A Passion for Puffins: Cathy Weatherston Gets Low with Platypod

Let’s be honest: puffins might just be the rockstars of the bird world. They've got the looks, the moves, and—thanks to photographer Cathy Weatherston—they’ve got the pose game on lock.

From elegant mid-air maneuvers to that unmistakable “marching home with dinner” strut, Cathy’s images capture puffins in all their charismatic glory. And here’s the thing: getting these shots takes more than a keen eye. It takes patience, persistence, and a camera setup that can go low without making a scene.

Enter the Platypod.

When you're photographing wildlife, especially birds like puffins who are easily startled and love cliffside living, you need gear that helps you stay stable, silent, and sneaky. Cathy used Platypod gear to get her camera down to eye level, creating those bold, intimate compositions that make her puffin portraits pop. No flapping tripods or awkward setups, just low-profile, featherweight support that lets you blend in with the landscape and let nature do its thing.

Whether it's a close-up of a puffin with a beak full of fish or a flying ace coming in for landing, the result is the same: personality, front and center.

Why Platypod Works for Bird Photography:

• Gets your camera right at ground (or grass) level without disturbing the scene

• Compact and easy to carry during long hikes to remote colonies

• Rock-solid stability for long lenses and action shots

• Lets you stay low and discreet so the puffins don’t bail mid-pose

Bonus Tip:
Bring some patience, a Platypod, and a telephoto lens. That’s your new trifecta for puffin power poses.

Closing Line:
From the clifftops of the Irish North Atlantic to your memory card, puffin portraits just got a whole lot easier. With Platypod and a little patience, every day can be a puffling day.