Vito L Tanzi Photography

Vito L Tanzi Photography VITO L. TANZI

Travel Photographer. 75+ countries, 25+ years abroad, published in Condé Nast. I teach photography workshops and photo walks in Washington, DC.

All levels welcome.

The Puffin Chronicles, Post 12 of 12A little rain was never going to ruin the portrait.This puffin stood at the edge of ...
08/01/2026

The Puffin Chronicles, Post 12 of 12

A little rain was never going to ruin the portrait.

This puffin stood at the edge of the cliff with water collecting on its feathers, bright orange feet planted firmly, and the expression of someone who had already accepted Icelandic weather as a personal challenge.

Rain can be frustrating in wildlife photography, but it can also add atmosphere. The streaks of water give the frame movement, the wet feathers add texture, and the soft background keeps all the attention on the bird.

That is a fitting way to end this series.

Puffins are colorful, funny, fast, awkward, elegant, and far tougher than they look. Photographing them requires patience, quick reactions, and a willingness to keep shooting when the weather turns.

Which photograph from The Puffin Chronicles was your favorite?

The Puffin Chronicles, Post 11 of 12Main character energy.Standing at the edge of the cliff, wings open, ocean behind it...
08/01/2026

The Puffin Chronicles, Post 11 of 12

Main character energy.

Standing at the edge of the cliff, wings open, ocean behind it, this puffin looked ready to deliver an important speech to absolutely no one.

That is what I love about this frame. The bird is small in the composition, but it still commands the scene.

The open space matters here. It gives the puffin room to breathe and helps show the scale of its coastal world. Sometimes a wildlife photograph works better when you step back and let the habitat become part of the story.

A close portrait shows detail.

A wider frame shows belonging.

And this puffin clearly believed the entire cliff belonged to it.

The Puffin Chronicles, Post 10 of 12Some puffins bring the drama.This one brought the flowers.Perched among tiny pink bl...
08/01/2026

The Puffin Chronicles, Post 10 of 12

Some puffins bring the drama.

This one brought the flowers.

Perched among tiny pink blooms and brilliant green moss, it looked as though it had selected the most scenic spot on the entire cliff for its portrait.

And honestly, fair enough.

Wildlife photography becomes especially rewarding when the habitat adds to the story. The flowers soften the scene, the dark rock creates depth, and the puffin’s bright beak and orange feet pull everything together.

This is more than a bird portrait. It is a small glimpse of the wild coastal world puffins return to during breeding season.

Elegant, colorful, and just a little smug.

Which do you notice first, the puffin or the flowers?

The Puffin Chronicles, Post 9 of 12The dramatic finale.After raising its wings, holding the pose, and making sure everyo...
08/01/2026

The Puffin Chronicles, Post 9 of 12

The dramatic finale.

After raising its wings, holding the pose, and making sure everyone was watching, this puffin added one final flourish.

Head tilted. Wings extended. Maximum attitude.

It may have been stretching or shaking out its feathers, but puffins have a remarkable talent for turning ordinary behavior into performance art.

What makes this photograph work for me is the expression. The body says confidence. The face says complete indifference.

That combination feels very puffin.

Wildlife photography often comes down to staying with a moment a little longer. The first pose may be good. The next movement may tell the real story.

This one clearly knew how to finish strong.

The Puffin Chronicles, Post 8 of 12The puffin conductor has arrived.Wings raised, feet planted, serious expression. All ...
08/01/2026

The Puffin Chronicles, Post 8 of 12

The puffin conductor has arrived.

Wings raised, feet planted, serious expression. All that is missing is an orchestra and a tiny baton.

This is what makes puffins such irresistible photography subjects. Their movements often look oddly human, even when they are simply stretching, balancing, or preparing to move.

I especially like the symmetry here. The wings create a strong V shape, the bright orange feet anchor the frame, and the direct gaze gives the whole portrait a wonderfully confident attitude.

For one brief moment, this puffin looked less like a seabird and more like it was about to address the entire colony.

“Ladies and gentlemen, please settle down.”

What would you caption this pose?

