged beauty of the Isle of Lunga, located off the western coast of Scotland. As I set foot on this remote island, you'll immediately be captivated by its dramatic cliffs, breathtaking seascapes, and the cacophony of birdcalls that fill the air.
I will guide you through the intricacies of photographing puffins, known as "clowns of the sea" for their distinctive appearance and playful behaviour. Learn how to approach these adorable seabirds respectfully and observe their natural habitat without causing any disturbance. Discover the best camera settings, lenses, and equipment for capturing their vibrant plumage, distinctive beaks, and endearing expressions up close.
With my knowledge, I'll reveal the prime locations and viewpoints on the Isle of Lunga, where you can position yourself to capture the perfect shot. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced photographer, I'll provide valuable insights on composition, lighting, and timing to help you create breathtaking images that truly encapsulate the essence of these charismatic birds.
Immerse yourself in the awe-inspiring sights and sounds of the puffin colony as they dive into the crystal-clear waters, tirelessly gather food for their chicks, and interact with their puffin mates.
Join me on this unforgettable journey to the Isle of Lunga, where the magic of wildlife photography comes alive. Unleash your creativity and learn to capture the charm and essence of puffins in their natural habitat. Prepare to be inspired, educated, and moved by the incredible beauty of these endearing seabirds.
Don't forget to subscribe to my channel and hit the notification bell to stay updated with more incredible wildlife photography adventures. Get ready to embark on an extraordinary voyage of discovery as I teach you how to photograph puffins on the mesmerising Isle of Lunga!

Пікірлер: 83

@bobhart6160 11 ай бұрын

Another great film. I’m going to have to stop watching your films Dan as I now need to go to so many of the places you’ve shown. Those sea parrots are entertaining and so photogenic.

@danwillis_photography 11 ай бұрын

Thanks very much Bob. I started the channel as lots of people ask about how and where I get my photographs, so if it inspires people to visit the places I show that the best compliment. All the best 👍🏻

@davehodgkiss 10 ай бұрын

A really nice film Dan they are amazing birds and you produced some superb images and video regards Dave

@danwillis_photography 10 ай бұрын

Thanks Dave, appreciate your comment and support it’s much appreciated 👍🏻

@brucecrossan2284 10 ай бұрын

Another great video - thanks Dan

@danwillis_photography 10 ай бұрын

My absolute pleasure, thank you very much for your comment 👍🏻

@relichunter7984 11 ай бұрын

Great video Dan, a place I'd love to visit. Thanks for sharing

@danwillis_photography 11 ай бұрын

Thanks very much, I can definitely recommend it such a fabulous island 👍🏻

@adelacour 2 ай бұрын

Cant wait to give it a go. I love Scotland and the western Isles. Your videos are inspiring. Thank you.

@danwillis_photography 2 ай бұрын

Thanks very much that’s a great comment to read. Lunga is a wonderful island, have a fantastic trip 👍🏻

@ScottRitchie-bw9ls Ай бұрын

I always like your vids Dan. Your enthusiasm and knowledge shine through. I'm off to Isle of May and then Lunga this month. I can't wait!

@danwillis_photography Ай бұрын

Thanks Scott, have an awesome trip Lunga is an amazing island. All the best mate 👍🏻

@ScottRitchie-bw9ls 6 күн бұрын

@@danwillis_photography Hi Dan: I had a marvellous time. I used your video in my planning, and it was a great resource! I had great weather: high thin overcast, no rain, light winds. The bluebells were out, great puffin portraits. Even got shags having a shag. I've written the day up for our birding newsletter, and will cite this video.

@marchumphreyphotography 11 ай бұрын

Fantastic video Dan and some great tips for everyone visiting mull & lunga. Lovely photos mate and have to say some wonderful camera work from your "assistant" - keep it up buddy

@danwillis_photography 11 ай бұрын

Cheers Marc I appreciate that. I have to give her something to do on these trips 😂😂 thanks again mate 👍🏻

@ianwarren7815 11 ай бұрын

Went to Lunga at the beginning of June Dan, amazing place like you say. Great video as usual

