HIGHLY COMMENDED CATEGORY ANIMAL PORTRAITS
Brian Matthews | Puff(in) Daddy

Name: Brian Matthews
Picture title: Puff(in) Daddy
Category: Animal Portraits
Nationality: UK
Occupation: Full-time photographer

Technical information
Camera: Canon EOS-1D X Mark III
Lens: Canon EF70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM Focal length: 95mm
EXIF: 1/800 sec, F5.6, ISO: 100
Accessories: Aquatech Underwater housing and port

Brian Matthews says:

Atlantic Puffins: Capturing Their Unique Farewell from UK Shores

Atlantic Puffins (Fratercula arctica) prepare to depart the coasts and islands of the UK in late July. Before they leave, these charismatic seabirds gather in vast “rafts,” sometimes numbering thousands. For the past four years, I’ve been traveling across the UK to document the wildlife that thrives along its coasts and islands as part of a major biodiversity, climate change, and education project.

Not far from my home lie the Farne Islands in Northumberland, northeast England, an internationally significant seabird breeding site hosting 100,000 puffins. The islands are one of my favorite places to visit. To capture a unique perspective, I had custom puffin decoys created and collaborated with local boat operator Billy Shiel. His son, Olly, took me out for early morning sessions, helping me immerse myself within the puffin rafts. The approach worked, allowing me to capture rare images of puffins in the North Sea, including this remarkable shot of a puffin perched atop a wave.

Protecting the waters surrounding these islands is vital for the survival of puffins and other seabirds. Recently, the UK implemented a ban on industrial sandeel fishing, a move aimed at balancing the needs of marine wildlife and the fishing industry. Over the next decade, we’ll discover whether this decision helps ease the challenges these remarkable birds face, particularly as they contend with rising sea temperatures caused by climate change.