Back from Bonaventure; Fog, Environment & Kudos

Northern Gannet Painted Landing, Morus bassanus, Fou de Bassan Bonaventure Island, Quebec ©Christopher Dodds www.chrisdoddsphoto.com Canon EOS 1DsMKIII, 300mm F2.8 Lens ISO 400, F5, 1/2000s Manual, Canon 580EXII Flash full power in manual mode.I love the painterly effect fog adds to images like this. Bonaventure Island is the only place in the world that I know of to photograph Northern Gannets against out of focus forest backgrounds.

Northern Gannet Landing in fog, Morus bassanus, Fou de Bassan Bonaventure Island, Quebec ©Christopher Dodds www.chrisdoddsphoto.com Canon EOS 5DMKII, 300mm F2.8 Lens ISO 400, F3.5, 1/2000s Manual, Canon 580EXII Flash full power in manual mode. Adding the out of focus colony to the bottom of this landing Gannet gives it a sense of place and shows the viewer where the subject lives.

Northern Gannet Landing over colony with seaweed, Morus bassanus, Fou de Bassan Bonaventure Island, Quebec ©Christopher Dodds www.chrisdoddsphoto.com Canon EOS 5DMKII, 300mm F2.8 Lens ISO 500, F5.6, 1/2000s Manual, Canon 580EXII Flash full power in manual mode. Again, this image moves away from the idea of isolating the subject against a uniform background; giving the viewer an idea of where it lives, and the vastness of the colony (or Gannetry).

On Saturday August 15 I was awake well before the birds and left home at 03:00 to make the 1,077 kilometer drive back to Perce, QC to complete the last round of Bonaventure Island workshops for the year. Among the participants were Mike Milicia (who attended my spring Point Pelee workshop), Dennis Stone (who loved the trip so much in June, that he had to come back for babies in August) and John Dupps; all great people, passionate photographers and a pleasure to spend time with. We had a perfect mix of weather; from bright, sunny conditions, to fog, cloud and rain. Overall a huge success and a great way to end the 2009 season.

Ganetts Galore Morus bassanus, Fou de Bassan Ever wonder what keeps pulling me back to Bonaventure Island? Canon 5DMKII & 24-70mm F2.8 @ 24mm. Manual exposure. Video Copyright Christopher Dodds www.ChrisDoddsPhoto.com All Rights Reserved.

Kudos

"Thanks for a truly remarkable photographic experience on both land and water! The Zodiac rides were a wonderful way to spend the early mornings. I was amazed at how close we were able to get to the birds and the seals. The nonstop action at the Gannet colony provided countless photo opportunities every second. Now I can see how you can still find it interesting and challenging even after visiting the island over 350 times. Your extensive experience photographing at the colony meant that we always knew where the best opportunities were at any given time as the wind and weather constantly changed throughout the day. And your excellent tips on exposure, technique, composition, and use of flash allowed us to take advantage of those opportunities and capture some wonderful images.
On a logistical note, your fluency in French also proved invaluable at many points during the trip when you came to the rescue of us dumbfounded English speakers.
Hope to see you again soon, maybe even on a June trip back to Bonaventure!"
-- Mike Milicia Bedford, MA www.miliciaphoto.com

Foul Weather Nature Photography - Part II; Bone chilin' cold and crunchy snow

Snowy Owl Last Flight Bubo scandiacus (Harfang des neiges) Quebec @ minus 38 Celcius Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds www.chrisdoddsphoto.com All Rights Reserved. Canon EOS 1DsMKII, 300mm F2.8 ISO 400, F5.6 1/850s Manual mode. CLICK HERE TO ORDER A PRINT OR LICENSE IMAGE FOR PUBLICATION.

Since moving to Canada and discovering snow, I’ve been hooked on winter. I remember playing outside after school and weekends until my mother would have to drag me inside. I was an avid Boy Scout and used to love camping in the winter when there weren’t any mosquitoes or black flies. I remember it being so cold during one trip that I awoke to it snowing inside my tent; the moisture from my breath was freezing and falling gently onto my face; just like snow. Oh, the joy of putting frozen boots onto your feet in the morning and having to walk across the crunchy snow to pump-up the frozen Coleman stove to get some coffee, or hot chocolate.
As an adult, one of my favorite winter activities is finding, studying and photographing owls. From the open farm field where Snowy Owls rein supreme and Great Gray Owls line the forests edge, to the Boreal forest where Boreal and Saw-Whet owls spend their days motionless perched in Spruce and pine trees, I’ll be out there on the coldest of days.

Northern Hawk Owl The Grab Surnia ulula, (Chouette épervière) Northern Ontario ©Christopher Dodds www.chrisdoddsphoto.com Canon EOS 1DMKII, 100-400mm @250mm ISO 400, F5.6 1/2000s Manual mode.

Unlike the old days, little precaution is required for your newer generation digital camera bodies. Today’s pro camera bodies easily handle the cold weather and recent advances in battery technology easily allow a full day of photography on one charged battery. Consumer and prosumer cameras will also work well, but you should have an extra battery, or two, tucked away in an inside pocket keeping warm. Moving between extreme cold and warm temperatures when going indoors, or out, does cause some condensation; just leave your camera in it’s bag for a couple of hours while it comes to room temperature. Although I won’t remove a lens until my camera warms to room temperature, I don’t fuss much with my professional, sealed cameras; they’ve been from warm to cold and back again thousands of times.

American Bald Eagle Strike, Haliaeetus leucocephalus (Pygargue à tête blanche) Homer, AK ©Christopher Dodds www.chrisdoddsphoto.com Canon EOS 1D MKII, 100-400mm @210mm ISO 400, F8 1/250s Manual mode. It's much colder that it appears in this image, that's frozen salt water ice in the background.

Dress for success

Wintertime can be a fun and rewarding time to travel out into the field, but dressing properly is crucial to your health and comfort. As I mentioned in my recent Blog entry: It’s Raining Again – Foul Weather Nature Photography: Part I Rain, dress in layers and be sure to allow for the worst – Even if you won’t be traveling far from your car, you should dress as though you have to survive a night out alone – be prepared in the event that you wander off the beaten path and lock your keys in your car or get lost. Just imagine driving around in sub-zero weather and getting out for a quick shot of something and slipping on ice and breaking something while hardly dressed, with no coat, hat or boots.

