Ecuador ROCKS

Red-headed Barbet (Eubucco bourcierii, Cabézon à tête rouge, RHBA) Milpe Cloud Forest Bird Sanctuary in the Andes, Ecuador (Santuario de Aves Milpe). Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds All Rights Reserved. Canon EOS-1D MKIV, 500mm F4 IS, 1.4X Extender III with Think-Tank Photo Hydrophobia 300-600 Tripod & Jobu Jr. 3. ISO 1,600, f/5.6 @1/160s Manual mode. Full Frame. CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE A PRINT or LICENSE IMAGE FOR PUBLICATION.

Ecuador ROCKED!

I'm just in the door from an amazing trip to Ecuador and madly trying to fulfill Christmas print orders, selling one house, buying another, planning a wedding and trying to get ready for the holiday season. I wanted to share a couple of images from my adventure in Ecuador with three wonderful hand-picked clients, a terrific bird guide (and host) and 105 species of birds. Be sure to email me to be put on the short list for Ecuador Cloud Forest Adventure in December 2012 - more details soon.

Red-headed Barbet (Eubucco bourcierii, Cabézon à tête rouge, RHBA) Milpe Cloud Forest Bird Sanctuary in the Andes, Ecuador (Santuario de Aves Milpe). Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds All Rights Reserved. Canon EOS-1D MKIV, 500mm F4 IS, 1.4X Extender III with Think-Tank Photo Hydrophobia 300-600 Tripod & Jobu Jr. 3. ISO 1,600, f/5.6 @1/200s Manual mode. Full Frame. CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE A PRINT or LICENSE IMAGE FOR PUBLICATION.

Kudos, Jobu Jr. 3 and Workshop Updates

Northern Gannet FEED ME MAMA seven weeks old (Morus Bassanus, Fou de Bassan, NOGA) Parc national de l'Île-Bonaventure-et-du-Rocher-Percé, Bonaventure Island, Quebec Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds All Rights Reserved. Canon 1D MK IV, 500mm F4 L IS, 2X Teleconverter III. Tripod & Jobu Jr. 3 Full Frame. ISO 400 f/13 @ 1/500s Manual. PURCHASE A PRINT or LICENSE IMAGE FOR PUBLICATION HERE.

Despite a rather wet and cold summer, which halved the nesting success of the Gannets on Bonaventure Island, we had a fantastic workshop (even at such a successful Gannet colony, bad years happen; there's nothing to be alarmed about). The surviving baby gannets were located at the top of hills, making them easier to isolate against the deep blue of The Gulf of the Saint Lawrence. We enjoyed calm water,fine weather and diving Gannets - loads of fun & I can't wait to get back there in the spring!

Jobu Jr. 3

My trusted Jobu Jr. 3 gimbal head continues to be my “go to” tripod head for any lens I choose from 70-300 through 800mm. It's simply rock solid and offers a much better lock-down when the knobs are tightened; no creeping like the 4th Generation Designs Mongoose Head. The knobs are easy to grip and rubberized which helps in cold and wet conditions and the brilliant design of lens plate clamp knob keeps it from getting in the way! Easy to use, light and small - it's still half the size, half the weight and half the price of the full Wimberley Head II. This is the ONLY gimbal head I have used since January, and I don't see any reason to use anything else out there - ever! SAVE 15% OFF your purchase at the JOBU store and support this site just by using the coupon code "NATURE" at the Jobu website store checkout HERE.

Kudos

"I want to thank you for a great "Gannets Galore" workshop. The Gannets and Bonaventure Island were an incredible experience for me. The workshop was enhanced by your knowledge of the birds behavior and great relationship with the officials on the Island gained over more than 25 years. It's incredible that you are able to recognize individual birds, remember their nesting sites, and predict their behavior so well. I felt that I had made a wise decision when I decided to experience Bonaventure with you.
The highlight of the shoot was the early morning Zodiac trips. I've always been fascinated by Gannets diving for food and experiencing it from the boat, so close to them, was something I'll never forget. In addition the photography from the Zodiac was great.
I'm in the process of editing the thousands of images I photographed. I appreciate your expert advice on how I should improve my photography. Your technical grasp of digital photography and the toys used to create it was another benefit of doing this workshop with you.... Best regards, Shelly"

- Seldon "Shelly" Goldstein Boynton Beach | FL | USA

Workshop updates

Moose & Fall Colors of Maine. September 26-30, 2011 - a fabulous five day workshop/safari with Christopher Dodds and co-leader, E.J. Peiker.

Snow Geese Galore October 22 & 23, 2011 weekend and October 24-28, 2011 five day.

Winter Snowy Owl Prowls January and February, 2012

Coastal Brown Bears of Katmai Alaska

Coastal Brown Bear OVERLOOK  (Ursus arctos, Grizzly Bear) Hallo Bay, Katmai National Park, AK. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds All Rights Reserved. Canon 1D MK IV, 500mm F4 L IS, Jobu Jr. 3 gimbal head & tripod. ISO 800, f/4 @1/800s Manual mode. CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE A PRINT or LICENSE IMAGE FOR PUBLICATION

Coastal Brown Bear FISH ON!  (Ursus arctos, Grizzly Bear) Hallo Bay, Katmai National Park, AK. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds All Rights Reserved. Canon 1D MK IV, 500mm F4 L IS, 1.4X Extender III, Jobu Jr. 3 gimbal head & tripod. ISO 800, f/5.6 @1/1,000s Manual mode. CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE A PRINT or LICENSE IMAGE FOR PUBLICATION

Here's a couple of images from my recent Coastal Brown Bears of Katmai, Alaska photo safari. It is always quite remarkable to watch and see just how much patience a hungry bear has; they know that the salmon will eventually swim up the creek, all they have to do is wait for it. Seeing a 1,000 pounds, or more, of sleeping muscles pounce into action and catch a salmon at a close distance is an exhilarating experience!

There's quite a good lesson to be learned from the bears; wait along a salmon creek, and as sure as the Salmon will show, so will the bears ;) I have heard myself (more than once) explaining to workshop participants that being patient is far more productive than chasing around after every bear seen. We watched (more than once) as other groups chased off the very bears they wanted to photograph; against park rules and a somewhat foolish approach to photographing wild bears.

Be sure to check-out my new and improved Coastal Brown Bears of Katmai, Alaska photo safari July/August 2012. New and improved 100 foot boat for stability and a calmer ride, better, and more consistent cuisine (90% seafood with a gourmet chef interested in satisfying your special diet), all the snacks and drinks (non-alchoholic) you could want and lots of hot water for daily showers and lots of good, clean fun, clean quarters and a willing, happy crew there to help make this a trip of a lifetime!

Be sure to check out: Coastal Brown Bears of Katmai, Alaska Photo Safari Workshop July 27th to August 3rd, 2012

KUDOS

"I recently went on the Gannets Galore workshop with Chris.... It has been 3 weeks now and I still can not come up the the words to describe this experience. The world Chris takes you to defies description. The colony is beyond words. Everything about your day on this workshop is special. This is a trip of a lifetime for anyone who loves birds. Chris runs his workshop so all you have to do is show up at the appointed time and shoot for 10 hours, every detail beyond that is taken care of. The Day is spent with no other care than to photograph beautiful gannets, whales, murres, razorbills, kittiwakes, seals, and he threw in 2 bald eagles for good measure. I had so many great shots when I returned home that I still can not believe it. My birds in flight technique improved 100 percent. Chris gives you as much or as little instruction as you want. He even let me shoot a couple of cards in his camera with his lens. All I can say is, if you love birds, and want to see gannets, I don't believe you can do any better than a Chris Dodds workshop." - Carole Wiley Torrington | CT | USA

There's still room for my Sept. 7-9, 2011 Gannets Galore photo safari workshop be sure to check it out HERE. This is, by far, the very best place in the world to learn bird photography flight technique. My years of experience there is the critical key to offering you the very best Bonaventure Island has to offer. This is such a magical place, it has drawn me back for more than 365 days (I stopped counting after reaching a year of days there).

