Atlantic Puffin (Fratercula arctica)
With its vividly coloured bill and compact silhouette, the Atlantic puffin is one of the most recognisable seabirds of the North Atlantic. During the breeding season it nests in burrows along steep coastal cliffs, returning from open ocean feeding grounds with small fish held crosswise in its beak. Agile underwater and highly social on land, the puffin embodies the dynamic life of northern seabird colonies. ©Bjørn Joachimsen.
Varanger in April is one of the best places in Europe to photograph puffins up close — with the added bonus of a full Arctic cast around you. The birdlife is intense, the landscapes feel raw and wild, and the light can shift from soft and calm to dramatic in minutes, giving you endless variety across the week. (Vardø, 13-19 April 2027.
During this 7-day workshop we base ourselves in Vardø and spend serious time at one of Europe's best bird photography locations, including the legendary seabird cliffs of Hornøya, floating hides where you photograph eiders at water level, and dedicated White-tailed Eagle hides set in open Varanger landscapes.
More information and registration: https://www.lanternamagicaphotography.com/puffin-arctic-wildlife-photography-workshop
Common Guillemot (Uria aalge)
The common guillemot breeds in dense colonies on sheer cliff faces, where each pair lays a single pear-shaped egg directly on bare rock. Streamlined and powerful underwater, it pursues fish with wing-propelled dives that can reach significant depths. Its upright posture and tightly packed nesting formations create a striking visual rhythm along the rugged North Atlantic coastline. ©Bjørn Joachimsen.