The keys to keeping warm and dry in cold weather are synthetic fibers that wick moisture away from your body and staying far away from cotton. Start with heavy synthetic socks and long underwear as a base layer. I wear Matterhorn Convertible Pant - Men's Regular Length by Mountain Hardwear (legs zip-off, with lots of pockets) and Marmot Cargo Pant - Men's (snowboarder pants have cargo pockets and tend to be narrower than ski pants at the boot). A good fleece sweater (Marmot Radiator Fleece Jacket - Men's ) with a Canada Goose Expedition Parka usually keep me toasty warm on top. Because photographing birds in arctic conditions involves lots of time standing or laying down motionless, keeping your feet warm is essential. Many manufacturers rate their winter boots and it’s important to understand that the rating is based on a moderate amount of activity. A boot rated to minus thirty will hardly keep your toes warm if they aren’t moving at that temperature. After years of being out there in the cold, I find Sorel Men's Intrepid Explorer -100 Winter Boot makes sturdy, well-priced and very warm winter boots (they are also the footwear of choice for most arctic explorers and the Canadian Military). Keeping a grip while carrying around your expensive and heavy camera gear is crucial in icy conditions; I always have a pair of  Kahtoola MICROspikes Traction System - In Your Choice of Sizes to keep me and my gear safe (Yaktrax Pro Traction Cleats for Snow and Ice work well too). Keeping your fingers warm against frozen camera bodies is another challenge; I wear a thin pair of Fox gloves, into which I slip one, or two, Grabber Warmers 7+ Hour Hand Warmer (40 Pair Box) 40 pr . I wear Black Diamond Mercury Mitten - Men's (buy a size larger than normal) over the Fox gloves, and can press the shutter button with the mitts on. If I need to change a memory card or an adjustment to a small switch or button, then I remove the Mitt, keeping the gloves on at all times. If you remember that most heat loss occurs from the head and wear a good hat and your hood can help keep you out of the wind, then you'll be warm, comfortable and ready for the arctic!

As for your camera gear, you should pack rain protection in case you are blessed with wet snow, or rain. I am thrilled with my Think-Tank Photo Hydrophobia 70-200 Flash and my Think-Tank Photo Hydrophobia 300-600 V2.0.

Not quite ready for Vail Photographer Christopher Dodds out in the Canadian cold. That's me: I LOVE my Goose!

Coastal Brown Bears of Katmai, AK July 12-18, 2010 (7 days) A Christopher Dodds Workshop Announcement

Join 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. With a limit of only six participants, there will be plenty of time for instruction and personal attention from Chris. Other possible species may include Bald Eagles, Tufted and Horned Puffins, Seals, Shore Birds and Sea Lions to name just a few.

The adventure begins around noon on July 12 (you should avoid weather headaches by arriving in Kodiak on the 11th) with a short 45 minute flight on a de Havilland Beaver from Kodiak to the 70 foot Coastal Explorer we will call home for the balance of the trip. After stowing our gear and a light lunch, we’ll head out and start photographing bears immediately. From the 13th, to the 17th, we’ll be spending at least a morning and an evening session with the bears. On our last day, July 18th, we’ll be photographing the bears in the morning, before our floatplane returns for us around noon. Schedule is, of course, subject to change due to adverse weather conditions. Spare time aboard the Coastal Explorer can be fun and entertaining, with the activities of choice being fishing, editing and resting. The cuisine is "fit a ship's Captain" and features fresh seafood, of course (alternate diets are accommodated).

Read my 2009 trip reports here:

Coastal Brown Bears - A Trip Report Part I

Coastal Brown Bears; Cute & Cuddly Trip Report - Part II

Coastal Brown Bears - and Eagles Too Trip Report - Part III

Be sure to read Testimonials from clients (many repeats).

Included in the price are six nights accommodation (double) on the 70 foot Coastal Explorer, seven days expert bear guide services (from the best in the business: Chuck Keim), seven days photographic instruction and meals while on board. Not included is your transportation to Kodiak, AK, your floatplane from Kodiak to Katmai (approx. US$475.00 per person), alcoholic beverages or snacks, etc.

Register Here

Register Here

It's Raining Again - Foul Weather Nature Photography: Part I Rain

Merlin, Falco columbarius, Faucon emerillon Wet Wing Stretch Grand Manan Island, New Brunswick ©Christopher Dodds www.chrisdoddsphoto.com Canon EOS 1DMKII, 500mm F4 and 2XII tele-converter ISO 500, F10 1/250s Manual Mode with Canon 550EX Flash in manual mode. Captured during a rather wet ten day stay on Grand Manan Island in the Bay of Fundy.

It's raining again

As I write this Blog entry, it's raining cats & dogs outside (to borrow a term from my Mum - where the heck did that one originate?). July in Quebec and Ontario has been wet, very wet. Montreal recorded 117mm (4.606 inches) of rain, while Ottawa took the top spot with an amazing 243mm(9.567 inches) for the month. In Montreal measurable precipitation was recorded on 26 days this month including the first 8 days. 26 out of 31 days with at least a trace of precipitation, and cloud cover as well. It seems the rain followed me wherever I've travelled, I think it rained on six out of seven days while I was at Katmai National Park in Alaska.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining. In fact, if you travel outside with your camera gear while it's raining, you can make gorgeous images all day long without the worry of harsh light spoiling your images. Digital does exceedingly well in the cloudy / overcast conditions that accompany rain. While I do strive to capture images in the golden first, or last, rays of sunlight, I'll take cloud, rain and fog any day.
Great Gray Owl, Strix nebulosa, Chouette Lapone SPRING SHOWERS L'ile Bizard (near Montreal), Quebec . Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds www.chrisdoddsphoto.com All Rights Reserved. Canon EOS 1DMKII, 100-400mm IS @360mm ISO 400, F5.6 1/800s Manual Mode. There was no shortage of images from the great "invasion" of Great Gray Owls during the winter of 2005; not many in adverse weather conditions though. This was the winter I coined the term "snow as fill" - see how the underside is lit-up by light reflected off the snow on the ground. CLICK HERE TO BUY A PRINT or LICENSE IMAGE FOR PUBLICATION.

Rain Covers: The Naked Truth

I seem to find it impossible to work with any one of the camera rain covers that I've tried; opting instead to rely on the manufacturers "weather sealed" professional bodies. I find I miss too many images because the cover has shifted and obscured my view through the viewfinder, or got in between my hands and my camera body when I need to press a button , or turn a dial. I can't say that photographing in harsh conditions has been problem free, in fact it is the source of each and every problem that I've had with my equipment in the past (aside from my dropping a Canon 1Ds Mark II into three feet of water - but that's another story, for another time). I've even seen people selling a fancy clamp to attach an umbrella to your tripod - watch out for wind gusts that could see your expensive camera lying shattered on the ground. I do have to recommend that you use some sort of cover to protect your expensive digital investment; even if it's a plastic bag held into place with electrical tape.

American Bald Eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus (Pygargue à tête blanche) Stuck out in the rain Homer, AK Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds www.chrisdoddsphoto.com All Rights Reserved. Canon EOS 1DsMKII, 500mm F4 IS ISO 800, F4 1/500s Manual mode. CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE A PRINT or LICENSE IMAGE FOR PUBLICATION.

Dress for success

Dress in layers and be sure to allow for the worst – I hope for the worst, as the most unique (and best) images in my collection were captured in heavy rain, heavy fog or with dramatic storm clouds in the background. Even if you won’t be traveling far from your car, you should dress as though you have to survive a night out alone – be prepared in the event that you wander off the beaten path and lock your keys in your car or get lost.