MEEP! MEEP! The Greater Roadrunner

Greater Roadrunner PORTRAIT Geococcyx californianus, Grand Géocoucou GRRO (Also known as: chaparral cock, ground cuckoo, snake killer) Laguna Seca Ranch, Linn, Texas. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds All Rights Reserved. Canon 1D MK IV, 500mm F4 L IS, 2X Teleconverter III . ISO 250, F9 @1/500s Manual mode. CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE A PRINT or LICENSE IMAGE FOR PUBLICATION

Greater Roadrunner MEEP! MEEP! Geococcyx californianus, Grand Géocoucou GRRO (Also known as: chaparral cock, ground cuckoo, snake killer) Laguna Seca Ranch, Linn, Texas. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds All Rights Reserved. Canon 1D MK IV, 500mm F4 L IS, 2X Teleconverter III . ISO 250, F9 @1/500s Manual mode. CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE A PRINT or LICENSE IMAGE FOR PUBLICATION

I'm just in the door from yet another fantastic trip; this time to Florida. The Ospreys Galore workshop / safari was a huge success, with 60% repeat clients. I've got tons of new images and new workshops to share over the next few weeks, so stay tuned for some regular updates. In the meantime, here's a couple of Greater Roadrunner images from Laguna Seca Ranch near Lynn, Texas . After many attempts to capture a Roadrunner running straight at me, I was thrilled to finally figure it out at an amazing ranch - stay tuned for more details for Texas workshops next April. The key to these images are a dugout blind and the distant background.

The Greater Roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus, Grand Géocoucou, GRRO)gets its English name from its great running ability. The Greater Roadrunner, taxonomically classified as Geococcyx californianus, meaning "Californian Earth-cuckoo," is a long-legged bird in the cuckoo family, Cuculidae. It is one of the two roadrunner species in the genus Geococcyx; the other is the Lesser Roadrunner. This roadrunner is also known as the chaparral cock, ground cuckoo, and snake killer. When it is startled it will run rather than fly. It is a poor flyer but can run at speeds of up to 15 miles per hour (24 KM/H). It uses its long tail as a type of rudder to help it keep its balance while running.
The greater roadrunner is a member of the cuckoo family. It is a ground bird that is about two feet in length. It has speckled brown and black feathers on its back and wings and a lighter throat and chest with dark stripes. It has long legs, a very long tail and yellow eyes. It has a crest on its head  and the male has a red and blue patch of skin on the side of its head. The greater roadrunner can be found in   California, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana. It is also found in Mexico. The greater roadrunner is most common in desert areas, but it can also be found in chaparral, grasslands, open woodlands and agricultural areas. It's diet consists mainly of small snakes, lizards, mice, scorpions, spiders, ground nesting birds and insects. It also eats fruits and seeds. The female lays three to six eggs in a stick nest lined with grass. The nest is usually placed in a low tree, bush, thicket or cactus 3-15 feet above the ground. Males do most of the incubating because they keep a normal body temperature at night. The female's body temperature drops at night. If a predator comes too close to the nest, the male will run in a crouch until he is a short distance away from the nest. He then will stand up, raise and lower the crest on his head, flash the blue and red patches on the sides of his head and call out in an attempt to lure the predator away from the nest. The chicks hatch in about 20 days. Both parents care for the young. The chicks leave the nest when they are 18 days old and can feed themselves when they are 21 days old.

Great Horny Toads! The Texas Horned Lizard

Texas Horned Lizard Phrynosoma cornutum (Also known as: Great Horney Toad, Horned Toad, Horny Toad, Horned Frog) Estero Llano Grande State Park, Weslaco, Texas. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds All Rights Reserved. Canon 1D MK IV, 500mm F4 L IS, 2X Teleconverter III  Hand-held grab shot. ISO 400, F8 @1/2000s Manual mode. CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE A PRINT or LICENSE IMAGE FOR PUBLICATION

I'm just back from an awesome trip to Texas, and preparing to leave for Florida. I was thrilled to discover this Texas Horned Lizard on a path near the visitor centre after spending the morning photographing birds at Estero Llano Grande State Park. The Park interpreter that I spoke to had only seen this species in the park on two other occasions. Because my tripod was set-up at it's maximum height, and I knew there was a chance the Horned Lizard would run for cover before I could lower it, I quickly removed my camera from the tripod and used my knee (in the crouching position) to stabilize the rig. I pulled off three frames before it took-off (only because someone walked toward it from the opposite side), this is the only one of those three with a catchlight in the eye. Here's what I've learned about the species from Wikipedia:

The Texas Horned Lizard (Phrynosoma cornutum) is one of 14 North American species of spikey-bodied reptiles called horned lizards. P. cornutum ranges from Colorado and Kansas to northern Mexico, and from southeastern Arizona to Texas. There are also isolated, introduced populations in the Carolinas, Georgia, and northern Florida. Texas horned lizards may be native to Louisiana and Arkansas.
The horned lizard is popularly called a "horned toad," "horny toad," or "horned frog," but it is neither a toad nor a frog. The popular names come from the lizard's rounded body and blunt snout, which give it a decidedly toad- or frog-like appearance. Phrynosoma literally means "toad-bodied," and Cornutum means "horned." The lizard's horns are extensions of its cranium and are composed of true bone.
The Texas horned lizard is the largest-bodied and most widely distributed of 14 species in the western United States and Mexico. The length of an average Texas Horned Lizard is 69 mm (2.7 in) snout-vent length, however the upper boundary for males is 94 mm (3.7 in) and for females it is 114 mm (4.5 in). Although its coloration generally serves as camouflage against predation, when threatened by a predator, a horned lizard will puff up its body to cause its spiny scales to protrude, making it difficult to swallow. The Texas horned lizard, along with at least three other species, also has the ability to squirt an aimed stream of blood from the corners of the eyes and sometimes from its mouth for a distance of up to 5 ft (1.5 m). This not only confuses would-be predators, the blood is mixed with a chemical that is foul-tasting to canine predators such as wolves, coyotes, and domestic dogs.
About 70% of the Texas horned lizard's diet is made up of harvester ants, though they supplement these with termites, beetles, and grasshoppers. In recent years, the Texas horned lizard has declined in about 30% of its range, though there is some indication it may be making a comeback. The decline is usually blamed on overuse of pesticides and the spread of non-native, but highly aggressive and fiercely territorial, red imported fire ants. Both eradicate harvester ant colonies, destroying the horned lizard's principal source of food. The Texas horned lizard is now a protected species and it is illegal to take, possess, transport or sell them without a special permit.
Some Native American peoples regard horned lizards as sacred. The animal is a common motif in the art of many Native Americans in the Southwestern U.S. and in Mexico. The Texas horned lizard is the state reptile of Texas and, as the "horned frog", is the mascot of Texas Christian University (TCU).

Where to photograph Elk (Wapiti, Cervus canadensis) around Banff National Park, Alberta

Bull Elk  Lookback (Wapiti, Cervus canadensis, élan) Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds www.chrisdoddsphoto.com All Rights Reserved. Canon EOS 1DsMKIII, 70-200 F2.8 IS II @200mm. ISO 650, F5.6 1/200s Manual. CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE A PRINT or LICENSE IMAGE FOR PUBLICATION.

I'm just back from a great two week vacation with family in Calgary, Alberta. While it was meant as an "unplugged" getaway, I did manage to scan all of our old family photographs (some 2,500 images) and sneak away to Banff National Park on two occasions for some photography with Julie. Here's a few images from one of many encounters with bull Elks during what became the most successful trip there so far.

Bull Elk in the rain (Wapiti, Cervus canadensis, élan) Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds www.chrisdoddsphoto.com All Rights Reserved. Canon EOS 1DsMKIII, 70-200 F2.8 IS II @170mm. ISO 650, F5.6 1/200s Manual. CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE A PRINT or LICENSE IMAGE FOR PUBLICATION.

Bull Elk overlooking the Bow Valley in the rain (Wapiti, Cervus canadensis, élan) Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds www.chrisdoddsphoto.com All Rights Reserved. Canon EOS 1DsMKIII, 70-200 F2.8 IS II @70mm. ISO 650, F5.6 1/200s Manual. CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE A PRINT or LICENSE IMAGE FOR PUBLICATION.

Where to photograph Elk around Banff

If you find yourself visiting Calgary with a spare day for photography, then be sure to head West on the Trans-Canada Highway to Banff National Park and the Canadian Rocky Mountains. I'd leave around 04:30 and drive  directly to the Bow Valley Parkway (slowly) until you reach the Moose Meadows area (It dosen't happen often, but we photographed a beautiful Bull Moose here, and it is certainly worth a look); at which point I'd turn around and head back to Banff.  Once you exit for Banff, instead of following the sign for the town, go the opposite direction and slowly follow the switchbacks of Mt. Norquay Scenic Drive; make a u-turn in the ski area parking lot at the top and head back down for a second look for the Mountain Sheep that live here.  Now follow the Trans-Canada Highway East for a short while and take the exit for Lake Minnewanka; follow the lake Minnewanka loop road and explore the dead-end roads that branch from it. This might be the best, most scenic location for Elk around. Figure driving about 300km and spend the whole day enjoying the sights. Best time of year for bull Elk is the rut during September and October. Here's the route on Google Maps:

View Banff Wildlife Drive in a larger map

LCDVF Digital Viewfinder / Magnifier Review & Maine Moose; it's not too late

Bull Moose Giant of the Northwoods (Alces, Elan, Orignal) Baxter State Park, Maine Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds www.chrisdoddsphoto.com All Rights Reserved. Canon EOS 1DsMKIII, 500mm F4 and 2XII tele-converter Gitzo 1325 Tripod and Wimberley Head II. ISO 400, F8 1/160s Manual. CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE A PRINT or LICENSE IMAGE FOR PUBLICATION.

