Puffins on Lunga | Bird Photography | Gear Selection & Tips

[@EspenHelland]

To see all the photos and settings check out my blog: www.espenhelland.com/wildlife-photography-blog/photographing-puffins-lunga

[@BrentHall]

Struggling with harsh light, you say?🤔... welcome to my world, 😅😆😭🏜🫠 Seriously cool shots though!

[@EspenHelland]

Cheers Brent!

[@teresafuhrmeister4202]

Loved this video! Great music choices too 🙂 Thank you for making these amazing and informative videos. I absolutely love photographing with my OM gear.

[@EspenHelland]

Thank you 🙂

[@TheSannaeriksson]

Amazing pictures, and those eyes! The green eyes, wow! Love puffins, they are so cute ❤

[@EspenHelland]

Thank you 🙂

[@gregpatterson134]

Espen, I love the video! I took your advice last week while in Scotland and got some great sea bird experience and shots at Bass Rock. I'm definitely hooked and already trying to look to next year at Lunga or other Puffin locations. I had a great experience in Glen Etive and around Glencoe but didn't find any dippers. Like you said, they are tough to find and I needed more time. But, great experiences everywhere and definitely will be back. Thanks for all the helpful advice. As a plus, the midges were not bad, I think the heat last week helped subdue their presence. Thanks for sharing a great experience at Lunga.

[@EspenHelland]

Thanks Greg! Great to hear you had a good time in Scotland, and that the midges weren’t to bad, they can really ruin a trip!

[@ronaldbuitendijkfotografie]

Epic trip and great shots even though the light was harsh. The shots of the European shag are absolutely insane

[@EspenHelland]

Thank you very much 🙂

[@muddywalters]

That looks to have been quite an experience - thanks for sharing. Great video Espen👌🏻

[@EspenHelland]

Thanks a lot 🙂

[@brianlemke6017]

8:16. Beautiful shot. Plus too many puffin portraits to mention. Great session. Thanks for the lens recaps at the end. I’m thinking of getting the 40-150mm 2.8 and, for travel, the 12-100mm f/4. Totally agree with you on the OM1 + 150-400 4.5 kit. I got it last summer, not wanting to upgrade my Nikon Z6ii and D850 to the Z9. Even though the D850 + 500mm 5.6 pf is a great all round camera and birding combo, when I started with the Oly gear I was simply blown away. I get shots with it I simply couldn’t catch before. Recently, I bought a Z8 for all my Nikon glass and, even though it’s a terrific camera and with the Z9 finally catches Nikon up on mirrorless, it still can’t match the OM1.

[@EspenHelland]

Thanks a lot Brian! Yeah both those lenses are really good, the 12-100 is so versatile. Great to hear you’re happy with the gear, sounds like you have a lot to pick from 😉

[@paulinefollett3099]

I adore Puffins so I found your video breathtaking. Your images were so fantastic. Thanks for taking us with you to this lovely part of the world.

[@EspenHelland]

Thank you Pauline :)

[@joetag5429]

Outstanding images! Great work Espen. Thanks for bringing us along.

[@EspenHelland]

Thanks a lot Joe 🙂

[@raytaylor3090]

Some awesome shots there Espen, looked a great place to visit. Im off to Bempton Cliffs this week so hope to see the puffins there.

[@EspenHelland]

Thanks Ray 🙂 best of luck at Bempton!

[@arpadszabo6170]

Congrats on the nice trip. I was there 3 years ago, thankfully it was overcast with a slight drizzle. It's nice in early may, when you get the blooming purple flowers.

[@EspenHelland]

Sounds amazing! I’ll have to go back 🙂

[@dbanniste]

I was there in July , I like your comments regarding getting to close and disturbing the Birds ….I saw a few bad examples whilst there. The Pufins are very close and comfortable but some people just have to push it 😡 cracking photos and excellent editing 👍

[@EspenHelland]

Thanks a lot 🙂

[@nknahakata]

@espenhelland The wooden grip you got there looks nice. is it selfmade or did you buy it somwhere? :)

[@EspenHelland]

I love it! It was a gift. I left an email for how to get one in the comments of the camper van video to Mull I recently made.

[@DLD_Photography]

I love that 150 - 400 lens. When I bought mine, it took a year to get it.

[@tr3v87]

Great work! Got a bit of kit envy if I'm honest. Would love to try the OM1 and 150-400.

[@EspenHelland]

It’s a bit of a beast 🙂

[@tigermike111]

Wonderful pics! Question: what is the wooden grip your using with the 150-400?

[@EspenHelland]

Thank you 🙂 it was a gift - I left the email if your interested in getting one in a comment on the Isle of Mull camping video

[@CamillaI]

A 70-200 would do and a wide angle I had an hour with them on Staffa. Lunga looks amazing so close . Video in the sunshine minus two stops I guess . Happy days some great shots there Espen 👍

[@EspenHelland]

Thanks a lot 🙂

[@alaskalonghunters2990]

Great video Espen. Fun to see you and gear in action! Mark

[@EspenHelland]

Thanks a lot Mark!

[@karenarden3266]

These were wonderful shots and just loved video!! Thanks for sharing!!

[@EspenHelland]

Thanks so much Karen 🙂

[@spencergiles72]

What is that wood grip you have on the 150-400? Looks awesome for hand holding!

[@EspenHelland]

It was a gift, it’s really good for handholding 🙂 I posted the email to the guy who makes them in the Isle of Mull camping video I did a few months ago.