In the rain I wear nylon convertible pants (legs zip-off, with lots of pockets) and Gore-Tex breathable rain pants, a long-sleeved safari style shirt (SPF60) and a Gore-Tex MEC (Mountain Equipment CO-OP www.mec.ca) jacket. Good socks and hiking boots are critical; you can’t stay dry and warm if your feet are cold and wet. If I’m out in the open, like on a Zodiac in the Gulf of the St-Lawrence, then you will probably find me with wool hat and light gloves as well; it can get pretty cold and damp when your standing in the rain waiting for that perfect moment all day. Be sure to bring along a medium sized towel, they are great wrapped around your neck (inside your coat) as a scarf, or simply to dry off any wet camera gear. When I was actively participating in outdoor survival orienteering camps & adventures, we had a very simple mantra; cotton kills. Once wet, cotton sucks heat away from your body and takes forever to dry. Stick with synthetic, fast drying clothing.

Coastal Brown Bears - and Eagles too Trip report part III & Kudos

Coastal Brown Bear Sleeping .. almost (Ursus arctos) Hallo Bay Katmai National Park, AK ©Christopher Dodds www.chrisdoddsphoto.com Canon EOS Ids Mark III, 500mm F4, 1.4X II Tele-converter ISO 400, F8 1/320s Manual mode.

Coastal Brown Bear in Coastal Grass (Ursus arctos) Hallo Bay, Katmai National Park, AK ©Christopher Dodds www.chrisdoddsphoto.com Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III, 500mm F4, 2X II Tele-converter ISO 400, F8 1/320s Manual mode.

Coastal Brown Bear Sow and Cubs Follow Me (Ursus arctos) Geographic Harbor, Katmai National Park, AK ©Christopher Dodds www.chrisdoddsphoto.com Canon EOS 1D Mark III, 500mm F4, 1.4X II Tele-converter ISO 400, F5.6 1/250s Manual mode.

Coastal Brown Bear Sow and Cub Learning to Clam (Ursus arctos) Katmai National Park, AK ©Christopher Dodds www.chrisdoddsphoto.com Canon EOS 5DMKII, 70-200mm F2.8 @70mm ISO 400, F8 1/320s Manual mode.

More than just bears..

American Bald Eagle Cliffside launch, Haliaeetus leucocephalus (Pygargue à tête blanche) Geograhic Harbor, Katmai National Park, AK ©Christopher Dodds www.chrisdoddsphoto.com Canon EOS 1D MKIII, 500mm F4 IS ISO 400, F4 1/800s Manual mode.

Coastal Brown Bears of Katmai July 12-18 A Christopher Dodds Workshop

We had a few good chances to photograph Bald Eagles from the comfort of the Coastal Explorer II. Having your camera in manual mode and set to the correct exposure is key to being successful at these "grab" shots.

Gannets Galore Aug. 17-19, 2009

Click Here for more info. CALL FOR LATE REGISTRATION DISCOUNT

Kudos...

Chris,Thanks for another great photo adventure to Alaska!!!!!!
This is the third trip with you and they keep getting better. Always challenging. Always easy-going. Always taking my photography forward. (Take a look at my site for a few new pictures from Alaska.) Your instruction is the best I've experience in taking these kinds of trips. You always seem to know where to put us in the absolute best place. Top Notch!!!! Can't wait till the next one.....wherever that might be. Thanks again!!!!!!!

Jeff Moore Arlington Heights, IL (Jeff attended my Eagles of Homer, AK workshop twice and a Gannets Galore workshop - thanks, Jeff!)

Fishing fun

We had a blast fishing for Halibut while not photographing. What a great way to spend down time. The Coastal Explorer is equipped with fishing poles for everyone, and Matt (the deck-hand) was always ready to help with bait & tackle. Once caught, Mat prepared the filets for the kitchen (or anyone to take home). Speaking of the kitchen, the food was out of this world - amazing! Here I am with a fresh Starry Flounder that I released after this picture was taken (with my Canon G10)

Photographer Christopher Dodds & Starry Flounder onboard the Coatal Explorer II, Geographic Harbor, AK

Coastal Brown Bears; Cute & Cuddly Trip Report - Part II

Coastal Brown Bear Cub CURIOUS CUTIE (Ursus arctos) Katmai National Park, AK ©Christopher Dodds www.chrisdoddsphoto.com Canon EOS 5DMKII, 70-200mm F2.8 @125mm ISO 400, F8 1/320s Manual mode.

Coastal Brown Bear Cub WALKING(Ursus arctos) Katmai National Park, AK ©Christopher Dodds www.chrisdoddsphoto.com Canon EOS 1D MKIII, 500mm F4 IS ISO 500, F5.6 1/640s Manual mode.

Work wide, work tight, work vertical, work horizontal. Notice the different perspective that different lens choice offer. I love working wide and close; the dimension added to the first image is what I am looking for. Funny, when I'm photographing birds I love to have a sterile background like in the second image, with the longer focal length.

Coastal Brown Bears of Katmai July 12-18, 2010 A Christopher Dodds Workshop

No, I'm not a purist, and I don't condemn those who choose to create their images post capture (forgeries) with the help of Photoshop. I just prefer to be out there in the wild making images in my camera; it's what drives me, what makes me go out into the field. Besides, I could have an office job if I wanted to spend all of that time in front of my computer. Many would be tempted to clone away the white, heart-shaped glacier out of the first image - not me. No, I love how that heart helps create the mood of the image. My heart was racing as I created this one, not out of fear, but because I wanted to make sure that I had time to get a horizontal image too.

Coastal Brown Bear Cub WALKING IN THE RAIN (Ursus arctos) Katmai National Park, AK ©Christopher Dodds www.chrisdoddsphoto.com Canon EOS 1D MKIII, 500mm F4 IS ISO 500, F5.6 1/640s Manual mode.

Although I did miss the first time that I saw a cub stand, I knew it would repeat it's behavior - I just had to have enough patience and not be distracted by the many other bears around. They are just so darn cute when they stand-up to have a look around. Pouring rain often keeps photographers inside; that's when you are more likely to find me out & about with my cameras. Todays digital camera bodies offer incredible detail and color saturation, all with little or no noise in the image.

Coastal Brown Bear Cub Kung Foo Fighting (Ursus arctos) Katmai National Park, AK ©Christopher Dodds www.chrisdoddsphoto.com Canon EOS 1D MKIII, 500mm F4 with 1.4II tele-converter ISO 500, F5.6 1/640s Manual mode.

After my almost epic trip to get there (see prior post), I finally made it to the Coastal Explorer (anchored in Hallo Bay) and met bear legend Chuck Keim, who would be our host, guide and protector. After the first morning photographing around Hallo Bay, and hearing the weather forecaster predict a big storm, we decided to haul out the anchor and make the four hour trip to Geographic Harbor. It was a wise choice, as the forecast storm stayed with us until the very end. Seems that it’s been a very wet & rainy summer everywhere (everywhere that I have been, that is).
The scenery and history that surrounded us for the duration of the trip was amazing. There are an estimated 2,000 Coastal Brown Bears in Katmai National Park, and many of them were along the waters edge in Geographic Harbor. What an amazing experience.