Moose & Fall Colors of Maine September 27 to October 1, 2010; It's not too late

Only two spots left, so it's not too late to join Christopher Dodds in Baxter State Park and surrounding areas (near Millinocket, Maine) for a truly unique workshop. Our primary focus will be the Moose that are renowned for allowing close human approach. Our trip is also timed to coincide with the amazing fall colors that illuminate Baxter State Park every fall. Though not guaranteed (Moose are wild and free, after all), I often have Moose walking so close to us that we can feel their warm breath in the cool, fall, Maine air. We have traveled far to photograph these majestic giants of the Northern forest, so we won't be spending much time indoors at the computer (like many other photography groups); this trip is all about being out there with the Moose - seeing, being and documenting their behavior during the annual Rut. Other subjects may include White-Tailed Deer, Black Bear, fox and various birds. SEE MORE INFORMATION HERE.

See the blog entries from the 2009 Moose & Fall Colors Workshop / Safari:

The White-Tailed Deer of Baxter State Park Trip Report Part I

American Black Bears of Baxter State Park Trip Report Part II

The Many Moose of Baxter State Park Trip Report Part III

Testimonial

"I was impressed on how much Chris cared about making sure everyone was learning, engaged, and getting the most out of the trip. I look forward to my next workshop with Chris!" Michael Lyncheski Gladstone, NJ

LCDVF Digital SLR Viewfinder / Magnifier Review

The LCDVF is a 2X loupe that is designed as a LCD viewfinder for video-enabled digital SLR’s. Not only for the video enthusiast, the LCDVF is an invaluable aide to achieve more accurate and precise focus for the still photographer. The loupe also acts to block ambient light while shooting outdoors in live-view mode, or reviewing images on the LCD screen for sharpness and the histogram for exposure accuracy. The LCD ViewFinder turns your DSLR LCD screen into a huge electronic viewfinder for precise image evaluation - it’s like viewing a 42" screen from 140cm (4.6 feet).

The part I like most about the LCDVF, is it’s ingenious adhesive ultra-slim metal frame that secures the LCDVF to your camera using four small magnets (located at the camera end of the loupe frame). The LCDVF ships with two magnetic/adhesive frames; only one frame is needed, the extra one is a spare or could be used on a second camera. The magnets are strong enough to securely hold the LCDVF against your camera, but weak enough to break-away if you forget that the lanyard is around your neck and walk away from your expensive camera set-up with a long lens on a tripod; preventing a possible disaster. The company promises these four magnets aren’t strong enough to damage your camera, it’s electronics or the data on your memory card.

There are two models available; the LCDVF for most cameras with a 3” LCD screen, and the LCDVF 3/2 which is custom fit to the Canon 550D, Rebel T2i and the Kiss X4.

The LCDVF has a removable, rotating rubber eye-cup, and was shipped with a foam/microfiber eye cushion that I found useful and comfortable, it includes are a neck strap with quick release buckle and a neoprene pouch (which is well built, but could be about 20% bigger, in my opinion).

I spend an enormous amount of time reviewing images in the field while photographing and teaching outdoor nature photography workshops. The LCDVF has already proven itself to be durable and water resistant and I already can’t imagine shooting without it. The optics are bright and crisp and the LCDVF offers a great view of the whole 3” screen without loosing sight of the corners.

Help support this site and Purches the LCDVF HERE or LCDVF 3/2 HERE

Visit the LCDVF website HERE.

ADRENALINE Coastal Brown Bear (Ursus arctos or grizzly bear) & The Hazards of Nature Photography.

Coastal Brown Bear Fishing ADRENALINE (Ursus arctos or Grizzly Bear) Hallo Bay, Katmai National Park, AK Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds www.chrisdoddsphoto.com All Rights Reserved. Canon EOS 1DMKIV, 500mm F4 L IS, Tripod & Wimberley Head II. ISO 400, F5.6 @1/1600s Manual mode. CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE A PRINT or LICENSE IMAGE FOR PUBLICATION.

The Hazards of Nature Photography: DEHYDRATION

I have been meaning to write a bit about the importance of hydration all summer and autumn is quickly approaching. No matter, hydration is just as important in the cold winter as it is in the hot summer months. Water makes up 75% of the body weight - about 50 liters (11 gallons) for the average man. Survival is unlikely if more than one fifth of this is lost. The first signs of dehydration are thirst, vague discomfort, lack of appetite, flushed skin, impatience, sleepiness and nausea. Once fluid loss reaches 6-10%, symptoms include dizziness, headache, labored breathing, no salivation, indistinct speech and you may loose your ability to walk. By the time fluid loss reached 11-20% symptoms now include delirium, swollen tongue, unable to swallow, dim vision, numb and shriveled skin. In it's latter stages: There is gross muscular weakness and mental capacity is impaired. You must make your survival plans at the start when you can think clearly and then stick to them. Best to remember to bring along some water and avoid the headache ;)

Testimonial

The trip with Chris on the Coastal Explorer along the Katmai coast was fantastic.  Without a doubt it was one of the top photo trips I have taken over the last several years due to the amazing variety and density of wildlife in such completely unspoiled and uninhabited wilderness.  Unlike land based lodges, with the Coastal Explorer you have the opportunity to photograph in several of Katmai's secluded bays versus being limited to an area adjacent to a land-based lodge.  What helped make the trip so successful was Chris's work ethic where he is always ready to shoot in any weather conditions and will stay in the field as long as there is any possibility for high quality photography.  This is essential in a place like coastal Alaska where it can go from direct sunny conditions to heavy overcast to rain in the blink of an eye and where the sun doesn't set until the late evening.  If the best time to photograph Brown Bears chasing down salmon was after 10:00PM, you bet we'd be on the river bank waiting on the massive Brown Bear boars to make their spectacular runs--photography is top priority after safety of course.  The daily great fresh seafood didn't exactly hurt the trip either.

As I write this I've only a little over two weeks removed from returning from Katmai and I'm still having serious withdrawals--right now I really want to be on the Coastal Explorer's skiff heading to shore to photograph more bears, eagles, and wolves. - Steve Metildi Southern California | USA

BE SURE TO CHECK-OUT STEVE'S KATMAI 2010 ALBUM HERE to see images he made during the workshop.

2011 Coastal Brown Bears of Katmai Workshop/Safari Announced

Join me, Christopher Dodds, and some of the more than 2,000 Coastal Brown Bears at the best place in the world to photograph Coastal Brown Bears. Claiming the world’s highest concentration of Coastal Brown Bears, Katmai National Park in Alaska also has to be the most beautiful setting on the planet to photograph them. Truly the adventure of a lifetime, we’ll have plenty of opportunities to see, study and photograph Coastal Brown Bears in their undisturbed, natural environment without the influence or pressure that large groups and camps often cause. I have secured the much coveted dates of July 24-30, 2011; timed to coincide with the annual Salmon run. With a limit of only six participants, there will be plenty of time for instruction and personal attention from Chris. MORE INFORMATION & REGISTRATION FORM HERE.

Disclaimer

The author is not a physician. This article is for informational purposes only and it is not intended to identify, diagnose, or treat any medical condition.

Atlantic Puffin Paradise found (Fratercula arctica, Macareux moine, ATPU)

Atlantic Puffin (Fratercula arctica, Macareux moine, ATPU) Vertical Portrait île aux Perroquets, Réserve de parc national du Canada de l'Archipel-de-Mingan, Quebec, Canada. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds www.chrisdoddsphoto.com All Rights Reserved. Canon EOS 1DMKIV, 500mm F4 L IS with 2X Teleconverter II, Canon 25mm Extension Tube, Tripod & Wimberley Head II. 580EXII Flash manual mode. Think-Tank Photo Hydrophobia 300-600. ISO 800, F16 @1/60s Manual mode. CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE A PRINT or LICENSE IMAGE FOR PUBLICATION.

Puffin Photography Workshop/Safari announced July 5-7, 2011

I'm just back from another trip; this time, I went out in search of the ultimate destination for Atlantic Puffins. The mandate was simple; find a location that is within reach, safe and easy to get to without a dangerous boat landing on slippery rocks and a place where we can get close to these comical little seabirds without hauling our gear up, and over, huge distances or having to hang over towering cliffs. I have photographed Atlantic Puffins in Iceland, Maine, Newfoundland, New Brunswick and Quebec; All of these "known" places have their drawbacks. Mission accomplished; I have found Puffin Paradise. Special thanks to the Loiselle Familly of Longue-Pointe-de-Mingan for their gracious hospitality during my time there.

