Canonical URL: https://natureslens.co.uk/photograph/atlantic-puffin/ Species photography guide # Atlantic Puffin Photography Holidays *Fratercula arctica* Explore our Atlantic Puffin photography holidays in [Norway](https://natureslens.co.uk/discover/europe/norway/), [Fair Isle](https://natureslens.co.uk/specific-location/fair-isle/) in [Scotland](https://natureslens.co.uk/discover/europe/scotland/) & in [Iceland](https://natureslens.co.uk/discover/europe/iceland/), including [Akureyri](https://natureslens.co.uk/specific-location/akureyri/) & [Grímsey Island](https://natureslens.co.uk/specific-location/grimsey-island/), shaped around patient, repeatable field sessions with this species during the breeding season from late April to mid-August.Our small-group photography holidays prioritise time in the field, light, behaviour, positioning & repeatable photographic opportunities rather than rushed wildlife viewing. [View trips](https://natureslens.co.uk/photograph/atlantic-puffin/#nl-species-trips)[Where](https://natureslens.co.uk/photograph/atlantic-puffin/#nl-species-where)[Field notes](https://natureslens.co.uk/photograph/atlantic-puffin/#nl-species-field-notes)[Related species](https://natureslens.co.uk/photograph/atlantic-puffin/#nl-species-related) ![Atlantic Puffin photography holiday](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/A-resting-puffin-on-the-snow-photographed-by-Alison-Jenkins-who-will-be-leading-the-NaturesLens-Arctic-Wildlife-of-Varanger-photography-tour-1024x683.jpg) ## At a glance Trips6 associated holidays Where[Iceland](https://natureslens.co.uk/discover/europe/iceland/), [Norway](https://natureslens.co.uk/discover/europe/norway/) & [Scotland](https://natureslens.co.uk/discover/europe/scotland/) Led by[Alison Jenkins](https://natureslens.co.uk/about/alison/) & [Robin Lowry](https://natureslens.co.uk/about/robin/) Species profile ## About this species The Atlantic Puffin is a charismatic seabird known for its striking black & white plumage and brightly coloured orange & red bill, which becomes more vivid during the breeding season. It spends most of its life at sea, only coming ashore to breed in large colonies on coastal cliffs & grassy headlands. Despite its somewhat comical appearance, it is a highly capable diver, using its wings to propel itself underwater in pursuit of small fish such as sand eels. **Habitat** Atlantic Puffins inhabit open ocean for much of the year, coming ashore to breed on rocky coastal cliffs, offshore islands & grassy headlands. They nest in burrows dug into soft soil or within rock crevices, favouring locations close to rich feeding grounds in cold North Atlantic & Arctic waters. [Species background](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantic_puffin) Where to photograph ## Where our trips feature this species You can photograph Atlantic Puffin with us in [Iceland](https://natureslens.co.uk/discover/europe/iceland/), [Norway](https://natureslens.co.uk/discover/europe/norway/) & [Scotland](https://natureslens.co.uk/discover/europe/scotland/). These departures are part of our [Europe](https://natureslens.co.uk/discover/europe/) programme. In the field, [Alison Jenkins](https://natureslens.co.uk/about/alison/) & [Robin Lowry](https://natureslens.co.uk/about/robin/) helps guests make the most of these encounters. Field notes ## Photography notes **Best time** The best time to photograph Atlantic Puffins is during the breeding season from late April to mid-August, when they are present at their nesting colonies. Early morning & late evening offer the softest, most flattering light & the birds tend to be most active around their burrows at these times. **Approach** Position yourself low to the ground near a puffin burrow to achieve eye-level shots that create a more intimate & engaging perspective. Use a telephoto lens in the range of 300-500mm to maintain a respectful distance while still capturing sharp, detailed portraits of the bird. To freeze the rapid wingbeats of a puffin in flight, use a fast shutter speed of at least 1/2000s & continuous autofocus to track the subject. Connected wildlife ## Often seen on the same trips On the trips associated with this species, photographers may also encounter: [Black Guillemot](https://natureslens.co.uk/photograph/black-guillemot/)[Razorbill](https://natureslens.co.uk/photograph/razorbill/)[Arctic Skua](https://natureslens.co.uk/photograph/arctic-skua/)[Arctic Tern](https://natureslens.co.uk/photograph/arctic-tern/)[Black-legged Kittiwake](https://natureslens.co.uk/photograph/black-legged-kittiwake/)[Common