Coastal Brown Bears - A trip report part I

Coastal Brown Bear Sow (Ursus arctos) Katmai National Park, AK ©Christopher Dodds www.chrisdoddsphoto.com Canon EOS 5DMKII, 70-200mm F2.8 @145mm ISO 400, F8 1/200s Manual mode.

On the morning of Friday, July 17, 2009 I started what would become an almost epic journey to photograph Coastal Brown Bears in Katmai National Park in Alaska. Julie dropped me off at the airport in Montreal on her way to work (thanks, J!), and I caught a flight to Chicago without incident. After a four-hour layover in the windy city, I flew to Anchorage, Alaska; again without event. I had a hotel reservation in Anchorage, but by the time I managed to get my luggage and wait the nonsensical 55 minutes for the hotel shuttle, I only managed three hours sleep before I needed to get back to the airport. Saturday morning blended into afternoon and then evening while waiting for my ERA Airline flight to Kodiak. Heavy fog had prevented flights into Kodiak since Thursday night. Once the last flight to Kodiak that day had been cancelled, and I managed to track-down my luggage, it was hardly worth trying to find a hotel room, so I opted to sleep in the airport. I don’t need to go into details, but the ERA customer care that I received was well beyond the worst that this seasoned traveler had ever seen. While constantly trying to get information, I was blessed to meet some great people; a Police Chief from Colorado and a State Transportation Officer from Oregon; we stuck together and camped-out in the airport like homeless bag people. Since I had purchased an Alaskan Airlines ticket, I was able to get myself onto the Alaskan 737 flight on Sunday morning, and after a few hours fog delay, managed to get to Kodiak. Once in Kodiak, the fine folks at Sea Hawk Air came immediately to pick me up and Rolan Ruoss flew me to the Coastal Explorer in his de Havilland Beaver. Rolan has over 15,000 hours of Kodiak area flying.

Coastal Brown Bears of Katmai July 12-18, 2010 - A Christopher Dodds Workshop

Coastal Brown Bear Sow and Cub (Ursus arctos) Katmai National Park, AK ©Christopher Dodds www.chrisdoddsphoto.com Canon EOS 5DMKII, 70-200mm F2.8 @180mm ISO 400, F8 1/200s Manual mode.

Coastal Brown Bear? … is that a Grizzly Bear?

Brown Bear, Grizzly Bear or Kodiak Bear, they are all members of the brown bear family, Ursidae. Scientific names differ amongst groups of brown bears found in specific regions such as Coastal and Grizzly Bears, which have been given the name, Ursus arctos horribilis. Though there is a wide variety of brown bears found throughout the world, all having unique scientific names, they are still all members of the brown bear family, Ursidae. Middendorffi is the one exception and only scientifically recognized sub species of brown bear, due to the fact that they have the smallest gene pool of all brown bears and have a definite larger bone structure than other brown bears.

Brown bears found inland and in mountainous habitats are called "grizzlies" while brown bears living in coastal areas are called Coastal Brown Bears. The Kodiak brown bear is isolated to Kodiak Island in Alaska. Kodiak bears are not Grizzly Bears, the name “grizzly” comes from the silver tipped hairs these bears get, as they grow older. In comparison, the grizzly is considerably smaller than both the coastal brown bear and the Kodiak brown bear. This size difference is due to the abundance of food available in coastal areas and on Kodiak Island. The Kodiak bear has been isolated to Kodiak Island for some 12,000 years. The bone structure of the Kodiak is much larger than other Brown Bears, they have a more diverse social structure than other bears due to the close proximity in which they live and they have a gene pool that is much smaller than that of other bears.

The Kodiak brown bear is the world’s largest bear while the polar bear being a direct descendent of the brown bear is the world’s heaviest bear. Polar bears have been reclassified as marine mammals due to the amount of time these bears spend in the water.

The bear pictured is a Coastal Brown bear photographed at Hallo Bay in Katmai National Park in Alaska. This is a she bear or sow, (terms often used in reference to a female bear) with her cub. Male bears are called boars and female bears are called sows.

Brown bears gain an average of 3-6 pounds of fat per day during peak periods to obtain enough body weight to survive winter hibernation. Hibernation is a state of dormancy at which time bears are inactive, allowing them to adapt to short winter food supplies. During a bears hibernation, its body temperature is close to that of the surrounding air, its metabolic rate is comparatively high and it may awaken and move about outside the den. The length of a bears hibernation depends on climate, location, sex, age and reproductive status of the individual bear. Bears that have not obtained an adequate fat reserve may not hibernate at all.

Mating takes place during the spring months from late May through early July. Brown bears are serially monogamous and will remain with the same mate from several days to a couple of weeks. Female brown bears become sexually mature between 5 and 7 years of age, males usually will not mate until a few years later when they are able to compete successfully with other males for an available female.

Through a remarkable process known as delayed implantation, a fertilized egg will divide and float free within the uterus for six months. During hibernation, the embryo will attach itself to the uterine wall and the cubs will be born after an eight-week period while the mother sleeps (January or February). This process is important to the survival of the mother. Should she not gain enough weight to carry her through the winter, the embryo will not implant and be reabsorbed by the body.

The average number of cubs born is between one and four, with two being the average. There have been cases where a bear has been spotted with five cubs, though the mother has been suspected of adopting an orphan, which is not unusual. Age, geographic location and food supply influence the size of a bears litter. The number of cubs a female will have increases, as she gets older. At birth, the cubs are blind, toothless, hairless and very tiny weighing less than 1 pound. They feed on mother’s milk until spring, when she is ready to leave the den, sometime between April and May and as late as June depending on climate conditions. At this time they will have developed enough to follow her and begin to forage. The cubs will weigh from 15 to 20 pounds at this time.

Cubs will stay with their mother from two to four years. During this time, they will learn survival techniques crucial to their existence. They will learn which foods return the highest nutritional values, where to attain them, how to hunt, how to fish, how to defend themselves and where to den. The cubs learn by following and imitating their mother’s actions during the period they are with her.

Moose Moment

Moose Cow & Calf MOOSE MOMENT (Alces, Elan, Orignal) Baxter State Park, Maine Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds www.chrisdoddsphoto.com All Rights Reserved. Canon EOS 1DsMKII, 500mm F4 and 2XII tele-converter ISO 500, F8 1/250s Manual mode. CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE A PRINT or LICENSE IMAGE FOR PUBLICATION.

With all of the rain and cool weather we've be experiencing around Montreal this summer, I've been thinking about fall. Here's an intimate portrait of a Moose Cow and her yearling from Baxter State Park in Maine. While hanging out for the Giant Bull Moose, we often watch and photograph the females and their young eating the rich, lake bottom, pond weed. Working with a 500mm Lens and doubler to get tight was the key here. Notice the adult's ears are down, while the youngster's are alert, and up. I held off knowing that the image would not be as intimate if the adult had her ears up and looked alarmed. The yearling will stay with it's mother a full year until she gives birth to a calf in the spring.