If you are interested in joining me for a Puffin photography workshop July 5-7, 2011, then be sure to send an email to chris@chrisdoddsphoto.com. This trip will be limited to six participants (two spots booked already) and will surely be the trip of a lifetime for anyone seeking to get close and personal (safely) to Atlantic Puffins and Razorbills. We will spend a few hours photographing fishing Puffins each morning from a boat, before landing on an island where we spend the rest of the day until sunset for three full days. I have secured special access, so we will be the only people on the island during the first, and last, few hours each day. Price is CAD$2,495.00 including four nights single occupancy accommodation, three days private boat tour with highly experienced captain, three days park access fees and three days expert instruction. Other subjects might include Razorbill, Black Guillemot, Great Cormorants, Savannah Sparrow (there are many) Common Eider and Grey Seal. More details after my return from teaching the August Gannets Galore workshop in about 10 days. Meals, beverages, transportation to Longue-Pointe-de-Mingan, Quebec and souvenirs are not included.

Testimonial

Many thanks to Chris for a wonderful and exciting photography experience. Your professionalism, talent, patience and knowledge helped to make the Gannets Galore photo trip an experience of a life time. The hundreds of thousands of Northern Gannets on Bonaventure Island were unbelievable. I took thousands of photographs of Northern Gannets in their everyday activities. They were elegant, comical, clumsy, arguing, fishing, sleeping, working, copulating, preening and fencing. It was nonstop and exhilarating. Now, I get to my favourite part - the Zodiac tour around Bonaventure Island. It’s 5:00am and we start the 4 hour trip to see dozens of species of birds and seals as well as couple of Minke whales. The 4 hours seemed to pass like minutes. The Harlequin ducks and Black Guillemots were among my favourites and a real treat to observe and photograph. - Gordie Kadonoff Hampstead | Quebec | Canada

Atlantic Puffin (Fratercula arctica, Macareux moine, ATPU)

The Atlantic Puffin (Fratercula arctica, Macareux moine, ATPU) is a seabird species in the auk family. Also know as “common puffin”, “clown of the ocean”, “clown of the sea” and “sea parrot”, these squat little pelagic birds look comically awkward on land and rather heavy in the air, but once in their element, the water, they become able predators. “Flying” through the sea on stubby wings, they dive-bomb shoals of herring, sand eels, sardines, and other small fish and sometimes squid. These pursuit divers collect their victims one at a time, but can hold as many as 20 small fish crosswise in their brightly coloured beaks at the same time. The Atlantic Puffin is 26–29 centimetres (10–11 in) in length (bill 3-4 cm), with a 47–63 centimetres (19–25 in) wingspan. The male is generally slightly larger than the female, but they are coloured alike. A puffin can fly 48 to 55 mph (77 to 88 km/hr). The puffin beats its wings rapidly to achieve this speed reaching up to 400 beats a minute.

This species breeds on the coasts of northern Europe, the Faroe Islands, Iceland and eastern North America (Canada and New England), from well within the Arctic Circle to northern France and Maine. It is the only Puffin species found in the Atlantic Ocean. The winter months are spent at sea far from land - in Europe as far south as the Mediterranean, and in North America to North Carolina.  Puffins often nest in well populated colonies usually on remote, rugged islands free from egg and chick eating land predators. They deposit a single egg deep within a burrow excavated in soft earth, or in a feather, or grass, lined lair in a rocky cleft. After fattening-up their hatchlings on fish, the parents return to the sea. The young Puffins, still unable to fly, eventually scramble to the shore by night and plunge into the water.

Coastal Brown Bear (Ursus arctos or grizzly) wrestling. HYDROPHOBIA; the Ultimate Rain Cover & Trip Report Part III

Coastal Brown Bear males (boars) Wrestling in rain (Ursus arctos) Kukak Bay, Katmai National Park, AK Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds www.chrisdoddsphoto.com All Rights Reserved. Canon EOS 1DMKIV, 500mm F4 L IS with 2X Teleconverter II, Tripod & Wimberley Head II. Think-Tank Photo Hydrophobia 300-600. ISO 1250, F8 @1/800s Manual mode. CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE A PRINT or LICENSE IMAGE FOR PUBLICATION.

Bear Fight

Though struggles between two juvenile bears might seem mortal, it is in fact just playful combat, designed to hone the animals skills. In later life, however, in teritorial disputes between two males, real fights can result in serious injury to the combatants, or even have a fatal outcome. Brown bears also fight to establish hierarchy and rights to prime fishing spots.

Trip Report

We had a blast watching, and photographing, four males (boar) fighting and wrestling with each other for what seemed like hours during the second afternoon of the Coastal Brown Bears of Katmai workshop/Safari. We carefully added out 2X tele-extenders to our 500mm Lenses for maximum reach, to fill the frame and to keep a safe distance between us and the battling giants. It rained much of the day, and we all put our Think-Tank Photo Hydrophobia rain covers to good use.

Do consider joining me next year, for the ultimate Coastal Brown Bears of Katmai Nature Photography Workshop / Photo Safari from July 24 to 30, 2011. MORE INFORMATION AND REGISTRATION FORM HERE.

Think-Tank Photo HYDROPHOBIA Ultimate Camera Rain Cover

I promised a review of the Think Tank Photo Hydrophobia when I got back from Bonaventure Island in June; Turns out, there's no better way to get hot, sunny and dry weather, than bringing along the very best rain gear to protect your valuable camera gear. We had day, after day, of glorious and hot, sunny weather; In fact, I only recall breaking out the rain covers once. There are now tons of reviews out there that include all of the technical specifications and videos of people spraying garden hoses onto expensive cameras sporting these covers. What I wanted to do here is give you a short, sweet, real world review of these covers when used in the very toughest conditions.

Coastal Brown Bear males (boars) Fighting in rain (Ursus arctos) Kukak Bay, Katmai National Park, AK Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds www.chrisdoddsphoto.com All Rights Reserved. Canon EOS 1DMKIV, 500mm F4 L IS with 2X Teleconverter II, Tripod & Wimberley Head II. Think-Tank Photo Hydrophobia 300-600. ISO 1250, F8 @1/800s Manual mode. CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE A PRINT or LICENSE IMAGE FOR PUBLICATION.

Think-Tank Photo HYDROPHOBIA 300-600

Rain protection for everything between the 300 F2.8 and the 600 F4 (this even works perfectly with the Canon 800 F5.6, as I discovered). It's designed to be pre-mounted around the lens hood for easy deployment, has a pocket to store the eyepiece (Eyepieces sold separately) and includes an extension for use with the longer glass. Simply put; it's the very best option I've found out there - and I’ve tried dozens. I would love a lower profile pocket at the lens hood end, so my line of sight is not disrupted while photographing birds in flight with the rain cover in the "stored" position and having more material between ends (one piece) would mean I could actually remove the cover in it's stowed position with the lens hood for packing; something I found impossible with my 500mm F4 IS Canon lens, when installed with enough room for my 2X Tele-converter and the Canon off-camera shoe cord slid into the hot shoe. Other improvements that I quickly wished for were more clear window around the eyepiece and a flap over the eyepiece to protect it from filling with raindrops when I wasn't shooting - both of which have been incorporated into the design of the newer Hydrophobia 70-200 & Hydrophobia 70-200 Flash. I do hope there is a re-design of this model, with an option for a removable rain cover for a flash with the Better Beamer Flash Extender attached. I was able to use this cover with the Wimberley tripod head (Version I or II), and I figured out how to use my flash bracket, flash and Better Beamer, but I feel there is more than enough nature photographers out there to warrant a special "nature" edition. In the mean time, this is, without doubt, the very best option on the market now.

Think-Tank Photo Hydrophobia 70-200

Essentially the 70-200 Flash, without the clear flash pocket - do yourself a favor and spend the extra $6.00 to get the Flash version (below)

Think-Tank Photo Hydrophobia 70-200 Flash

Oh, la-la, this is the newest addition to the Hyrophobia line, and Think-Tank Photo's rapid product evolution really shines here. The clear window has been re-designed with more clear space, there's a cover over the eyepiece that flips up and out of the way when shooting, a removable front lens cover, an ingenious built-in camera strap that keeps your camera securely attached to the cover, and horizontal when slung under your shoulder - fantastic for the long days a nature photographer carries a second, shorter lens / camera. This one is evolutionary perfection and I can't think of a single thing to make it better. The clear flash pouch stows out of the way when not used, and there's even room for flash modifiers.