The Puffin Chronicles, Post 7 of 12Every wildlife photographer knows this pose.The “I meant to do that” pose.This puffin...
08/01/2026

The Puffin Chronicles, Post 7 of 12

Every wildlife photographer knows this pose.

The “I meant to do that” pose.

This puffin had just finished a burst of movement, then stood with its wings spread as though it had completed a flawless performance for the crowd.

Puffins use their wings very differently depending on where they are. In the air, those short wings beat incredibly fast. Underwater, they work almost like flippers, helping the bird “fly” through the sea in pursuit of fish.

On land, however, the same wings can produce moments that look far more theatrical than aerodynamic.

I love this photograph because it shows personality, habitat, and movement in one frame. The open wings create energy, while the rocky coast in the background reminds us where these remarkable seabirds live.

Was this a stretch, a victory pose, or a puffin demanding applause?

The Puffin Chronicles, Post 6 of 12Incoming.One puffin is landing, one is watching, and one appears completely unaware t...
08/01/2026

The Puffin Chronicles, Post 6 of 12

Incoming.

One puffin is landing, one is watching, and one appears completely unaware that air traffic control has broken down.

Puffins may look polished when they are standing still, but landings tell a different story. Wings wide, feet forward, full commitment, very little elegance.

That is exactly what makes them so much fun to photograph.

For this image, I wanted more than a single bird in flight. The two puffins on the ground give the scene context and turn the photograph into a small story. You can almost imagine the reaction.

“Could you not land somewhere else?”

Wildlife photography gets more interesting when several things happen at once. The challenge is keeping your eye on the action while still watching the rest of the frame.

Would you call this a graceful landing or a controlled emergency?

The Puffin Chronicles, Post 5 of 12Not every puffin photograph comes from Iceland.I photographed this Atlantic puffin in...
08/01/2026

The Puffin Chronicles, Post 5 of 12

Not every puffin photograph comes from Iceland.

I photographed this Atlantic puffin in Cape Breton, tucked among the rocks and bathed in warm light.

The pose made me laugh. Head tilted back, chest out, standing as though it had just remembered it was the star of the entire colony.

Cape Breton offers a very different setting from the grassy cliffs of Iceland. Here, the rocks, shadows, and warmer tones create a more rugged portrait. The surroundings feel almost theatrical, with the puffin stepping into its own little spotlight.

Wildlife photography often rewards you for looking beyond the obvious. The bird matters, of course, but so does the habitat, the light, and the small gesture that gives the photograph its personality.

This one clearly understood the assignment.

Have you ever visited Cape Breton?

The Puffin Chronicles, Post 4 of 12A quiet moment on the puffin cliffs.These two looked as though they were sharing a pr...
08/01/2026

The Puffin Chronicles, Post 4 of 12

A quiet moment on the puffin cliffs.

These two looked as though they were sharing a private conversation, possibly about the weather, the neighbors, or who forgot to bring home dinner.

That is part of the joy of photographing puffins. One minute they are racing through the air at full speed. The next, they are tucked into the grass, leaning toward each other with surprising tenderness.

I photographed this scene from a low angle so the grass became part of the story. The soft foreground makes the moment feel more intimate, almost as though we are quietly watching from inside their little neighborhood.

Wildlife photography is not always about action. Sometimes the strongest photograph comes from waiting for a gesture, a glance, or a brief connection.

What do you think they were saying?

The Puffin Chronicles, Post 3 of 12Special delivery.This Atlantic puffin was flying back to its burrow with dinner firml...
08/01/2026

The Puffin Chronicles, Post 3 of 12

Special delivery.

This Atlantic puffin was flying back to its burrow with dinner firmly secured. Puffins can carry several small fish at once, thanks to backward facing spines inside their mouths that help hold the catch in place.

Very practical.

Also slightly unfair to every bird trying to carry one fish without dropping it.

Photographing puffins in flight takes patience. They move quickly, fly low, and rarely follow the path you expect. The real challenge here was keeping the eye sharp while still showing the fish, wing detail, and clean blue sky.

This is the moment wildlife photographers wait for. Behavior, action, and a tiny glimpse into the daily work of raising a chick.

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