A Prothonotary Warbler pauses on an open perch during my Songbirds of Pelee Workshop in Point Pelee National Park of Canada. We had some amazing encounters with at least four Prothonotary Warblers (endangered species in Ontario).
Atlantic Puffin banking in golden light with fish
This is, by far, my favourite from last summer’s Deluxe Puffins Galore Lighthouse Adventure Workshops. The sun came up quickly as the Puffins were swirling around trying to align their trajectory, the wind with the entry to their burrows; I have watched them circle as many as 23 times while trying to get everything right before landing. Sunrise was 04:59 on August 11, 2023, and this image was made just a few moments later, against the glowing out-of-focus cliffs.
Join me in Quebec for my Deluxe Atlantic Puffins (and so much more) Lighthouse Island Workshop. I just added another date to accommodate the high demand at the best time to be there to ensure there are Puffins bringing fish home for their babies.
Atlantic Puffin Headshot
Here's another Atlantic Puffin portrait from my recent PUFFINS GALORE (and so much more) DELUXE WORKSHOP. We woke to fog several mornings, and Puffins were perched everywhere. We used the park information signs as blinds and were able to spend hours making portraits at just about point-blank range. After making the standard tight headshots, I always explore more interesting poses while working at the minimum focusing distance of our lenses with an extremely limited depth of field.
KUDOS:
Chris: Just a quick note to express my appreciation for the fine workshop (PUFFINS GALORE DELUXE WORKSHOP) hosting provided by you and Julie, along with Louise and Marie-Josée and the charming Auberge facilities. We were fortunate to have such good weather and abundant puffin activity, and your guidance and tips were very helpful, even for a long-time Sony mirrorless shooter. I found the other clients quite interesting and enjoyed sharing the experience with all of them. Despite some travel challenges to and from the Mingan Archipelago, I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and look forward to the prospect of joining you in another workshop in the future.
Again, thank you for your excellent leadership and engaging fellowship on Iles aux Parroquets – now to plough through the 30,000+ images I brought back to find the “exceptional” few!
Best regards,
Gordon Norman California USA
Atlantic Puffin in flight with fish
An Atlantic Puffin returns to its nest with a beak full of fish during my Deluxe Atlantic Puffins Galore Workshop in Quebec, Canada.
Join me for a fairytale adventure. We will live in a restored lighthouse, eat gourmet food, and photograph Atlantic Puffins and Razorbills (and more) that bring fish to feed their babies only 200 meters (200 yards) away. This is the best location in the world to photograph both species and is perfectly timed for them, bringing the most fish back to their babies.
The tiny island, only 1km (.6 Miles) in circumference, means no long pre-dawn drives or long hikes to access the best locations; it is right outside the door! Since we live on the island, there is no rough boat commute to endure either.
Deluxe Puffins Galore Workshop Update
I have just added another workshop from August 10-13 due to the overwhelming popularity of my Deluxe Puffins Galore and so much more workshops.
This is a dream deluxe photography tour: Dreamlike accommodations in a newly restored lighthouse just feet away from nesting Atlantic Puffins and Razorbills on a small island in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, Quebec, Canada, with gourmet food.
It is timed to coincide with the very best time to be at the colony when the Puffins return with fish to feed their young.
The group size is limited to 5-8 photographers (the price is per person in single or double occupancy, as desired, with only six rooms available).
Exclusive use of the lighthouse and accommodations means we will be the island’s only inhabitants.
The small group size means more assistance, one-on-one guidance, and coaching for every participant.
Long lenses are not mandatory for this tour; 200-400mm reach is adequate for an impressive portfolio.
Photographers of all levels are welcome; the tour pace will suit everyone’s needs and skill level. Participants should be able to comfortably walk 200 meters (200 yards) at a slow pace while carrying their equipment.
Owners of all camera brands are welcome. My 40 years of professional photography include the last six years as a Sony ambassador, 16 years using Canon as a Canon Northern Explorer of Light, and 16 years using Nikon before that. I can help anyone with any brand improve their photography.
Christopher Dodds has 40 years of experience with the Puffins in the great Canadian outdoors.
American Redstart Displaying
An American Redstart displaying during my Songbirds of Pelee Workshop at Point Pelee National Park of Canada. We had so much fun trying to get a clean background as this stunning warbler bounced around, trying to get noticed by a female.
Male American Redstarts display to females during courtship by fluffing plumage, raising crown feathers, spreading wings and tail, and bowing.
Still space for you to join the fun and photograph spring migration in all of its glory at one of the top 10 migration hotspots in the world! Learn more about my Songbirds of Pelee Workshop HERE.
Yellow-throated Vireo
This Yellow-throated Vireo was photographed during my Songbirds of Pelee Workshop at Point Pelee National Park of Canada. I used my Sony 600mm f/4 G Master lens with my Sony 1.4X teleconverter.
Due to a medical emergency that resulted in a cancellation, there is still room for you to join my May 7-11 Songbirds of Pelee workshop at Point Pelee National Park. Come and experience the magic of spring migration at one of the top 10 birding destinations in the world! Learn more about my Songbirds of Pelee spring migration workshop HERE.
These little insect-eating birds resemble the warblers with whom they often migrate. Vireos, however, have somewhat thicker bills, search more slowly and carefully for food, and are less colourful. Eleven species breed in North American woodlands and thickets, constructing cup-shaped nests suspended from tree branches' forks.