PRO TIPS:

Real world shooting in the rain required me to frequently remove my hands from the cover, and I found that  my hands got wet and I transferred water inside the cover; this caused the clear windows to fog up. I simply wrapped a small towel around the barrel, where the lens meets the camera body, to dry my hands and absorb any excess moisture, preventing the condensation from forming.
Don’t just use it in the rain. I found the covers to be really useful to prevent saltwater from splashing my gear while photographing from a boat, they kept my gear free of sand while getting low on a beach and I even used them as sun protection for my hands during lengthy shoots in strong sunlight.
Maintenance: For a long life, be sure to rinse after use and hang to dry; I found it practical to leave my Hydrophobia covers hanging in my car to ensure they dried thoroughly before packing into the nylon mesh pouch for storage.

BE SURE TO ORDER YOUR THINK-TANK PHOTO HYDROPHOBIA BY CLICKING THIS LINK AND RECEIVE A FREE BAG WITH EVERY ORDER OVER $50.00

Coastal Brown Bear males (boars) BEAR HUG in rain (Ursus arctos) Kukak Bay, Katmai National Park, AK Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds www.chrisdoddsphoto.com All Rights Reserved. Canon EOS 1DMKIV, 500mm F4 L IS with 2X Teleconverter II, Tripod & Wimberley Head II. Think-Tank Photo Hydrophobia 300-600. ISO 1250, F8 @1/800s Manual mode. CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE A PRINT or LICENSE IMAGE FOR PUBLICATION.

Coastal Brown Bears of Katmai Workshop / Photo Safari July 24-30, 2011 Announced

Coastal Brown Bear Female (Sow) Fishing in Last Light Vertical (Ursus arctos) Hallo Bay, Katmai National Park, AK Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds All Rights Reserved. Canon EOS 1DMKIV, 500mm F4 L IS with 1.4 Teleconverter II, Tripod & Wimberley Head II. ISO 1600, F5.6 @1/2000s Manual mode. CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE A PRINT or LICENSE IMAGE FOR PUBLICATION.

2011 Coastal Brown Bears of Katmai Workshop/Safari Announced

Join me, Christopher Dodds, and some of the more than 2,000 Coastal Brown Bears at the best place in the world to photograph Coastal Brown Bears. Claiming the world’s highest concentration of Coastal Brown Bears, Katmai National Park in Alaska also has to be the most beautiful setting on the planet to photograph them. Truly the adventure of a lifetime, we’ll have plenty of opportunities to see, study and photograph Coastal Brown Bears in their undisturbed, natural environment without the influence or pressure that large groups and camps often cause. I have secured the much coveted dates of July 24-30, 2011; timed to coincide with the annual Salmon run. With a limit of only six participants, there will be plenty of time for instruction and personal attention from Chris. MORE INFORMATION & REGISTRATION FORM HERE.

EARLY REGISTRATION DISCOUNT & CANON RAIN COVER BONUS

Register for the 2011 Coastal Brown Bears of Katmai Nature Photography Workshop/Safari early and you save $380.00 per person AND receive a limited edition (rare) Canon rain cover for your camera. Choose between the large (400/2.8, 500/f,600/4 or 800/5.6) or medium (200/2, 300/2.8 or 400/4) versions. Supplies are limited; offer valid only while supplies last. Special thanks to Canon Canada Professional Services for the rain covers. REGISTER HERE.

N-Rain Cover E2-M (medium) or E2-L (Large): Keeps your professional camera clean and dry when shooting in a wet environment. Compatible with current profesional Canon EOS Cameras. Transparent window enables clear visibility of the top and rear LCD panels and LC monitor. Front fastener enables easy attachment and removal of all lenses. Displays a large printed "Canon" logo and includes a soft case for compact packing.

CANON EOS 7D and CANON EOS-1D Mark IV firmware updates
Find out more about the latest firmware updates for the EOS 7D (Version 1.2.2) and EOS-1D Mark IV (Version 1.0.8) DSLRs that include a fix to ensure set apertures stay in place when shooting EOS Movies in manual. 

Updates available for download HERE

Coastal Brown Bears Trip Report Part I

Coastal Brown Bear Female (Sow) Fishing in Last Light (Ursus arctos) Hallo Bay, Katmai National Park, AK ©Christopher Dodds All Rights Reserved. Canon EOS 1DMKIV, 500mm F4 L IS with 1.4 Teleconverter II, Tripod & Wimberley Head II. ISO 1600, F5.6 @1/1250s Manual mode. CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE A PRINT or LICENSE IMAGE FOR PUBLICATION.

I'm just in the door from one of the very best photographic trips of my lifetime. I left home on July 8th and arrived at Kodiak airport later that day without event. I had planned a few extra days before the workshop started to allow for the fog that delayed me last year, and forced me to sleep in ANC airport. Steve Metildi and Darren Charles Holloway arrived early for the workshop and we had an absolute blast photographing Red Fox, Golden-Crowned Sparrow, Orange-Crowned Warbler, Hermit Thrush, Bald Eagle, Wilson's Warbler and more around Kodiak Island. On July 12, Rolan Ruoss of Sea Hawk Air flew us out to Kukak Bay for our rendezvous with Chuck Keim on the Coastal Explorer for what became the trip of a lifetime for all.

We had been on the look-out for this female (sow) that had been reported to have two spring cubs, but were saddened to learn that she had lost them. Cubs remain with their mother from two to four years, during which time they learn survival techniques, such as which foods have the highest nutritional values and where to obtain them; how to hunt, fish, and defend themselves; and where to den. The cubs learn by following and imitating their mother's actions during the period they are with her. Brown bears practice infanticide. An adult male bear may kill the cubs of another bear either to make the female sexually receptive or simply for consumption. A close look at her right paw reveals an open wound, just above her claws, that most probably occured while she desperatly tried to defend her cubs.

I returned to a staggering amount of emails, and brought back a ton of images to edit, so stay tuned for more in the coming days.

Testimonials

My thanks Chris for introducing me to the tremendous experience (both visual and olfactory) offered by not only the Gannet colony on Bonaventure Island but also by the Gaspe peninsula.  Your low key approach and readily available technical knowledge really helped me to focus on what it was I wanted to do and maximize my chance of getting the pictures that I wanted.  Standing in a zodiac on the rolling ocean watching you photograph flying seabirds using a hand held 800mm lens pushed me to believe I could actually do the same using a 420mm lens......and the resulting photos show that it can be done!  My 6 and 3 year old children cannot thank you enough for the endless slide shows I now make them endure.- Ron Kellner | Toronto, Ontario

Pat and I had a great time on your recent Gannets Galore photo tour.  We have been on many photo tours and yours was one of the best.  We have never seen so many excellent photo opportunities.  Even the 5 AM Zodiac trip around the island offered great opportunities.  The small size of the group, 6 photographers, added to our enjoyment since you were able to spend considerable time with each of us.  Your tips on using manual camera settings were excellent.  I now use manual settings for virtually every photograph, flight or static. Thanks again for a truly outstanding photographic experience. Stokes Fishburne Chapel Hill | North Carolina

Bonaventure Island Trip Report: Common Murre or Common Guillemot (Uria aalge, guillemot marmette, COMU)

Common Murre or Common Guillemot Flying (Uria aalge, guillemot marmette, COMU) Parc national de l'Île-Bonaventure-et-du-Rocher-Percé (Bonaventure Island and Percé Rock National Park) Bonaventure Island, Quebec. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds www.chrisdoddsphoto.com All Rights Reserved. Canon EOS-1D MKIV, 800mm F5.6 L IS. ISO 800, 1/2500s F5.6 Manual. Hand held from Zodiac Hurricane 733. Full Frame. CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE A PRINT or LICENSE IMAGE FOR PUBLICATION.

Common Murre or Common Guillemot Banking (Uria aalge, guillemot marmette, COMU) Parc national de l'Île-Bonaventure-et-du-Rocher-Percé (Bonaventure Island and Percé Rock National Park) Bonaventure Island, Quebec. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds All Rights Reserved. Canon EOS-1D MKIV, 800mm F5.6 L IS. ISO 800, 1/2500s F5.6 Manual. Hand held from Zodiac Hurricane 733. Full Frame. CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE A PRINT or LICENSE IMAGE FOR PUBLICATION.

Bonaventure Island Gannets Galore Nature Photography Photo Safari Workshop

One of the highlights of the Gannets Galore Photo Safari is the daily (weather permitting) Zodiac trips to, and around, Bonaventure Island. This year, we had two back-to-back perfect mornings with mirror-like water and virtually no swell; a perfect recipe for photography from a Zodiac Hurricane 733. There were many Common Murres, Razorbills, Black Guillemots, Black-legged Kittiwakes, and even some Puffins floating on the water around the Zodiac, but the crown jewels for the nature photographers on board are always the birds in flight shots of these birds that fly at 80km per hour. I was just thrilled to have a CPS Loaner Canon Mark IV and 800mm F5.6 IS L on loan from Canon Canada for the workshops; most everyone, who wanted, got to try this impressive bird photography rig. I must confess to have fallen in love with the lens after creating these razor sharp images on the second morning of the first (of three) workshops.

