You can happily work with anything from a 16mm wide angle to a 600mm+ to get frame fillers on Skomer, so take what you want.
A 400mm will do quite nicely for shooting puffins landing or floating on the cliff breezes. There is also plenty of room on the paths at the Wick for you to set up and shoot with a 400mm as you can get the puffins sitting at the top of the cliff.
The only other thing to consider is that there is a reasonable walk - between 10 and 20 minutes depending on fitness! - from the landing stage to the Wick (where the puffins are). So one of the main considerations would be the weight of your gear. If it looks like being a hot day, take plenty of water with you too.
If your gear isn't going over in a camera backpack/bag, then take a couple of bin bags with you to protect it against any sea-spray - and don't sit right at the very back of the boat
Brilliant advice Nick Gulp!! I think I will stay here at the Centre as I hate walking
Joking aside I think I will take a couple of Co-op bags & a monopod thingy if I can find one. For drinks I don't drink water its to healthy, I think I will take a flask full of me favourite substance Caffeen
Never been away before, I am starting to feel like I am going abroad
Might wear me shorts Maybe not
Sun Sea & Puffins
Thanks Nick for the advice on lenses & the walk & the back of the boat
I visited Skomer last year (brilliant place). I mainly used a 300mm with or without 1.4x TC with a Canon 20D (1.6x crop factor). I found this about right so I think your 400 will be fine (take a 1.4x TC as well).
Whilst the puffins do wander within a few feet of you the longer telephoto allows you to isolate single birds and throw the background nicely out of focus. Also for birds on the cliff edge a longer telephoto is needed, especially if you want those 'puffin on a rock with sea background' shots, or for flight shots.
Yes it is a bit of a yomp from the landing area to the Wick. I also walked around the entire island during my visit and the Wick was probably the best spot for photographs. You can get some good shots of the black backed gulls around the island, nesting or in flight. I also saw Chough and other birds but not close enough to photograph.
Would agree with all the advice so far. Puffins are difficult to expose well, so a lightly-overcast day may be best. A flash may be worth taking to fill in the shadows if the light is harsh, as, at The Wick (the main Puffin area), you will mainly be shooting into the light.
Look out for Peregrines at The Wick, too (one gave a flyover there when I was there once, giving frame-fillers with a 500mm). If you are going before the end of June, there should be Razorbills on the rocks by the landing stage. There are supposed to be Short-eared Owls regularly seen on the island, although I haven`t seen one myself. Plenty of reasonably approachable rabbits. Large colony of Lesser Black-backed Gulls, which will dive-bomb you. I found the headland opposite Skomer had more potential for Chough shots than the island itself. Also, if you don`t mind hanging about in public toilets, there are usually a couple of Swallow nests in the lavs at Martin`s Haven. People will give you some funny looks as you hang around the Gents with a big lens, but could yield a few decent shots of Swallows at the nest, perched on nearby buildings, or even in flight.
Good luck!
get to the boat early, perhaps an hour before departure as there can be long queues. My advice is to hotfoot straight to the Wick as it can get crowded and quite ridiculous with puffins trying to squeeze through the legs of bystanders to get sandeels to their offspring. This will give you time after to stroll around this heavenly island. Peter
Vincent...
I have just come back from a day on Skomer, all of the above will stand you ingood stead!! I took a 300mm2.8,plus 1.7tc, large extension tube, and a wide angle for any landscapes that you may want ,and there is plenty of opertunity to take them!!! The best bit of advice is to get to the departure at Martins Haven a good hour before you are booked, and watch the boats on the way back, every one is SUPPOSED!! to go back on the boat you came on, but on our day we got there in plenty of time time to catch our 3.30pm boat, and had to wait an hour as alot of people had decided to go back, and not got on their asigned boat.. But it is a wonderful place. and if you get a good day you will want to stay there for a week, talk to the warden we every one has gone off, as he will tell you just where to go to get the best pics, ENJOY!!!
Having been over to Skomer for the first time I found it to be a great experience but hard work.
Kit wise I took a small shoulder bag with smaller lenses & the 400mm AFS on a tripod. The bag was a complete waste of time & killed my shoulder. The 400mm was about right, the 600mm would of been better though. The walk around the island was OK but would of been better without the smaller kit bag. One thing learnt, if you are looking for bird shots leave the smaller kit at home lol.