Great Grey Owls LOVERS
Happy Valentine's Day
This image was made in Ontario, Canada, on January 26, 2005. I have a series of about 80 images that I kept from this incredible moment in a field behind a water treatment plant in Bracebridge, Ontario, Canada. Witnessing the affection, vocalizations, and gestures these two Great Grey Owls performed was incredibly touching and unforgettable!
Snowy Owl in snow covered tree
Another Snowy Owl from a recent private owl workshop. As was the case with the last Snowy Owl that I posted HERE, I had my Sony a9III set up and ready to test the pre-capture and was ready for blast-off, but it simply didn’t happen while we were there waiting, and we left it where we found it as it got dark. So happy that there are a few owls finally moving into their winter territory!
Snowy Owl
Here is a Snowy Owl from a recent private Snowy Owl Photo Tour. Snowy Owls and snow have been in short supply this winter in southeast Canada, and this beauty showed up more than two months late!
I used the new Sony a9 III paired with my Sony 200-600mm zoom lens. Although we were close and using the van as a blind, I never got to photograph it blasting off as planned because it sat there until dark. It looks somewhat alert after being dive-bombed by a raven.
Join Christopher Dodds at ProFusion Expo in Toronto for my Sony Keynote presentations
Join me in Toronto for the largest camera show in Canada. I am super excited and proud to be making presentations on the main stage and in the Sony booth - come and say HI!
Main Stage
November 08 02:00 – 02:45 pm
November 09 02:00 – 02:45 pm
In the SONY Booth
November 08 12:00 - 12:40 pm
November 09 12:00 – 12:40pm
Cutest Bear Cub with Lipstick & Announcing Christopher Dodds Cross-Canada SONY Roadshow
Have you ever caught a bear cub playing with lipstick? LOL. This Coastal Brown Bear cub has just finished eating a freshly caught salmon. I used the tilting rear screen and placed the camera on the ground to get a low and intimate view in beautiful Alaskan autumn light. Loads of fishing bear images to follow after an amazing Ultimate Coastal Brown Bears of Katmai Alaska Adventure Workshop.
Announcing the 2023 Christopher Dodds Sony Roadshow
I am thrilled to be making another trip across Canada to present at some of Canada’s finest Sony retailers. Sony sponsors the roadshow, and all of the presentations are free. Get your tickets here:
VISTEK Ottawa, ON - October 2, 2023 SOLD OUT!
HENRY’S Toronto, ON - October 3, 2023
HENRY’S Winnipeg, MB - October 6, 2023
DON’S PHOTO Regina, SK - October 7, 2023
LONDON DRUGS Saskatoon, SK - October 8, 2023
VISTEK Edmonton, AB - October 11, 2023
VISTEK Calgary, AB - October 12, 2023
McBAIN CAMERA Red Deer, AB - October 13, 2023
McBAIN CAMERA Lethbridge, AB - October 14, 2023
Northern Gannet in flight at Bonaventure Island
I don’t think it is a big secret: I love Gannets! They are magnificent and graceful creatures. I used my Sony Alpha 1 camera paired with the Sony 200-600 (my favourite lens) to capture this Northern Gannet landing against the textured pastel sky over the Gulf of the Saint Lawrence during my Gannets Galore and so much more Workshop in Quebec.
Atlantic Puffin in flight with mouth full of sand lance
Here is an Atlantic Puffin returning to its burrow with a mouth full of Sand Lance to feed its baby. The image was made at 04:50 on a cloudy and foggy morning during my Deluxe Puffins Galore Workshop.
Instead of waiting for brighter conditions, I chose to use 20,000 ISO and love the results that the new AI noise reduction algorithm in Photoshop produces.
Northern Gannet love
The last frame from the first day of my Gannets Galore and so much more workshop on Bonaventure Island. I had to lie in the wet grass to get this, but it was well worth it - smile.
Northern Gannets reinforce their bond through mutual preening, nape nibbling, and "fencing," where the pair knocks bills together.
Tennessee Warbler
There was no shortage of warblers during my recent Songbirds of Pelee Workshop. There were times when it was hard to choose which species to follow; a great problem to have!
The Tennessee warbler specializes in eating the spruce budworm. Consequently, its population goes up and down with fluctuations in the population of the budworm.
Northern Gannet Preening
A Northern Gannet Preening photographed during my recent Gannets Galore and so much more workshop in Quebec.
Preening allows the bird to remove dust, dirt and parasites and realign each feather and their tiny barbules in the correct position relevant to the next feather, following the body's contours underneath. Birds preen several times a day, often for hours, to keep their feathers in top shape.
Kentucky Warbler
A Kentucky warbler poses briefly during my recent SONGBIRDS OF PELEE workshop at Point Pelee National Park of Canada. Kentucky warblers are rare visitors to Canada, but a few are seen yearly at Point Pelee National Park.
Red Fox peek-a-boo
On the first morning of my GANNETS GALORE AND SO MUCH MORE WORKSHOP in June, we were treated to this Red fox peeking over the cliff edge briefly during the four-hour Zodiac Hurricane cruise.
Savannah Sparrow
I love spending time with the Savannah Sparrows, which inhabit the tiny island where I host my Deluxe Atlantic Puffins Galore and so much more Workshops. I carefully positioned myself at the minimum focusing distance of my Sony 200-600mm so that the background was far enough away to be out of focus.