If you find yourself trying to photograph seabirds from near their cliff-edge nesting sites, it's best to skip the outbound birds and focus on the inbound birds; Razorbills, Murres, etc., typically nest under other species like Northern Gannets on the cliff face and are typically covered in bird poop when leaving the nest - inbound birds are just back from fishing, so they are all nice and clean. Try to lock onto them before they slow to land  on the water or bank for best results.

More Kudos

I just wanted to take a moment to thank you for an amazing trip. I especially enjoyed shooting from the zodiac for all kinds of great shots. You lead an outstanding tour, and I would certainly consider future trips with you. I can tell that you could be of great help as I finish off my wish list of species for the new waterbirds book, as you know many of the key spots for specific species and behavior. I also have a lot to learn about the digital process, and you are gifted in this area. Many thanks my friend!

-Middleton Evans | Baltimore | MD

Herring Gull (Larus smithsonianus, Goeland argente, HERG)

American Herring Gull Emerging with fish (Larus smithsonianus, Goeland argente, HERG) Parc national de l'Île-Bonaventure-et-du-Rocher-Percé, Bonaventure Island, Quebec. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds www.chrisdoddsphoto.com All Rights Reserved. Canon EOS-1D MKIV, 800mm F5.6 L IS. ISO 400, 1/2000s F5.6 Manual. 580EXII Flash manual full power . Tripod & Wimberley Head II. Full Frame. CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE A PRINT or LICENSE IMAGE FOR PUBLICATION.

A quick post today to further demonstrate the power of side light to make dramatic, action stopping images in harsh light. This is another image from a good collection produced while Bonaventure Island was closed to visitors during a recent Gannets Galore Bonaventure Island Bird Photography workshop. We made the most of the day by visiting a favorite spot for Common Eider Ducks (we had males, females and babies really close). The gulls (Herring and Great Black-backed) would harass and steal fish from the diving Eiders.

Gannets Galore August 13-15, 2010 - still space available - more information HERE

Canon 800mm F5.6 IS L First impressions....

Yowsa, what an amazing piece of glass! This lens was razor sharp, fast and snappy to acquire auto-focus when used with my EOS 1D Mark IV camera body. Special thanks to Canon Canada for the loan and for giving a chance for workshop participants a chance to "get behind the wheel" and give it a try. New coatings, IS system and design all add up to make this a must have lens - anyone wanna chip-in? (grin).

Gannets Galore Bonaventure Island Workshop Report & Side Light for Nature Photography

Great Black-backed Gull Emerging with fish (Larus marinus, Goeland marin, GBBG) Parc national de l'Île-Bonaventure-et-du-Rocher-Percé, Bonaventure Island, Quebec. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds www.chrisdoddsphoto.com All Rights Reserved. Canon EOS-1D MKIV, 800mm F5.6 L IS. ISO 400, 1/2000s F5.6 Manual. 580EXII Flash manual full power. Tripod & Wimberley Head II. Full Frame. CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE A PRINT or LICENSE IMAGE FOR PUBLICATION.

Gannets Galore Bonaventure Island Workshop Report I:

Julie and I made the 12 hour drive to Percé on June 8th, arriving in town early in the afternoon that day. We scrambled up to the Northern Gannet colony on Bonaventure Island the next day to see that all is well and the colony is continuing to grow as expected. Photographic conditions continue to be the very best that Bonaventure Island has to offer.
Middleton Evans (author of Rapsody in Blue: A Celebration of North American Waterbirds), Gordon Kadonoff, Pat, Stokes & Denise Fishburne, Nick Honig & Tuma Young, Provash Ganguli, Amanda Reed, Ron Kellner, Ellen Goff and Wojciech Bedkowski all were simply a pleasure to spend time with, each having great spirits and all adding to the many great memories of yet another great spring on Bonaventure Island. Photographic opportunities from the morning Zodiac outings continue to get better with every trip. Harlequin Ducks, Common Eider, Atlantic Puffins, Common Murre, Razorbill, Black-legged Kittiwake, Black Guillemots, Great Cormorants, Great Black-backed Gulls, Herring Gulls and Grey Seals all gave award winning appearances.

Side Light for Nature Photography

During the second workshop, on June 15th, Bonaventure Island was closed due to strong winds from the North that pushed big waves onto the wharf and prevented landings. This was good news as we went out and photographed Black Guillemots, Common Eiders, Herring Gulls and Black-backed Gulls from shore. With the birds doing what birds do, and flying into the wind, I seized the opportunity to make dramatic action shots of the gulls taking flight after snatching fish from the Common Eiders. Pretty amazing to see the female Eiders lunge out of the water and attack the Gulls. I knew the moment the first Gull emerged from the water that I had to use the side light, at 90 degrees off to the right, to add dimension, texture and life to the image and sparkle to the water. I caught myself, more than once, asking my groups to remember that Gulls are beautiful, and worthy photographic subjects, too.

Kudos

"Thanks for a great weekend.  I got some great shots, learned some new things and met some terrific people.  You and Julie were perfect hosts.  I really appreciated your patient, attentive instruction........ "

- Amanda Reed Cape Cod, Massachusetts

Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris, Troglodyte des marais, MAWR) & Bokehlicious Backgrounds

Marsh Wren vertical portrait (Cistothorus palustris, Troglodyte des marais, MAWR) Bois de I'Ile Bizard Nature Park,  L'ile Bizard, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds www.chrisdoddsphoto.com All Rights Reserved. Canon EOS-1D MKIV, 500mm F4L IS USM and 2X II Tele-extender. ISO 800, 1/320s F9. Canon 580 EX II Flash in manual mode. Tripod and Wimberley Head II. CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE A PRINT or LICENSE IMAGE FOR PUBLICATION.

Marsh Wren vertical portrait on beige (Cistothorus palustris, Troglodyte des marais, MAWR) Bois de I'Ile Bizard Nature Park,  L'ile Bizard, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds www.chrisdoddsphoto.com All Rights Reserved. Canon EOS-1D MKIV, 500mm F4L IS USM and 2X II Tele-extender. ISO 800, 1/320s F9. Canon 580 EX II Flash in manual mode. Tripod and Wimberley Head II. CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE A PRINT or LICENSE IMAGE FOR PUBLICATION.

I enjoyed a great afternoon at Bois de I'Ile Bizard Nature Park,  L'ile Bizard (Montreal) with clients/friends Tuma Young and Nick Honig from Halifax, NS (both of whom I’ll be seeing them again very soon at my workshop on Bonaventure Island). The star performer yesterday was surly this Marsh Wren that was building it’s nest right along the boardwalk trail.

PRO TIP: Silky Smooth Bokehlicious backgrounds for Birds

Whenever I find a co-operative subject in a place where there could potentially be a distracting, cluttered background (like a marsh full of reeds and bulrushes), I almost always immediately slap a 2X tele-converter onto my 500mm lens. I do this to take advantage of a narrower field of view (less distracting elements included in the frame) and the smaller depth of field that narrows as the focal length increases; creating smooth out-of-focus backgrounds (also known as bokeh).

Canon announces firmware update Version 2.0.7 for the EOS 5D Mark II DSLR.

his firmware update (Version 2.0.7) incorporates the following improvements and fixes.

1. Fixes a phenomenon in which the aperture exhibits abnormal movement when shooting movies in manual exposure mode and Aperture Priority AE (Av mode) using some Canon lenses (such as macro lenses).
2. Fixes a phenomenon in which the exposure level shown in the LCD panel differs from what is shown in the viewfinder when shooting still images in manual exposure mode.
3. Fixes a phenomenon in which the Wireless File Transmitter (WFT-E4 or WFT-E4 II) may not automatically power off when used for FTP transfers.

These phenomena only occur with the Version 2.0.4 and Version 2.0.3 firmware. The Version 2.0.7 firmware being released this time is for cameras with firmware up to Version 2.0.4. If the camera's firmware is already Version 2.0.7, it is not necessary to update the firmware.

To find out the exact download instructions and to download EOS 5D Mark II firmware Version 2.0.7 please click here. Please note that before downloading firmware Version 2.0.7 you should read the entire contents of the page linked to above.

For all current Canon EOS firmware downloads please click here.

Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris, Troglodyte des marais, MAWR)

The Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris, Troglodyte des marais, MAWR) is a small North American songbird of the wren family. It is sometimes called Long-billed Marsh Wren to distinguish it from the Sedge Wren, also known as Short-billed Marsh Wren. The Marsh Wren is a secretive bird; even when singing the territorial male remains well hidden, briefly climbing a cattail for a look at an intruder. Males destroy eggs and nestlings of neighboring birds. They will even attack their own eggs if the female is removed from the nest. This behavior reduces competition for food in their area.
Adults have brown upper-parts with a light brown belly and flanks and a white throat and breast. The back is black with white stripes. They have a dark cap with a white line over the eyes and a short thin bill. Bewick's Wren is similar but has unstreaked back. Sedge Wren has less distinct supercilium and streaked crown.
The male's song is a loud gurgle used to declare ownership of territory; western males have a more varied repertoire. Learning continues throughout their adult life; it has been shown they will imitate songs presented to them on a tape recording or by a live tudor.
Their breeding habitat is marshes with tall vegetation such as cattails across North America. In the western United States, some birds are permanent residents. Other birds migrate to marshes and salt marshes in the southern United States and Mexico.
These birds forage actively in vegetation, sometimes flying up to catch insects in flight. They mainly eat insects, also spiders and snails.
The nest is an oval lump attached to marsh vegetation, entered from the side. The clutch is normally 4–6 eggs, though the number can range from 3–10. The male builds many unused nests in his territory; he may puncture the eggs of other birds nesting nearby.
This bird is still common, although its numbers have declined with the loss of suitable wetland habitat. Wholesale draining of marshes will lead to local extinction. Still, this species is widespread enough not to qualify as threatened according to the IUCN.

Black-and-White Warbler (Mniotilta varia, Paruline noir et blanc, BAWW)

Black-and-white Warbler vertical portrait (Mniotilta vary, Paruline noir et blanc, BAWW) Point Pelee National Park of Canada (Southwestern Ontario, Canada). Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds www.chrisdoddsphoto.com All Rights Reserved. Canon EOS-1D MKIV, 500mm F4L IS USM and 2X II Tele-extender. ISO 800, 1/320s F9. Canon 580 EX II Flash in manual mode. Tripod and Wimberley Head II. CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE A PRINT or LICENSE IMAGE FOR PUBLICATION.

Black-and-white Warbler singing (Mniotilta vary, Paruline noir et blanc, BAWW) Point Pelee National Park of Canada (Southwestern Ontario, Canada). Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds www.chrisdoddsphoto.com All Rights Reserved. Canon EOS-1D MKIV, 500mm F4L IS USM and 2X II Tele-extender. ISO 800, 1/320s F9. Canon 580 EX II Flash in manual mode. Tripod and Wimberley Head II. CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE A PRINT or LICENSE IMAGE FOR PUBLICATION.

Black-and-white Warbler singing vertical portrait (Mniotilta vary, Paruline noir et blanc, BAWW) Point Pelee National Park of Canada (Southwestern Ontario, Canada). Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds www.chrisdoddsphoto.com All Rights Reserved. Canon EOS-1D MKIV, 500mm F4L IS USM and 2X II Tele-extender. ISO 800, 1/320s F9. Canon 580 EX II Flash in manual mode. Tripod and Wimberley Head II. CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE A PRINT or LICENSE IMAGE FOR PUBLICATION.

Point Pelee Workshop report ... continued

In keeping with tradition, my annual bird photography workshop at the Southernmost tip of land in Canada, Point Pelee National Park of Canada, kept us all on our feet for hours at a time. We hiked far and wide while carrying our camera gear; Robert Parent (from Quebec) called it "Extreme Bird Photography". I would hate to think just how far we really did walk each day. Everyone in the group remained in good spirits, despite the cold, and sometimes wet, weather. These images of this Black-and-white Warbler were all made within minutes of each other, they are the same bird we found foraging a pile of discarded sticks along Woodland trail early in the workshop. I enjoyed using the relatively noiseless high ISO capabilities of Canon's newset professional camera body, the Canon EOS 1D mark IV. I have always forced myself to never use more than ISO 400 with it's predecessor, so pulling-off consitently sharp images in low light during this trip was much easier than with earlier cameras.

Canon Auto-focus, Instruction book, firmware, and LensAlign

I was sitting on the tram on the way to the tip discussing Canon's latest camera bodies when a well known photographer said that he wasn't happy with the 7D he had purchased for his wife. Quick check of the custom settings showed it still had the old firmware, few of the custom functions had been properly set-up , the camera was even set to sRGB colorspace and there had been no micro-adjustment made. I downloaded the latest firmware that night and installed it the next morning for him; making a few adjustments to his custom settings. "Its much better now" was shouted-out across the parking lot that afternoon.

Perhaps Canon unleashed a beast when they decided to offer such a wide variety of user defined custom functions; few people read the instruction manual and really know how to set them. Before you decide that your camer'a AF isn't working properly, take the time to make sure it is set-up and be sure to micro-calibrate each of your lenses using LensAlign Pro.....please!

Black-and-White Warbler (Mniotilta varia, Paruline noir et blanc, BAWW)

The Black-and-white Warbler, Mniotilta vary, Paruline noir et blanc, BAWW, has an unusually long hind toe and claw on each foot. This adaptation allows it to move securely on the surface of tree bark. They are known for their habit of creeping around tree trunks and along larger branches in search of insect food in crevices or under the bark; hence its old name, "Black-and-white Creeper." Unlike the Brown Creeper, which only moves up a tree, the Black-and-white Warbler can climb in any direction. Unusually aggressive for a warbler, the Black-and-white Warbler sometimes attacks and fights Red-breasted Nuthatch, Black-capped Chickadee, Tennessee Warbler, and other species. It is the only member of the genus Mnitila, which means "moss plucking".

Lincoln's Sparrow & Point Pelee Workshop / Safari Report

Lincoln's Sparrow vertical look-back with reflection, Melospiza lincolnii (Bruant de Lincoln) Point Pelee National Park of Canada (Southwestern Ontario, Canada). Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds www.chrisdoddsphoto.com All Rights Reserved. Canon EOS-1D MKIV, 500mm F4L IS USM and 2X II Tele-extender. ISO 800, 1/200s F9. Canon 580 EX II Flash in manual mode. Tripod and Wimberley Head II. CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE A PRINT or LICENSE IMAGE FOR PUBLICATION.

Point Pelee Spring Songbird bird photography workshop / safari report

Just back from leading my annual spring bird photography workshop / safari at Point Pelee National Park near Leamington, Ontario. I was joined by Robert Parent & Sylvie Desjardins of Lac-Beauport (Quebec), Gail Bisson of Sydney (Nova Scotia), Multiple workshop veterans (and friends) Rick & Melody Curtis of Flower Mound (Texas) and Jerry Purdy of Kalamazoo (Michigan); a fine crew. There was lots of speculation about what kind of photography would be possible with the early leaf-out and unusually warm spring. Things did start slowly and, in keeping with tradition Jerry Purdy had to leave early to take care of business; sparking the start to the best spring migration I've ever witnessed at Point Pelee (sorry Jerry). The days are all blurred into one in my memory, but once things got started, the quantity and quality of birds dripping out of trees keep increasing. Unfortunately, the most memorable moments were the afternoon after the workshop had ended, so only Rick and Melody Curtis joined Julie and I for the dozens of Blackburnian Warblers dripping from the trees in Tilden Woods that afternoon. The next morning brought a gorgeous male Kirtland's Warbler that stuck around all day on East beach. Suffice it to say; it was the best I have ever seen it at Point Pelee! My only wish would have been for everyone in the workshop to have witnessed Pelee's best.Lincoln's Sparrow , Melospiza lincolnii (Bruant de Lincoln) Point Pelee National Park of Canada (Southwestern Ontario, Canada). Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds www.chrisdoddsphoto.com All Rights Reserved. Canon EOS-1D MKIV, 500mm F4L IS USM and 2X II Tele-extender. ISO 800, 1/200s F9. Canon 580 EX II Flash in manual mode. Tripod and Wimberley Head II. CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE A PRINT or LICENSE IMAGE FOR PUBLICATION.

Hydrophobia to the rescue

The weather ranged from cold to freezing cold with a fair mix of rain and cloud. Greg Downing (NatureScapes.net) and Bian Erwin (Think-Tank Photo) conspired to send me a rather thoughtful assortment of rain gear for my camera as an early birthday gift (it was my birthday on May 6 when I drove to Pelee); suffice it to say that their timing was impeccable and the Hydrophobia 300-600, Hydrophobia 70-200 & Hydrophobia 70-200 Flash were all put to good use - watch for a full review after more field testing during my Bonaventure Island Gannets Galore workshop series in June. We even endured hail and sleet between a rather monsoonish downpour while photographing at our set-ups at Rondeau Provincial Park. This gear is the ONLY camera rain covers that have ever worked for me; Thank-you Greg & Brian.

