Iceland’s puffins are magical subjects. Nowhere else in the world can they be found in such abundance, and so long as you approach them with care, they’ll allow you to get remarkably close without changing their natural behavior. The details of their painted beaks and the clumsiness of their wobbling walks add even more to their charm, but on this shoot, it was the intimacy of their lifelong pairings I was eager to capture on camera.

On arrival to their vast nesting ground on the volcanic archipelago of the Westman Islands, the conditions were clear, bright, and the birdlife was flourishing; on every grassy outcrop and cliffside nook, there was an avian couple nesting.

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Guillemots, fulmars, razorbills and far more could be found, amongst thousands of my desired subjects. It took several shoots of different couples before I settled on a pair that were embodying the humanlike closeness that comes with a life dedicated to one another. Shooting this pair from above allowed for the impression that we are peeking over the fence for a glimpse into their lives, and in that instant caught them meeting their beaks for a tender kiss.

It was a fantastic moment, perfectly portraying what I set out to capture, and I was grateful to note that the image also conveyed their vivid coloration and beautifully designed beaks. Furthermore, it grants the viewer with both a full-face portrait and a side profile of the puffins, allowing you to marvel over every angle of their cuteness.