Eider](https://natureslens.co.uk/photograph/common-eider/)[Common Guillemot](https://natureslens.co.uk/photograph/common-guillemot/)[European Shag](https://natureslens.co.uk/photograph/european-shag/)[Glaucous Gull](https://natureslens.co.uk/photograph/glaucous-gull/)[Great Skua](https://natureslens.co.uk/photograph/great-skua/) Available holidays ## Trips featuring Atlantic Puffin The holidays below are pulled from the same species relationship, so the guide stays tied to live departures rather than becoming a static article. #### Guide connection Alison Jenkins leads trips where guests have the chance to photograph Atlantic Puffin in the field. [Meet Alison](https://natureslens.co.uk/about/alison/) ![Winter Wildlife of Arctic Varanger](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/A-resting-puffin-on-the-snow-photographed-by-Alison-Jenkins-who-will-be-leading-the-NaturesLens-Arctic-Wildlife-of-Varanger-photography-tour-1024x683.jpg) #### Related holiday Winter Wildlife of Arctic Varanger gives guests time in Iceland, Norway & Scotland where Atlantic Puffin can be part of the day's wildlife encounters. [View trip](https://natureslens.co.uk/photography-holiday/norway/arctic-varanger-2027/) Route Destination Signature Destination Photographing Atlantic Puffins The Atlantic Puffin is one of the most photographed birds in the world, & with good reason: in breeding plumage, it is simply extraordinary. The bright orange-red, blue-grey, & yellow bill, the clown-like facial markings, & the upright, waddling posture on clifftop burrow entrances make it a natural photographic subject even for photographers who would not normally describe themselves as birders. What elevates puffin photography from casual to deeply satisfying is timing: a puffin landing at its burrow with a beak full of sand eels is one of the most challenging & most rewarding action shots in wildlife photography, requiring both technical precision & the patience to miss dozens before getting the frame right. The breeding season runs from late April to early August, with the peak period for bill-loads of fish typically falling in June & July when chicks are growing rapidly & adults are making dozens of fishing trips per day. Where NaturesLens Takes You Grímsey Island, Iceland’s only inhabited island north of the Arctic Circle, is our flagship puffin destination. Here the midnight sun means 24-hour photography opportunities throughout June, & puffins are present in their tens of thousands. The unique quality of Arctic midnight light – warm, horizontal, & endlessly golden – transforms what could be a standard seabird shot into something with genuine painterly depth. Fair Isle, in Scotland’s Shetland archipelago, offers a contrasting British context: a remote, low-lying island with one of the UK’s most significant puffin colonies, accessible via the world’s most remote inhabited post office. NaturesLens Fair Isle itineraries work cliff edges & burrow areas over multiple days, allowing different lighting conditions & more considered compositional approaches. Photography Technique & Gear The right lens range for puffin photography is wider than most people expect. At well-habituated burrow colonies, birds approach within 3-5 metres & a 300-400mm lens produces frame-filling images with workable minimum focusing distances. At 500mm or 600mm you may struggle to focus on birds standing right in front of you. For flight shots – birds incoming or departing with fish – 600mm gives the crop needed to fill the frame from further back. Use continuous burst shooting at the fastest frame rate your body supports for fish-delivery sequences; the decisive moment is when the bill is fully open with the prey visible. A fast minimum aperture (f/4 or f/5.6) is important for isolating individual birds from colony backgrounds. You can photograph the Atlantic Puffin in Iceland, Norway, & Scotland. During our photography holidays, the Atlantic Puffin is often photographed alongside Black Guillemot, Razorbill, Arctic Skua, Arctic Tern, Black-legged Kittiwake, & Common Eider. Photography themes commonly associated with this species include puffin photography, puffins, seabird, Arctic wildlife, fair-isle’s puffins, or scottish puffin photography. Single occupancy Group Size: 6-7 guests Experienced guidance 6 departures - [![Join Us For The Winter Wildlife of Arctic Varanger Photography Tour](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/A-resting-puffin-on-the-snow-photographed-by-Alison-Jenkins-who-will-be-leading-the-NaturesLens-Arctic-Wildlife-of-Varanger-photography-tour-1024x683.jpg)](https://natureslens.co.uk/photography-holiday/norway/arctic-varanger-2027/) Full ### 3rd - 9th Apr 2027 - Winter Wildlife of Arctic Varanger **Location:** Norway Join us in Norway for a winter wildlife photography holiday on the coastline of Arctic Varanger, during April 2027, focused on winter wildlife photography in frozen Arctic coastal landscapes. **6 nights** w. **Single occupancy** - **Full** Guided By **Alison Jenkins** [View Winter Wildlife of Arctic Varanger](https://natureslens.co.uk/photography-holiday/norway/arctic-varanger-2027/) - [![Join Us For The Atlantic Puffins of Fair Isle Photography Holiday](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/One-of-the-Puffins-of-Fair-Isle-flies-in-with-nesting-material-this-image-was-captured-during-the-NaturesLens-Atlantic-Puffins-of-Fair-Isle-photography-holiday-1024x683.jpg)](https://natureslens.co.uk/photography-holiday/scotland/atlantic-puffins-of-fair-isle-2027/) Full ### 12th - 17th Jun 2027 - Atlantic Puffins of Fair Isle **Location:** Scotland Travel to Scotland with us for a wildlife photography holiday, during June 2027, on Fair Isle, focused on close-range puffin photography during breeding season. **5 nights** w. **Single occupancy** - **Full** Guided By **Robin Lowry** [View Atlantic Puffins of Fair Isle](https://natureslens.co.uk/photography-holiday/scotland/atlantic-puffins-of-fair-isle-2027/) - [![Join Us For The Puffins of Iceland’s Grímsey Island Photography Holiday](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Photograph-the-puffins-of-Grimsey-Island-with-NaturesLens-in-2025-07-1024x683.jpg)](https://natureslens.co.uk/photography-holiday/iceland/puffins-of-iceland/) ### 28th Jun - 5th Jul 2027 - Puffins of Iceland’s Grímsey Island **Location:** Iceland Travel to Iceland with us for a wildlife photography holiday on Iceland's Grímsey Island, during June 2027, focused on Atlantic Puffins during the arctic summer. **7 nights** w. **Single occupancy** for **£2499** Guided By **Robin Lowry** [View Puffins of Iceland’s Grímsey Island](https://natureslens.co.uk/photography-holiday/iceland/puffins-of-iceland/) - [![Join Us For The Winter Wildlife of Arctic Varanger Photography Tour](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/A-resting-puffin-on-the-snow-photographed-by-Alison-Jenkins-who-will-be-leading-the-NaturesLens-Arctic-Wildlife-of-Varanger-photography-tour-1024x683.jpg)](https://natureslens.co.uk/photography-holiday/norway/arctic-varanger/) Launch Offer ### 1st - 7th Apr 2028 - Winter Wildlife of Arctic Varanger **Location:** Norway Join us in Norway for a winter wildlife photography holiday on the coastline of Arctic Varanger, during April 2028, focused on winter wildlife photography in frozen Arctic coastal landscapes. **6 nights** w. **Single occupancy** for **Was: £4249 Now: £3999** Guided By **Alison Jenkins** [View Winter Wildlife of Arctic Varanger](https://natureslens.co.uk/photography-holiday/norway/arctic-varanger/) - [![Join Us For The Atlantic Puffins of Fair Isle Photography Holiday](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/One-of-the-Puffins-of-Fair-Isle-flies-in-with-nesting-material-this-image-was-captured-during-the-NaturesLens-Atlantic-Puffins-of-Fair-Isle-photography-holiday-1024x683.jpg)](https://natureslens.co.uk/photography-holiday/scotland/atlantic-puffins-of-fair-isle/) ### 10th - 15th Jun 2028 - Atlantic Puffins of Fair Isle **Location:** Scotland Travel to Scotland with us for a wildlife photography holiday, during June 2028, on Fair Isle, focused on close-range puffin photography during breeding season. **5 nights** w. **Single occupancy** for **£2749** Guided By **Robin Lowry** [View Atlantic Puffins of Fair Isle](https://natureslens.co.uk/photography-holiday/scotland/atlantic-puffins-of-fair-isle/) - [![Join Us For The Puffins of Iceland’s Grímsey Island Photography Holiday](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Photograph-the-puffins-of-Grimsey-Island-with-NaturesLens-in-2025-07-1024x683.jpg)](https://natureslens.co.uk/photography-holiday/iceland/puffins-of-iceland-2028/) ### 3rd - 10th Jul 2028 - Puffins of Iceland’s Grímsey Island **Location:** Iceland Travel to Iceland for a June 2028 wildlife photography holiday on Grímsey Island, focused on Atlantic Puffins during the Arctic summer. **7 nights** w. **Single occupancy** for **£2899** Guided By **Robin Lowry** [View Puffins of Iceland’s Grímsey Island](https://natureslens.co.uk/photography-holiday/iceland/puffins-of-iceland-2028/) -