Pianist

You probably think that this image looks nothing like a Puffin... and I would have to agree with you. Yet I had a trip planned today to sail around a group of islands off the north coast of Brittany known as 'Les 7 Îles' in a 19th C sailing ketch. The islands are a bird sanctuary and the many species found there include Puffins - I have never seen one and I so want to. A 'phone call received late last night informed me that the skipper adjudged the likely sea conditions to be too dangerous for an amateur crew to cope with so the planned trip was cancelled. In a week or so's time, this years brood of Puffins will be self-sufficient and will leave with their parents to spend the summer far from land, so there will be no Puffin pics in my 365 album this year.

What you get instead then is another 'hands' image from the Sunday evening concert in Paimpont Abbey - this time it is the pianist's turn. I'm very happy with this image, especially viewed on black... it just isn't the one I had hoped to post.

[Maggiemae]

It looks a fairly complicated piece of music and heard in an abbey must be wonderful! Poor you for the puffin cruise!

[Jocasta]

Another absolute cracker. Once again so much expression in the hands. FAV

[Tracie Broadhead]

fabulous b&w

[gloria jones]

Fantastic photo...as usual wonderful light, composition and b&w is perfect for this shot

[Kate]

Beautiful photo, I especially like the lighting on his face. Sorry to hear that your trip got cancelled.

[Melissa]

This is awesome. Perfect in b&w.

[☠northy]

such a wonderful portrait and so beautifully rendered in black and white... i really like how we get just a hint of his profile... and his eyelashes :)

but it is too bad you had to miss out on the puffins this year... that sounds like it would have been an exciting trip!

[Graeme Stevens]

Love this shot sir, excellent composition and processing

[Janiskay]

So sorry to hear that Richard. Our trip got cancelled too. Not sure how long they are around here in Maine. If. I don't get to see them this year I most likely won't ever get to see them.

At leas you still had a great picture to post.

[Susan]

Fantastic shot - fav!

[Rosie Kerr]

I like this image even more than yesterday's shot. I am sorry about the puffins (I hope you get a chance to see them eventually), but this is a wonderful photo. The light on his face, the clarity of the musical notes, the blur of his hands... all lovely.

[Taffy]

Wonderful image with such a delicate look to the way he is moving his hands. Too bad about missing puffins...

[Rosan]

Fantastic photo! Sorry your trip was cancelled.

[Pat Knowles]

Some photos just cry out black & white & this is one of them......has that timeless quality!

[Issi Bannerman]

What a wonderful capture. Great light and DOF.

[john morley]

excellent shot...fav...

[Kathryn]

Wonderful portrait. You are a master of lighting...

[Debs Stott]

Gorgeous lighting on his lashes and hair, superb.

[Beth]

wonderful, love the lighting

[Danny G.]

Stunning mono capture. Sorry about your trip being cancelled but when it comes to the sea, better safe than sorry. FAV

[Susan]

Fantastic comp, Richard! I bet he was good!

[Dawn B]

Black and white actually brings this to life, I love it

[Yeshanghai]

Beautifully captured

[Annie D]

beautifully composed

[Richard Sayer]

@annied You talking to me or Schubert? ;-)

[Joan Robillard]

I can see the picture in my feed but not now. Ugh. Sorry about the Puffins. I tell my sister to leave one picture you want for the next trip. So you will want to return. So think of it this way you will be an even better photographer (if that is possible - does flattery work) next year and will get a fab photo. Meanwhile these of the concert series are fabulous.