@danwillis_photography 11 ай бұрын

Cheers Ian, appreciate it mate 👍🏻

@jamessnapsphotographylowes2236 11 ай бұрын

Lovely video of an amazing place! I am getting rather excited as I have just made a order for my new camera which will be the Nikon D850 and the Nikon 200-500 F5.6 VR lens!! I will for sure be ticking this location off the bucket list with my new upgraded camera setup 😊

@danwillis_photography 11 ай бұрын

The D850 is without doubt in my opinion the best DSLR on the planet and combined with the 200-500 you’ve got an incredible setup. Thanks for your comment it’s appreciated 👍🏻

@user-wo5cy4bb1h 14 күн бұрын

Hello Dan, I liked your video very much, thank you, for sharing with us I think the weather is very clear there and the light is very harsh. I planned to go there in June to photograph the puffins weather make me uncomfortable 😊

@danwillis_photography 12 күн бұрын

Thanks very much I appreciate it. The lighting was incredibly harsh and made photographing the puffins a real challenge. Unfortunately you cannot stay on the island to experience golden hour and great lighting conditions. Hope you have a great trip 👍🏻

@keithgrafton5006 11 ай бұрын

Really enjoyed that Dan- I'm going next week so I cant wait to get there after seeing your video.Ive now got a better idea of which lenses to take - thanks.

@danwillis_photography 11 ай бұрын

Thanks very much for your comment Keith, I think you will have an even better experience as the pufflings will have hatched now so the adults will be bringing in sandeels to feed them giving that classic shot of the puffin with bill filled with eels 👍🏻

@antonoat 11 ай бұрын

Tremendous film Dan, that is a very special place, will add it to our bucket list! Great film and photos, thanks for sharing it all with us! Cheers.

@danwillis_photography 11 ай бұрын

Thanks very much for your comment I really do appreciate it when my videos inspire people to visit places. All the best 👍🏻

@paulliversage4479 11 ай бұрын

Hi Dan..greak video and great memories...we did that trip 2nd week in May...got some great shots(for me with z6ii and 100-400mmS...as someone alse said.was there a little too early and the the puffins weren't feeding their young yet

@danwillis_photography 11 ай бұрын

Thanks for your comment Paul, glad you also had a great trip. I know what you mean about timing but I also think before the egg hatches the puffins are a little more relaxed and interact with one another more. Once the egg hatches it’s busy busy busy 😂 All the best

@jeanlouis83 11 ай бұрын

Hello Dan congratulations to your wife for her translation have a good journey

@aaronslack1 11 ай бұрын

Looking forward to seeing this video Dan, I was on Lunga yesterday, the 500pf served me well.

@danwillis_photography 11 ай бұрын

It’s an incredible island and the 500pf is an incredible lens so I would imagine the combination is 👌🏻

@johngunning2123 2 ай бұрын

Fantastic! (very jealous). Are the Puffins there all year round ?

@danwillis_photography 2 ай бұрын

Thanks John, Lunga was an incredible place to visit. Unfortunately the Puffins only come into land to breed and spend the rest of their lives out on the ocean 👍🏻

@CxldSnow 5 күн бұрын

Hiya, if you're wondering - puffins normally come in between april and may and go back to sea around august - September. 😀

@jeanlouis83 11 ай бұрын

bONJOUR JOLIE REPORTAGE ET LE PREMIER MACAREUX EN VOL EST EXTRAORDINAIRE

@danwillis_photography 11 ай бұрын

merci pour votre commentaire et votre soutien continu. J'aime recevoir votre commentaire car ma femme traduit pour moi avec son français de l'école 😂. Tous mes vœux

@Bird_in_camera 8 ай бұрын

Great video Dan, being that close to Puffins just makes it more inviting to go there. Alas, most of my trips are nearly booked up for next year, so looks like 2025. Good use of snapbridge to get those closer shots, just wondering will you cover the Z9 new autocapture

@danwillis_photography 8 ай бұрын

Thanks very much, sounds like you’ve got a very busy schedule for next year. The autocapture was launched a week after I returned from this trip and would’ve been a fantastic addition to this type of photography. I will definitely be producing a video on it in the future. Cheers 👍🏻

@andywhiteside16 11 ай бұрын

What a fantastic video of such a beautiful little bird

@danwillis_photography 11 ай бұрын

Thanks very much Andy I really appreciate your comment and continued support. I have to agree with you that they really are a beautiful little bird 👍🏻

@owenparker4120 11 ай бұрын

Fantastic Dan, and thank you for your valuable information and recommendations. 👍

@danwillis_photography 11 ай бұрын

Thanks very much Owen, appreciate it 👍🏻

@ScottRitchie-bw9ls 9 ай бұрын

That was wonderful! I hope to go there in the next year. Your remote wide angle images ...what a great approach. But all the images were grand. And advice welcomed.

