Encounter — Puffin Fine Art Print, Vik, Iceland

Puffins spend much of their lives out over the open sea, but during breeding season they nest along the rocky coastlines of the North Atlantic.  Iceland is home to around half of the world's puffins, and one puffin nesting colony sits on the cliffs of Dyrhólaey in Vik.

I took this puffin portrait late in the day, after the sun had dropped below the horizon.  I slowly approached the puffin on my hands and knees to avoid startling him, and also to prevent myself from falling off the edge of the cliff.  It was very quiet along the cliffside and I could hear the waves crashing on the black sand beach far below.  The strands of grass held dew drops from the quickly cooling temperature.  Alone with the puffin in the middle of the chilly night, I felt as though we were deeply connected.