Next year they have plans for over night stays on the island, this would be the time I would love to return back to the island, less visitors, sun in the right place & a great sunrise & a sunset. During the daytime I think I would give it a miss & leave that to the day trippers.
Great experience though & loads learnt about what to take next time.
Discussion
7 repliesWould it be a good idea to just take with me on a tripod a 400mm F2.8 with camera attached?
Because I have never been to Skomer are there places over there suitable if I was just to take the above with me?
I look forward to some professional guidance
You can happily work with anything from a 16mm wide angle to a 600mm+ to get frame fillers on Skomer, so take what you want.
A 400mm will do quite nicely for shooting puffins landing or floating on the cliff breezes. There is also plenty of room on the paths at the Wick for you to set up and shoot with a 400mm as you can get the puffins sitting at the top of the cliff.
The only other thing to consider is that there is a reasonable walk - between 10 and 20 minutes depending on fitness! - from the landing stage to the Wick (where the puffins are). So one of the main considerations would be the weight of your gear. If it looks like being a hot day, take plenty of water with you too.
If your gear isn't going over in a camera backpack/bag, then take a couple of bin bags with you to protect it against any sea-spray - and don't sit right at the very back of the boat
Have a good trip.
Joking aside I think I will take a couple of Co-op bags & a monopod thingy if I can find one. For drinks I don't drink water its to healthy, I think I will take a flask full of me favourite substance Caffeen
Never been away before, I am starting to feel like I am
Might wear me shorts
Thanks Nick for the advice on lenses & the walk & the back of the boat
I visited Skomer last year (brilliant place). I mainly used a 300mm with or without 1.4x TC with a Canon 20D (1.6x crop factor). I found this about right so I think your 400 will be fine (take a 1.4x TC as well).
Whilst the puffins do wander within a few feet of you the longer telephoto allows you to isolate single birds and throw the background nicely out of focus. Also for birds on the cliff edge a longer telephoto is needed, especially if you want those 'puffin on a rock with sea background' shots, or for flight shots.
Yes it is a bit of a yomp from the landing area to the Wick. I also walked around the entire island during my visit and the Wick was probably the best spot for photographs. You can get some good shots of the black backed gulls around the island, nesting or in flight. I also saw Chough and other birds but not close enough to photograph.
Enjoy your day out, Skomer is an fantastic place.
cheers
Sean
Look out for Peregrines at The Wick, too (one gave a flyover there when I was there once, giving frame-fillers with a 500mm). If you are going before the end of June, there should be Razorbills on the rocks by the landing stage. There are supposed to be Short-eared Owls regularly seen on the island, although I haven`t seen one myself. Plenty of reasonably approachable rabbits. Large colony of Lesser Black-backed Gulls, which will dive-bomb you. I found the headland opposite Skomer had more potential for Chough shots than the island itself. Also, if you don`t mind hanging about in public toilets, there are usually a couple of Swallow nests in the lavs at Martin`s Haven. People will give you some funny looks as you hang around the Gents with a big lens, but could yield a few decent shots of Swallows at the nest, perched on nearby buildings, or even in flight.
Good luck!
I have just come back from a day on Skomer, all of the above will stand you ingood stead!! I took a 300mm2.8,plus 1.7tc, large extension tube, and a wide angle for any landscapes that you may want ,and there is plenty of opertunity to take them!!! The best bit of advice is to get to the departure at Martins Haven a good hour before you are booked, and watch the boats on the way back, every one is SUPPOSED!! to go back on the boat you came on, but on our day we got there in plenty of time time to catch our 3.30pm boat, and had to wait an hour as alot of people had decided to go back, and not got on their asigned boat.. But it is a wonderful place. and if you get a good day you will want to stay there for a week, talk to the warden we every one has gone off, as he will tell you just where to go to get the best pics, ENJOY!!!
Kit wise I took a small shoulder bag with smaller lenses & the 400mm AFS on a tripod. The bag was a complete waste of time & killed my shoulder. The 400mm was about right, the 600mm would of been better though. The walk around the island was OK but would of been better without the smaller kit bag. One thing learnt, if you are looking for bird shots leave the smaller kit at home lol.
Next year they have plans for over night stays on the island, this would be the time I would love to return back to the island, less visitors, sun in the right place & a great sunrise & a sunset. During the daytime I think I would give it a miss & leave that to the day trippers.
Great experience though & loads learnt about what to take next time.