Check-it out: Moose and Fall colors of Maine Sept. 28 - Oct. 2, 2009 A Christopher Dodds Workshop

Blackburnian Warbler

Blackburnian Warbler, Dendroica fusca, Paruline à gorge orangée Point Pelee Provincial Park, Ontario ©Christopher Dodds www.chrisdoddsphoto.com Canon EOS 1DMKII, 500mm F4 and 2XII tele-converter ISO 400, F8 1/400s Manual

Certainly one of my favorite warblers, here's a favorite image from Point Pelee National Park a couple of years ago. There are times when placing the subject smack in the middle of a vertical image just works so well. Check out my Songbirds of Pelee Workshop May 8-12, 2010. 

The only North American Warbler with an orange throat, the Blackburnian Warbler, Dendroica fusca, was named after Anna Blackburne, an English Botanist. The male Blackburinan Warbler's orange throat appears to be glowing, giving it such previous names as "Firethroat" and "Tourchbird". Bent (1953) wrote, "Blackburnian seems to be a doubly appropriate name, for its upperparts are largely black and its throat burns like a brilliant orange flame amid the dark foliage of the hemlocks and spruces". Favoring Hemlocks, they feed and nest in the upper and outer portions of coniferous trees, perhaps to avoid competition with other closely-related species. Hidden in dense foliage or in Usnea lichen, and often as high as 85 feet, Blackburnian Warbler nests are an uncommon victim of Brown-Headed Cowbird parasitism.

Gannets Galore Workshop August 17-19, 2009 Bonaventure Island, Quebec. A Christopher Dodds Workshop

Still some space left...

Northern Gannets GANNETS GALORE, Morus Bassanus, Fou de Bassan Bonaventure Island, Quebec ©Christopher Dodds www.chrisdoddsphoto.com Canon EOS 1D MKII, 70-200mm F2.8 @ 70mm ISO 250, F9 1/1000s Manual with Canon 580 EX Flash @ -1-2/3

Join Christopher Dodds at the largest Northern Gannet colony in the world. Bonaventure Island, off the Gaspe Peninsula of Quebec, is home to more than 55,000 nesting pairs of Northern Gannets. You haven’t really seen a Gannet until you see the activity at a breeding colony. Bonaventure Island is perhaps one of the world’s best places to teach avian flight technique. Other photographic opportunities will include all aspects of breeding behavior; courtship display, bowing (territorial display), sky pointing, fencing (two mates clashing their bills together while pointing skyward), mutual preening and copulation. Most of the nests will be occupied and will contain babies at various stages of development. We’ll be feet away from adults feeding their young on their nests. The workshop is timed to coincide with the annual Mackerel run, so we'll have plenty of opportunities to photograph these magnificent birds diving; sometimes forming huge diving funnels containing thousands of birds. Other photographic possibilities include thousands of nesting Black-legged Kittiwakes, Common Murres, Black Guillemots, Rozorbills, Gulls, Grey Seals and various Whales. Highlights will include a daily four hour adventure on a 24 foot Zodiac Hurricane (weather permitting). We should have ample opportunities to photograph Gannets diving and feeding in large funnels.
Northern Gannets Nesting Material Exchange, Morus Bassanus, Fou de Bassan Bonaventure Island, Quebec ©Christopher Dodds www.chrisdoddsphoto.com Canon EOS 1DsMKII, 300mm F2.8 and 1.4XII Tele-converter  ISO 250, F8 1/800s Manual

"A trip of a lifetime. The workshop was amazing. The scenery was awesome and the people were fabulous. Chris Dodds' knowledge of our subjects was expansive. The instruction was top notch, We were given so many opportunities to explore and learn the aspects of shooting pictures under conditions that allowed us to work with light, speed and movement. There were so many aspects of photography I had never paid much attention too but Chris incorporated them in my experience effortlessly, patiently and with the understanding what is necessary to accomplish beautiful and professional photographs. Chris is thoroughly professional, knowledgeable and very personable." Marla Moore Arlington Heights, IL

Northern Gannets THE DIVE, Morus Bassanus, Fou de Bassan Bonaventure Island, Quebec ©Christopher Dodds www.chrisdoddsphoto.com Canon EOS 1DMKIII, 70-200mm F2.8 with 1.4XII Tele-converter @250mm Hand-held from Zodiac Hurricane 733 ISO 320, F8, 1/1600s Manual

Daily 4 hour Zodiac Adventure

Access to Bonaventure Island is tightly controlled, and it is impossible to land on the island before nine o’clock. The addition of the Zodiac voyage is the best way to maximize the morning light and photograph Gannets in a most unique way. This is your chance to spend four hours (weather permitting) onboard our 12 person (though our group of six will be the only passengers on board), 24 foot Zodiac on each of the three mornings of the workshop. Our Captain will be a huge asset to our expedition as he has lived in Perce all of his life and has spent the last twenty years building the largest (and best) passenger ferry service to the Island and whale watching tour company. Our Captain is an expert pilot who naturally positions his Zodiac in exactly the right place for photography. We will be his only passengers and he will be sure to maximize our time aboard. We will have many opportunities to photograph nesting Black-Legged Kittiwakes, Razorbills, Common Murres and Grey Seals: all at close range. We'll have many opportunities to photograph diving Gannets. After our Zodiac trip, we will land on the main wharf of Bonaventure Island at about nine o’clock and enjoy home-made sandwiches, juice and coffee before setting off on a 1.75 mile hike (mostly uphill with our gear) to the colony, where we’ll spend the remainder of the day.

Northern Gannets Fencing, Morus Bassanus, Fou de Bassan Bonaventure Island, Quebec ©Christopher Dodds www.chrisdoddsphoto.com Canon EOS 1DsMKIII, 500mm F4 Lens Wimberley Head and Gitzo Tripod ISO 250, F14, 1/200s Manual, Canon 580EXII Flash in manual; full power with LumiQuest SoftboxIII

“Thank you for a magnificent workshop. Your efforts on our behalf were nothing short of heroic. I don't know where you get your energy, from Sun up to long after it set, you were working to make this the best photographic event that any of us had ever experienced, and you succeeded. Bonaventure Island is a photographers paradise, I have never returned from a workshop with so many '"Portfolio shots". If all your endeavors as fruitful, can't wait to get my lens on those Snowy Owls this winter.............I had a heck of a good time doing what I love, thanks to you" Malcolm MacKenzie West Palm Beach, Florida

Northern Gannet Portrait, Morus Bassanus, Fou de Bassan Bonaventure Island, Quebec ©Christopher Dodds www.chrisdoddsphoto.com Canon EOS 1DsMKII, 500mm F4 Lens with 1.4X II Tele-converter ISO 400, F11, 1/800s Manual, Canon 580EXII Flash ETTL II 1/16 power manual

Who should attend:

This workshop is highly recommended for any level photographer. Whether you are completely new to bird photography, an experienced amateur, or a seasoned pro. There will be something to photograph all day long and I will have plenty of time to tailor your instruction to your abilities. The seasoned pro can take full advantage of my site knowledge and this is the only way to circumnavigate the island in a Zodiac before the island opens at 9AM.