Kudos...

"Hey Chris, 

We wanted to thank you for the great time and wonderful experience.  It was just awesome to see so many birds including all the Warblers and Tanagers all in one area.  "I got a feeling" that having the rare opportunity to photograph and hear the Kirkland Warbler singing was an experience that many birders would have been very envious of.  The Yellow Billed Cuckoo was outstanding to see and we were got some marvelous shots even for the Texas Zoomers.  We had the opportunity to take great shots of the Northern Parula, Tennessee, Chestnut-sided, Black-throated Blue, Cape May, Black-throated Green, Blackburnian, Pine, Black-and-white and  American Redstart Warblers.  We saw many other birds and Warblers adding to the excitement of the workshop (even the "OMG" Bay-breasted Warbler).

It was a fun workshop and a pleasure to met Julie, Jerry, Robert, Sylvie, and Gail.  Thanks again for all your advice, counsel and exercise (hahaha).  Looking forward to another workshop in the future and anytime you are in Texas give us a shout.  

Sincerely,

Texas Zoomers (aka Rick & Melody Curtis from Flower Mound, Texas)"

Lincoln's Sparrow with crest raised, Melospiza lincolnii (Bruant de Lincoln) Point Pelee National Park of Canada (Southwestern Ontario, Canada). Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds www.chrisdoddsphoto.com All Rights Reserved. Canon EOS-1D MKIV, 500mm F4L IS USM and 2X II Tele-extender. ISO 800, 1/200s F9. Canon 580 EX II Flash in manual mode. Tripod and Wimberley Head II. CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE A PRINT or LICENSE IMAGE FOR PUBLICATION.Lincoln's Sparrow vertical portrait, Melospiza lincolnii (Bruant de Lincoln) Point Pelee National Park of Canada (Southwestern Ontario, Canada). Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds www.chrisdoddsphoto.com All Rights Reserved. Canon EOS-1D MKIV, 500mm F4L IS USM and 2X II Tele-extender. ISO 800, 1/100s F9. Canon 580 EX II Flash in manual mode. Tripod and Wimberley Head II. CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE A PRINT or LICENSE IMAGE FOR PUBLICATION.

Lincoln's Sparrow Melospiza lincolnii (Bruant de Lincoln, LISP)

A species only seen during migration for most Great Lakes Region birder, William Brewster (1936, in Bent 1968) describes the Lincoln's Sparrow as "a keen, intelligent little traveler, evidently, quite alive to the fact that dangers threatened at all times, but too cool-headed and experienced to be subject to the needless and foolish panics which seize upon many of the similar birds." Lincoln's Sparrows are remarkable for staying well hidden, but a careful observer, with patience, can often get quite a good look. These Sparrows often raise their crown feathers when alert or concerned, giving their heads a bit of a peaked appearance. The Lincoln's Sparrow, Melospiza lincolnii, bruant de lincoln, is a medium-sized sparrow. Adults have dark-streaked olive-brown upperparts with a light brown breast with fine streaks, a white belly and a white throat. They have a brown cap with a grey stripe in the middle, olive-brown wings and a narrow tail. Their face is grey with brown cheeks, a brown line through the eye and an eye ring. They are somewhat similar in appearance to the Song Sparrow. Their breeding habitat is wet thickets or shrubby bogs across Canada, Alaska and the northeastern and western United States; this bird is less common in the eastern parts of its range. The nest is a well-concealed shallow open cup on the ground under vegetation. These birds migrate to the southern United States, Mexico and northern Central America; they are passage migrants over much of the United States, except in the west. They forage on the ground in dense vegetation, mainly eating insects and seeds.
They are very secretive. Their song is a musical trill, but this bird is often not seen or heard even where they are common. This bird was named by Audubon after his friend, Thomas Lincoln, of Dennysville, Maine. Lincoln shot the bird on a trip with Audubon to Nova Scotia in 1834, and Audubon named it "Tom's Finch" in his honor.

Photographing the Northern Fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis) of Iceland

Northern Fulmar Portrait , Fulmarus glacialis (Fulmar boréal) Látrabjarg, Iceland ©Christopher Dodds www.chrisdoddsphoto.com All Rights Reserved Canon EOS-1DsMKII, 300mm F2.8IS. ISO 400, 1/320s F5.6 Manual mode. Canon 550 EX Flash in manual mode. Tripod and Wimberley Head. CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE A PRINT OR LICENSE IMAGE FOR PUBLICATION.

Northern Fulmar Dorsal View , Fulmarus glacialis (Fulmar boréal) Látrabjarg, Iceland ©Christopher Dodds www.chrisdoddsphoto.com All Rights Reserved Canon EOS-1DsMKII, 300mm F2.8IS. ISO 250, 1/1000s F4.5 Manual mode. Canon 550 EX Flash in manual mode. Hand-held. CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE A PRINT OR LICENSE IMAGE FOR PUBLICATION.

Northern Fulmar on nest , Fulmarus glacialis (Fulmar boréal) Látrabjarg, Iceland ©Christopher Dodds www.chrisdoddsphoto.com All Rights Reserved Canon EOS-1DsMKII, 500mm F4IS. ISO 400, 1/800s F8 Manual mode. Canon 550 EX Flash in manual mode. Tripod and Wimberley Head. CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE A PRINT OR LICENSE IMAGE FOR PUBLICATION.

Northern Fulmar on cliff edge in rain , Fulmarus glacialis (Fulmar boréal) Látrabjarg, Iceland ©Christopher Dodds www.chrisdoddsphoto.com All Rights Reserved Canon EOS-1DsMKII, 300mm F2.8IS. ISO 250, 1/800s F2.8 Manual mode. Canon 550 EX Flash in manual mode. Tripod and Wimberley Head. CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE A PRINT OR LICENSE IMAGE FOR PUBLICATION.

Cool Northern Fulmar Facts:

• The Northern Fulmar is one of the longest-lived birds. Data from one study indicate a mean adult life span of about 32 years. In Scotland, several Northern Fulmars banded as adults in 1951 were still breeding in 1990, at ages likely greater than 50 years.
• The Northern Fulmar begins breeding at an exceptionally old age. Most do not breed until they are at least 8 to 10 years old; one study found an individual that started breeding at age 20.
• The Northern Fulmar is well known among commercial fishermen for its avid scavenging of offal thrown from whaling and fishing boats.
• The population of Northern Fulmars in the northeast Atlantic has dramatically increased over the past 250 years. Once only one colony was found in northern Iceland, and none off the Faeroes or the British Isles. Now hundreds of colonies exist across all the coasts of these islands. It is unclear whether this change has resulted from natural oceanographic changes, from increased food availability from fishing vessels, or from some other factor.
• The Northern Fulmar can dive to a depth of at least 3 meters (10 feet).

LensFlare Live & NatureScapes Radio LIVE:

On Tuesday, April 6th, 2010, I was honoured to be the first invited guest on the new NatureScapes Radio Live. Hosted by LensFlare 35's very own Dave Warner, with Greg Downing and E.J. Peiker of NatureScapes.net. Be sure to give it a listen HERE:

Colostethus panamensis (Panama Poison Dart Frog), Panama Amphibian Rescue & Conservation Project

Panama Poison Dart Frog Male Calling (Colostethus panamensis). Provincia de Colón, Panama. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds  www.chrisdoddsphoto.com All Rights Reserved. Canon EOS-1Ds MKIII, Sigma 150mm F2.8 Macro, Wimberley F2 Macro Flash Bracket, Canon 580 EX II Flash with LumiQuest Softbox III Hand-held. ISO 400, F16 @ 1/160s Manual mode. Full Frame.

Photographing so many species of frogs and toads during a recent trip to Panama has been a real eye opener in so many ways. Seeing first hand how many of the amphibians that I photographed are either listed as endangered, or well on their way there, is not only disturbing, it's life changing.
Listed by the IUCN Red List as a species of least concern (2004), the Colostethus panamensis (Panama Poison Dart Frog) has since become a high priority rescue species for The Panama Amphibian Rescue and Conservation Project.
There is a silent killer wiping out the world's frogs that everyone needs to hear about. Amphibian chytrid fungus (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis) is a lethal fungus spreading across Central America and wiping out entire populations of frogs. The Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis is so deadly that it kills about half of all amphibian species and reduces overall populations by about 80% after it’s arrival in any given place. One third of the known 5,743 amphibian species in the world are at risk of being wiped out! On a world scale, since 1980, 122 species of amphibian species have gone extinct, compared with five bird species and no mammals in the same period. Be sure to click on the Panama Amphibian Rescue & Conservation Project badge below to learn more and see how you can help.