@danwillis_photography 9 ай бұрын

Thanks very much Scott, glad you enjoyed the video. All the best 👍🏻

@markclayton5139 11 ай бұрын

Hi Dan , great videos I was on Mull last week, unusually hot and hazy sunshine, if you go to Lunga next time book the big bird photography trip as they drop you off on island for 4 hours, also gives you time to travel to end of island where harp rock is, lot more different types of sea birds and puffins of course lol, and I’d wind is right great for getting birds coming in . I am Nikon and now have z8 which is game changer to previous bodies 👍

@danwillis_photography 11 ай бұрын

Thanks very much for your comment Mark, the Z8 looks like a fantastic camera. This was actually the 4 hour on the island trip and I’m glad we took it, the 4 hours passed in a flash 👍🏻

@twitcherspictures 11 ай бұрын

Yet another brilliant video Dan. Great advice about eye level photos. My problem is not getting down to eye level but getting back up again. Oh and guess what ? Another for our bucket list :D

@danwillis_photography 11 ай бұрын

Thanks guys, really appreciate your comment and continued support. A few people have commented about the getting back up part of ‘getting low’ it’s got me thinking about a future video 🤔🤔 Glad it’s made the bucket list, always my aim 😂

@mk_wildlifephotography 11 ай бұрын

Some brilliant images and goood advice given. Great video.

@danwillis_photography 11 ай бұрын

Thanks very much for your comment and support it’s really appreciated 👍🏻

@seandavis6458 11 ай бұрын

Great video. They are on my bucket list for next year.

@danwillis_photography 11 ай бұрын

Thanks Sean, I appreciate your comment and support. I’m glad they’re on your bucket list, couldn’t recommend them enough 👍🏻

@nikonid80 11 ай бұрын

My favourite place to go to every year, I won't make this year unfortunately but defo next year, I have been to lots of Islands for puffins but Lunga is totally different and the best. I used to take people 8 times every year before Covid, I will be starting again next year. fantastic video again Dan, I really enjoy your trips and feel like I aim there too 🙂

@danwillis_photography 11 ай бұрын

Thanks very much for your comment especially the final line as that really was the aim of my videos. All the best with your trips I hope you get them back running again and hopefully we will cross paths in the future 👍🏻

@victorlim5077 11 ай бұрын

Cracking images, Dan. Great video.

@danwillis_photography 11 ай бұрын

Thanks very much Victor 👍🏻

@ianwilsonwildlifephotography 11 ай бұрын

Fabulous stuff as usual Dan. What a place Lunga is! We went to Mull 2 years ago and I fell in love with the place but didn’t get over to Lunga. Defo hoping to return to Mull in the not too distant and will defo look at a trip to Lunga as well. 👍😀

@danwillis_photography 11 ай бұрын

Thanks Ian, it really is a special place. We try to visit 2-3 times a year and have been doing for a while now. Every time we go we find something new about the island. All the best 👍🏻

@Capcity44 11 ай бұрын

Great work, Dan! As always entertaining and awesome photography

@danwillis_photography 11 ай бұрын

Thanks very much, I really appreciate your comments and continued support 👍🏻

@carlsadventures2361 11 ай бұрын

great video Dan i went to Mull earlier in may and i loved lunga and its nice to see the Bluebells still out

@danwillis_photography 11 ай бұрын

Thanks very much Carl, hope you had a great trip 👍🏻

@andywilson3381 11 ай бұрын

Brilliant video Dan as per usual, I normally go to Skomer for the puffins, but this place looks amazing I’ll have to change my dates next year to add this for when I’m on Mull I’m off to Mull in September again, like you say it’s a very special place

@danwillis_photography 11 ай бұрын

Couldn’t agree with you more Andy it’s my favourite place in the world. Thanks for your comment and continued support mate it’s appreciated 👍🏻