Northern Gannet SKYPOINTER, Morus Bassanus, Fou de Bassan Bonaventure Island, Quebec ©Christopher Dodds www.chrisdoddsphoto.com Canon EOS 1DsMKII, 500mm F4 Lens with 1.4X II Tele-converter ISO 400, F11, 1/800s Manual, Canon 580EXII Flash ETTL II 1/16 power manual

Common Murre, Uria aalge, Guillemot marmette Bonaventure Island, Quebec ©Christopher Dodds www.chrisdoddsphoto.com Canon EOS 1D MKIII, 500mm F4 Lens Hand-held from Zodiac Hurricane 733 ISO 400, F6.3, 1/2000s Manual Mode

Lens choice:

One of the great advantages of being only a few feet from our subjects is not needing to own or bring any super telephoto lenses. Great images can be made with focal lenghts from 15mm to 600mm during this workshop. I often use my 70-200mm F2.8, or my 300mm F2.8 for flight images; while my 500mm (with both the 1.4X and 2X teleconverters) are ideal for tight portraits. Many succesfull images are made with 400mm.

Northern Gannet 7 weeks old, Morus Bassanus, Fou de Bassan Bonaventure Island, Quebec ©Christopher Dodds www.chrisdoddsphoto.com Canon EOS 1DsMKII, 500mm F4 Lens with 1.4X II and 2X II Tele-converters ISO 400, F16, 1/100s Manual, Canon 580EXII Flash ETTL II 1/16 power manual

Getting there....

77km from Gaspe Airport (YGP)
776km from Quebec City Airport (YQB)
1029km from Montreal Pierre Elliot Trudeau Int’l Airport (YUL)

Northern Gannet landing with sea weed, Morus Bassanus, Fou de Bassan Bonaventure Island, Quebec ©Christopher Dodds www.chrisdoddsphoto.com Canon EOS 1D MKII, 500mm F4 Lens ISO 400, F6.3, 1/800s Manual, Canon 580EX Flash ETTL II - 1 and 2/3

What's included....

Four nights hotel accommodatin (single occupancy).
Three 4 hour excursions on a Zodiac boat (weather permitting), and return from Bonaventure Island to Perce on a larger, commercial ferry.
Three picnic breakfasts (sandwich, juice & coffee)
Three days admission to Bonaventure Island
Three full days photographic instruction and Introductory slideshow on the evening before the workshop

Northern Gannet DIVING, Morus Bassanus, Fou de Bassan Bonaventure Island, Quebec ©Christopher Dodds www.chrisdoddsphoto.com Canon EOS 1DMKII, 70-200mm F2.8 Lens @200mm from Zodiak ISO 250, F6.3, 1/1600s Manual

Group size....

Our group will be limited to six participants

Price....

CAD$2,395.00 per person. Non-refundable Deposit of CAD$1,000.00 is due with booking, balance of CAD$1,395.00 due 90 days prior to workshop. Please email me your contact information (chris@chrisdoddsphoto.com) and remit payment to:

Christopher Dodds
Box 112
Franklin Centre, QC
Canada
J0S 1E0

Bonaventure Island is THE best place in the world for Avian flight photography. Be prepared to be a little over-whelmed by the activity there. It is one of my favorite places on this earth, and I can't wait to share it with you.

Questions....

Feel free to email me at: chris@chrisdoddsphoto.com or call me at +1 (450) 827-1007

Gray Seal, Halichoerus Grypus, Bonaventure Island, Quebec ©Christopher Dodds www.chrisdoddsphoto.com Canon EOS 1DsMKIII, 500mm F4 Lens Hand-held from Zodiac Hurricane 733 ISO 400, F5, 1/2000s Manual Mode

Snow Goose Reflection and kudos..

Snow Goose REFLECTION (Chen Caerulescens, Oie des neiges) Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, Socorro, New Mexico, USA. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds www.chrisdoddsphoto.com All Rights Reserved. Canon EOS 1DsMKIII, 500mm F4 Lens with 2X II Teleconverter, tripod and Wimberley Head II. ISO 250, F16, 1/400s in Manual Mode - no flash. CLICK HERE TO ORDER A PRINT OR LICENSE IMAGE FOR PUBLICATION.

I photographed Snow Geese in Quebec and New Mexico this past fall and am in the process of making a submission, so I thought I'd share one of my favorites. I was carefully moving around trying to isolate single birds on the calm water when I noticed this bird stretch it's wings. Although I missed the initial wing-strech, I was able to eventually isolate it and patiently wait for it to repeat it's behavior; as birds often do. I was extremely lucky, as just a few short seconds after this capture, another Goose moved in a blocked my view, as often happens.

Snow Goose LANDING with iron oxide stain (Chen Caerulescens, Oie des neiges) Reservoir Beaudette, Victoriaville, Quebec Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds www.chrisdoddsphoto.com All Rights Reserved. Canon EOS 1DMKIII, 500mm F4 Lens with 2X II Teleconverter, tripod and Wimberley Head II. ISO 500, F8, 1/1000s in Manual Mode. CLICK HERE TO ORDER A PRINT OR LICENSE IMAGE FOR PUBLICATION.

Snow Geese often have red stains on their heads from gathering food in mud containing iron oxides.

More Kudos...

...I am a reasonably good nature photographer, and have always been interested in macro photography (especially flowers). I enrolled in this workshop to learn bird photography because many of my previous attempts at bird photography have been less than satisfactory. I found Chris to be extremely knowledgeable about the area, the birds, and photography techniques but also enthusiastic about photography and about helping the workshop participants to improve their individual photographic skills. I needed help with using flash, and Chris was able to make suggestions which are helping me to use flash with much more confidence. He was always offering suggestions to help me with my photography. He knew what I needed, because he asked what I wanted to get from the workshop. After this workshop, I also have much greater confidence in using the histogram in the field to evaluate my exposures. This area of improvementin addition to the improvement with using flash will help my photography going forward.
I was amazed at the non-stop action of the birds flying all day and the endless possibilities of photographing birds flying, landing, and taking off. Chris recognized changes in the direction of the wind and he was able to have us move to a better vantage point for better photo possibilities. There were some vantage points on the ground where the nesting birds were no more than 10-12 feet from the board walk (and sometimes much closer). Because of this, there was ample opportunity to photograph the birds with moderate telephoto lenses.
Chris has been to this area many times and the people know him well. The people of the area like him and as members of his group, the people were very friendly to the workshop participants. Chris has arranged nice accommodations and was able to suggest good restaurants for our evening meals. The day started early but Chris was able to offer a variety of photo opportunities from daylight to sundown. I was very pleased with the images I was able to make on the second day when it was cloudy with a light rain for much of the day. I will have more confidence in the future about the possibility of photographing on rainy days.
Above all, I had fun at this workshop. I enjoyed talking to Chris about all sorts of his previous experiences, and he was interested in the experiences of the workshop participants. I would recommend Chris as a workshop leader and look forward to being a "student" in one or more of his future workshops. My workshop experience was better that I had anticipated (and I had expected it to be a great experience).