[@WildlifePhotographerUK]

It's an amazing place Espen I agree, and yes breathtaking and incredible at how close you can get to the puffins, I could have laid on that grass all day and then some, hope you had a great trip, I loved it so much I am back there next week 😁😅, this time with my wife as I am sure she is going to love it. Great vid, keep it up 👍

[@EspenHelland]

Nice one! Enjoy 🙂

[@CheikoSairin]

I think it's fun to follow your birding adventure. The photos from the OM-1 camera are also very beautiful. Big like from me 👍

[@EspenHelland]

Thanks a lot 🙂

[@felixifloresrodriquez3306]

Espen are you planning to visit this location next year? When would you recommend to visit the island?

[@EspenHelland]

Might do, I think the birds start arriving in April not sure when the best time is though.

[@nznaturephotography]

Nice video. What is the name of that vest you are wearing with the camera attachment?

[@EspenHelland]

Thanks, it’s a cotton carrier harness

[@narinthip3058]

Great content as always Espen with load of cracking images! This is one of my top 5 places to go photography. So far I knocked one down so 4 more places to go :-). Hopefully I get my chance at this amazing island soon. Anyhow, I really appreciate your insightful about FLs lens choices. Cheers.

[@EspenHelland]

Thanks a lot Narin! Good to have a list like that 🙂

[@ScottRitchie-bw9ls]

that was great! Great shots despite the bad light.

[@EspenHelland]

Thanks a lot 🙂

[@tonimakinen4723]

About pictures everything has already been said ( great ), but I must say that the music was perfect.🙂

[@EspenHelland]

Thanks a lot 🙂

[@foto-spective]

Beautiful photos and such a beautiful place. Definitely on my list of places I want to visit.

[@EspenHelland]

Thank you 🙂

[@dust1415]

Now I'm moving up to Scotland this is on my list to do for next year

[@bamsemh1]

The Faroe Islands is also good 😊 just like Scotland, but without natural trees 😊

[@TerryD23]

What a great trip! Awesome photos thx for sharing. Do you still use the 300/4 much after getting the 150-400? (Thinking of selling my 300/4 to raise some cash for the 150-400.)

[@EspenHelland]

Thanks! I sold mine after I bought the 150-400 to justify the cost. I wish I could have kept it for when I wanted to travel more lightweight though.

[@bamsemh1]

I'm going to the Faroe Islands next week and probably all juli 😊 om-1 with oly 100-400mm f5-6.3 and oly tg-6 will be my weapon 💪 but I'm not going to mykines though, too expensive and flooded with tourists 😬 staying in Nólsoy for the birds 😊 have you been there? Or only in mykines? 😊

[@EspenHelland]

Not been there , would love to go one day! That’s a great setup as well, enjoy!

[@davdenic]

Hi your video comes very handy since in few weeks i'm going in Iceland and I will for sure photograph puffins and other birds in a scenario that really resemble that Lunga island. I will use the 8-25, 40-150 2.8 like you and 300 f4 plus mc20, mc14 since i don't own the 150-400. I was in doubt if I need the 300 but seeing your beautiful portraits I think I have to use it. I thought the 40-150 + mc20 could be enough but maybe I have to use the 300+mc20 or mc14 to have a similar reach, what do you think? Thanks

[@EspenHelland]

Yeah definitely bring the 300 with the 1.4x, I love that combo, used to be my main gear. I’ve not used the 2x on it so don’t know, would give you amazing reach if you need it though.

[@bobhandal]

awesome video, thanks. What dates did you go? what dates are best ?

[@EspenHelland]

I was there beginning of June, not sure when is best. Someone mentioned May was good with colourful flowers.

[@richardfink7666]

Hello, very nice video. I have one question: How big do you think the chances are for a future 50-200/2.8?

[@EspenHelland]

Thank you 🙂 no idea, is that on the table? I’d rather have a 300 f/2.8

[@richardfink7666]

@@EspenHelland It`s a rumor and it`s supposed to come in the fall!? I would blindly buy a 300/2.8!

[@richardfink7666]

....aAnd/or 70-250/4.0

[@catherinetremerryn]

Incredible pictures, absolute masterpieces. Thank you for the recovery tip - I did something similar with some usually butterflies. :(. Fingers crossed!

[@EspenHelland]

Thank you so much Catherine 🙂

[@sabyasachibanerjee124]

Nice video in Puffin land!

[@EspenHelland]

Thank you 🙂

[@brianstark3578]

Great stuff as always. Pity no sand eels.

[@EspenHelland]

Thanks Brian 🙂

[@uscameloptics]

Awesome video!!Great shots

[@EspenHelland]

Thank you 🙂

[@phillongshaw8334]

Have you been to Skomer Island? You must try if you haven’t

[@EspenHelland]

I want to!! Next 🤞

[@phillongshaw8334]

Hope to see you there🍺

[@Richard-c6u1i]

Definitely a face for behind the camera. 😉

[@samwang5831]

Puffins don't seem to fly a lot. They are nice looking and the pics are great.

[@EspenHelland]

Thank you 🙂

[@jabonaelwuo9703]

Man... Those trips...They are every day?

[@dcurleyifa]

Yes try Turas Mara boat

[@jabonaelwuo9703]

@@dcurleyifa I am asking in the context of crowds disturbing birds

[@dcurleyifa]

@@jabonaelwuo9703 only so many people are permitted to land on the island, but the birds are very tolerant of humans and in fact the Puffins are happy to use humans as shields against Gulls to get to their burrows with food 👍🏻

[@Verona175]

I wonder that to. And when he was walking right among the nesting Gannets really what are you doing. Whit all these long lenses. It is not ok to disturb wildlife for a picture.

[@mamumonkan]

.... hahaha again ... why the music when shooting :)

[@ВодкаПиво-е7м]

Cute money 85