@jgreg82 11 ай бұрын

Great work Dan. This has been my fav video of yours so far. Love lunga, we went a couple years ago and been trying to return this year but it’s a game booking mull. Going to do a trip next summer to mull now instead 🤞🏼. Keep up the good work mate 👍🏼

@danwillis_photography 11 ай бұрын

Thanks very much James I really appreciate your comment. I know what you mean about it being a game, we had to cut this trip short due to cancelled ferries 🤦🏻‍♂️ all the best for future trips 👍🏻

@gregpatterson134 11 ай бұрын

Great video and still shots. We were just out at Bass Rock on the east coast and have the Puffin bug now. We plan to come back next year and try lunga on handa island. Ever been to Handa in the far northwest? Also, what camera gear are you using? Thanks,

@danwillis_photography 11 ай бұрын

Thanks very much for your comment. Not been to Bass Rock but it’s a place I intend on visiting. We haven’t been to Handa either, we visit Mull several times a year so Lunga has always been on our radar and I can thoroughly recommend it. Camera gear wise I’m using a Nikon Z9, Nikon 500mm f4G, Nikon Z70-200 f2.8, Nikon Z24-70 f4. Hope that answers your questions, all the best

@gregpatterson134 11 ай бұрын

@@danwillis_photography thanks for the kind reply. I'll def subscribe and be looking forward to your videos and shooting advice. I'm still learning but got hooked on sea birds on this latest trip. I live in north Georgia in the US above Atlanta, so good deep woods but I find open skies and coast areas much more enjoyable to shoot and Scotland was mind blowing great for travel and photography. Hope to be back there soon. Thanks

@danwillis_photography 11 ай бұрын

@@gregpatterson134 thanks very much Greg, the area you live in sounds incredible. Thank you for the sub it’s most appreciated 👍🏻

@dcurleyifa 11 ай бұрын

Great video only point I would make is you visited too early another month and the adult Puffins would be feeding the Pufflings so Sandeels in the mouth shots would be the go to shot to take. Only problem then the Bluebells would have gone over so it’s a balancing act. Love the shots you took .

@danwillis_photography 11 ай бұрын

Thanks very much. Your point about timing is absolutely spot on, unfortunately I’m a school teacher and so holidays are set dates (we get plenty of them so I’m not complaining but unfortunately we cannot choose when). I would love to return once they are feeding young as the sandeels in the bill is definitely the shot! Thanks for your continued support 👍🏻

@Bird_in_camera 8 ай бұрын

Where did you get the boat from, how long did it take. Not got good sea legs but a short trip i can hang out from.

@danwillis_photography 8 ай бұрын

I got the boat from the Ulva Ferry dock on Mull. It’s quite a long boat trip, around 45 minutes if memory serves me right.

@gregpatterson134 11 ай бұрын

What was the actual date you were at Lunga?

@danwillis_photography 11 ай бұрын

It was Monday the 29th of May 👍🏻

@PeterLewis21 10 ай бұрын

What date did you go there? I ask because i see Bluebells

@danwillis_photography 10 ай бұрын

This was the 29th of May, good for the bluebells but too early for the shots with Puffins with sandeels in their bill 👍🏻

@PeterLewis21 10 ай бұрын

@@danwillis_photography thanks for that went to Lunga years ago camped on the Island for 1 night.

@danwillis_photography 10 ай бұрын

@@PeterLewis21 oh wow, I would love to camp on the island it would be incredible 🤩

@PeterLewis21 10 ай бұрын

@@danwillis_photography it was never got no sleep through, the seals kept me up all night. The only negative i did it in the film days, love to do now with digital. I had to get special permission to camp there, you can't just turn up with a Tent. I have found on all the Seabird islands you have to try to stay over night, because on all these Islands you are usually dropped of, when the sun is very harsh, like for example the Farne Islands. The first Island i think its Staple Island with the Puffins and Guillemots the light is terrible. But those were the days when i could make money from selling my pictures, you can't make money anymore selling pictures, if i make trip up to Lunga the whole trip is made at a loss, with no chance of getting that money back. Its gone from thousands for 1 picture to 25 cents.

@danwillis_photography 10 ай бұрын

@@PeterLewis21 how did you get the permission, if you don’t mind me asking?