Dennis Stone Columbus, Indiana

The Common Murres of Bonaventure Island

Common Murre, Uria aalge, Guillemot marmette Bonaventure Island, Quebec

©Christopher Dodds www.chrisdoddsphoto.com

Canon EOS 1D MKIII, 500mm F4 Lens Hand-held from Zodiac Hurricane 733

ISO 400, F6.3, 1/2000s Manual Mode

Common Murre, Uria aalge, Guillemot marmette Bonaventure Island, Quebec

©Christopher Dodds www.chrisdoddsphoto.com

Canon EOS 1D MKIII, 500mm F4 Lens Hand-held from Zodiac Hurricane 733

ISO 400, F6.3, 1/2000s Manual Mode

Bridled Common Murre, Uria aalge, Guillemot marmette Bonaventure Island, Quebec

©Christopher Dodds www.chrisdoddsphoto.com

Canon EOS 1D MKIII, 500mm F4 Lens Hand-held from Zodiac Hurricane 733

ISO 400, F6.3, 1/2000s Manual Mode

Bridled Common Murre, Uria aalge, Guillemot marmette Bonaventure Island, Quebec

©Christopher Dodds www.chrisdoddsphoto.com

Canon EOS 1D MKIII, 500mm F4 Lens Hand-held from Zodiac Hurricane 733

ISO 400, F6.3, 1/2000s Manual Mode

If you were to listen to the critics, consistently obtaining critically sharp images of dark, freakishly fast birds against dark backgrounds is impossible with the latest offerings from Canon. The internet was, and continues to be on fire with the number of posts claiming the all new EOS 1D mark III series autofocus system was / is flawed. well, I was late to the game, or got a gem, but I see no problems with the one I'm using. In fact, I would not have done as well with a Mark II in these conditions. If you would like to make critically sharp images from a moving Zodiac (and it was moving a lot), make sure you select a shutter speed of at least 1/2000 of a second, acquire focus on the bird while it is approaching and follow through until, during, and after your pressing the shutter button. Imagine that it is like a good golf swing; followthrough is key. Practice photographing birds in flight every chance you get, practice "bobbing" around in a boat and take lots of images while continuously checking the histogram.

August 17-19, 2009 Gannets Galore Workshop

I still have room available for the August 17-19, 2009Gannets Galore workshop. Click here for more information.

TOP TEN REASONS TO JOIN ME ON BONAVENTURE ISLAND:

I received this in an email from Stan Buman from Carroll, IA:

I joined Chris for the 2009 Gannets Galore Workshop on June 19 -21. It was a great learning experience and a wonderful three days. Here are the top ten reasons why I would recommend attending a workshop with Chris.
1. Chris knows the workshop locations and subjects. He has been to the Northern Gannet colony over 375 times, giving him intimate knowledge of the island and bird behavior. All professional wildlife photographers will tell you that knowledge of the subject is crucial for obtaining quality images.
2. With this knowledge, he works hard to put you in the right place by constantly monitoring weather conditions (such as wind direction) and bird activity.
3. Chris is respectful of, and well respected by, the Park Service employees. He treats them well and they treat him well.
4. The Gannets Galore Workshop is more than just photographing on the island. Photography from the Zodiac boat adds a whole new dimension to the diversity of images and bird species.
5. While birds are his primary focus, he is willing to photograph other subjects; Gray Seals come to mind.
6. He is a good birder. It isn’t just all about Gannets.
7. Being a top-notch photographer, Chris knows what it takes to get great images. He is willing to share his knowledge with his participants.
8. I am a better bird photographer because of Chris. Leading by example, he challenged me to work harder on my skills and work outside my comfort zone.
9. For those of you who live to eat, Chris will make sure you are well fed (quality and quantity). I eat to live but think I gained weight on this trip.
10. His ability to speak French comes in handy for us ignorant Americans who never learned to speak anything but English.

The Common Murre

The Common Murre is found in the seas of the Northern Hemisphere, but unlike the Thick-billed Murre, it prefers ice-free waters. On some islands in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, it nests in dense colonies on narrow cliff ledges, in semi-enclosed rock cavities and in deep fissures, occasionally sharing its quarters with the Razorbill. The Common Murre can fly up-to 200 kilometers from the nest to find food for their chicks, and, like the Northern Gannet, they can dive as deep as 100 meters, and depths of 180meters have been recorded. Courtship displays include bowing, billing and preening. The male points its head vertically and makes croaking and growling noises to attract a female. The eggs vary in color and pattern to help the parents recognize them, each egg is unique. They make no nest and their single egg is incubated on bare rock. Average fledging age is about 21 days, during which the male and female feed the chick with Capelin and sand lance, carrying them one at a time. Both male and female Common Murres moult after breeding and become flightless for 1-2 months. After the breeding season, the Gulf populations move toward the Atlantic and winter off the coasts of Newfoundland. In southern populations they occasionally return to the nest site throughout the winter. Northern populations spend the winter farther from their colonies. A group of murres are collectively known as a "bazaar" and a "fragrance" of murres (and you should get a whiff of the fragrance under the colony on Bonaventure Island).

In Québec, the Common Murre breeds only in the Gulf of St Lawrence. It is especially abundant on Bonaventure Island, with over 27 000 pairs, and on the Sainte-Marie Islands, where nearly 20 000 pairs nest alongside several other alcid species, including Razorbills and Atlantic Puffins. The Common Murre populations in the Gulf have recovered a great deal during the 70s and 80s but currently, the numbers on the Lower North Shore are still distinctly smaller than those reported by 19th century naturalists. According to their accounts, an estimated 350 000 pairs of Common Murres bred there at the turn of the century, whereas today there are a mere 20 000. Poaching and human disturbance are the main causes of this decline.

More KUDOS...

The reviews keep pouring in...this time from Rick & Melody Curtis from Flower Mound, TX. Rick & Melody were with me in Alaska for my Eagle workshop in March, and they are a ton of fun;

Chris,
Thank you for the wonderful time we had at your “Gannet Galore” Workshop! As always, we came away with some “awesome” pictures and expanded our knowledge not only about photography but the birds as well. We were fortunate to have a variation of the weather (fog, rain, sun, & cloudy), which presented us with a new learning experience daily also challenged us to think about what we had learned and apply it accordingly. The differences in the photos were a testimony to your ability to teach us how to use variation in shutter speed, exposure and composition. Even though we tried your patience on occasion, we swear we learned to "keep it to the right" and trust the histogram. Those “crazy birds on the rock” were so much fun to watch, it was easy to forget to take pictures. Your enthusiasm and joy of photography is contagious, making the workshop extremely fun.

