This image was shot wide and low – very nearly half-submerged low – from the Shetland Seabird Tours boat that operates beneath the 25,000-strong gannet colony at Noss, Shetland. While I’m usually on the boat in a guiding capacity, I do occasionally get the chance to shoot for myself, and this being one of the finest seabird spectacles in Europe, there is no shortage of superb photographic opportunities.
I wanted to frame the emerging gannets with the highest point of the cliff face towering above them. Composition was selected using the articulating screen while hanging over the side of the RIB and holding the camera body flat to the surface of the water to ensure a surface-level perspective.
You might say this is a risky strategy, as salt water and camera gear don’t mix, but I’d rather risk a repair job than miss an opportunity you might never get to capture again. I pre-focused on where I expected the birds to be diving (autofocus becomes pointless in a situation like this), held the composition as best I could and fired a rapid burst of shots. I also used an on-camera flash with an additional diffuser in an attempt to reach a low ISO and maintain as much detail as possible.
If you decide to try this trip for yourself, pack two camera bodies if you can, as you will need to switch between zoom and ultra-wide lenses throughout. Also, consider taking a flash and don’t be shy of the elements – just pack plenty of kitchen roll to wipe away the inevitable water droplets from your glass.