We look forward to spending time with you again at another workshop in the near future. Thanks for the great experience; it is one we will remember for a long time.

Thanks again!!
The Texas Zoomers (aka Rick and Melody Curtis)

Gray Seals of Bonaventure Island

Gray Seal, Halichoerus Grypus, Bonaventure Island, Quebec

©Christopher Dodds www.chrisdoddsphoto.com

Canon EOS 1D MKIII, 500mm F4 Lens Hand-held from Zodiac Hurricane 733

ISO 400, F4.5, 1/2000s Manual Mode

Here's a few Grey Seal images captured from the Zodiac during my recent Gannets Galore workshops. Being in the Zodiac allowed us to get low and close; very close. An easy way to ensure sharp images while hand-holding large lenses from a rolling boat is to use a high shutter speed; notice that I've chosen 1/2000 of a second. There is quite a sizable Grey Seal population around Bonaventure Island in the Gulf of the St. Lawrence. How do I get so close? Holding my camera in the "shooting" position before making my approach is the secret; the best way to scare off a seal is to wave a huge white lens at it ;) (and I've seen it countless times).

Gray Seal, Halichoerus Grypus, Bonaventure Island, Quebec

©Christopher Dodds www.chrisdoddsphoto.com

Canon EOS 1DsMKIII, 500mm F4 Lens Hand-held from Zodiac Hurricane 733

ISO 400, F5, 1/2000s Manual Mode

Gray Seal, Halichoerus Grypus, Bonaventure Island, Quebec

©Christopher Dodds www.chrisdoddsphoto.com

Canon EOS 1D MKIII, 500mm F4 Lens Hand-held from Zodiac Hurricane 733

ISO 400, F4.5, 1/2000s Manual Mode

Gray Seal, Halichoerus Grypus, Bonaventure Island, Quebec

©Christopher Dodds www.chrisdoddsphoto.com

Canon EOS 1D MKIII, 500mm F4 Lens Hand-held from Zodiac Hurricane 733

ISO 400, F4.5, 1/2000s Manual

The Gray Seal is large-bodied and robust, rotund at the torso and slender toward the hind end. The head is conspicuously long, broad, and flat with no obvious forehead. The flippers are short and rather thick. The foreflippers are blunt at the end, with digits all roughly the same lenght and with long slender claws. Adult males are up to three times larger than adult females, with a proportionally larger head and a longer, fleshier snout. Mature males develop a robust neck and chest with prominent folds or wrinkles. The chest may become heavily scarred from fighting with other males. There are nine to ten pairs of teeth in the upper jaw and eight pairs in the lower jaw.

The spotting pattern of Gray Seals seems to be individually unique, like a human's fingerprint. The scientific name, Halichoerus Grypus, translates to "hook-nosed sea pig" and is derived from the Greek words halios ("of the sea"), khoiros ("pig"), and grupos ("hook-nosed"). In Eastern Canada, the Gray Seal is also known as "horsehead", in reference to the distinctive shape of the male's head.

Adult  males are generally a uniform dark gray, brown, or black with scattered light spots and blotches over most of the body. Adult females and juveniles are mostly light silver or gray with dark brown, olive, or black blotches. The ventral coloration, especially of females and juveniles, may be lighter. Pups are born with a long thick lanugo coat that they shed at about two to four weeks to attain a muted adult pelage.

Gray Seals live to be 35-40 years of age and the males can reach 770 pounds (350Kg).

Bonaventure ROCKS!

Northern Gannets Fencing, Morus Bassanus, Fou de Bassan Bonaventure Island, Quebec ©Christopher Dodds www.chrisdoddsphoto.com Canon EOS 1DsMKIII, 500mm F4 Lens Wimberley Head and Gitzo Tripod ISO 250, F14, 1/200s Manual, Canon 580EXII Flash in manual; full power with LumiQuest SoftboxIII

I first started to use the LumiQuest softbox III during winter owl excursions, and just like in the studio, using a softbox enlarges and softens the light source producing lovely, evenly lit images. It's important to note that this softbox cuts the light output of your flash by 3 stops, so you have to be quite close to your subject.

Northern Gannet BIRD OF A FEATHER, Morus Bassanus, Fou de Bassan Bonaventure Island, Quebec ©Christopher Dodds www.chrisdoddsphoto.com Canon EOS 1DMKIII, 70-200mm F2.8 Lens @ 200mm ISO 400, F4.5, 1/2000s Manual, Canon 580EXII Flash full power manual.

Using manual exposure ensures success while photographing birds in flight against changing backgrounds.

Northern Gannet VICTORY LANDING, Morus Bassanus, Fou de Bassan Bonaventure Island, Quebec

©Christopher Dodds www.chrisdoddsphoto.com

Canon EOS 1DMKIII, 70-200mm F2.8 Lens @ 200mm

ISO 400, F4.5, 1/2000s Manual, Canon 580EXII Flash full power manual.

Northern Gannet Landing with Seaweed, Morus Bassanus, Fou de Bassan Bonaventure Island, Quebec

©Christopher Dodds www.chrisdoddsphoto.com

Canon EOS 1DMKIII, 300mm F2.8 Lens

ISO 250, F4, 1/1600s Manual, Canon 580EXII Flash full power manual with Better Beamer.

The first three June workshops were a huge success, thanks to a great attendees and cloudy bright conditions for most of our days. We've had cold, rainy days, but that hasn't stopped us from having a great time making some amazing images. I know the workshops are going well when I see attendees making images that I would love to have in my collection. The colony is in fine shape, and there has been another noticeable population increase. There are many more birds populating the "Gannet Crossing" and the staff continues to do amazing work. I've been here more times than I can remember and still had some of the most productive photography ever. The images in this post were created (with many other keepers) during a two hour window on Monday, June 8, 2009. The last two outings in the Zodiac were a dream; flat water, golden light and many Gray Seals, Razorbills, Common Murres, Black-Legged Kittiwakes to photograph - Did I mention the Gannets? (smile).

I've enjoyed a day off and got caught-up with emails, this blog and phone calls today, and just gave the introductory slide show to the last group. The forecast is mixed sun and cloud in the morning, followed by rain and cloud on Saturday and Sunday, so I'm looking forward to another productive workshop.

Bonaventure Bound...

Northern Gannet 7 weeks old, Morus Bassanus, Fou de Bassan Bonaventure Island, Quebec

©Christopher Dodds www.chrisdoddsphoto.com

Canon EOS 1DsMKII, 500mm F4 Lens with 1.4X II and 2X II Tele-converters

ISO 400, F16, 1/100s Manual, Canon 580EXII Flash ETTL II 1/16 power manual

Northern Gannet Fingers Crossed, Morus Bassanus, Fou de Bassan Bonaventure Island, Quebec

©Christopher Dodds www.chrisdoddsphoto.com

Canon EOS 1DsMKII, 500mm F4 Lens

ISO 320, F6.3, 1/1600s Manual

My fingers are crossed that we get a fair mix of weather. At Bonaventure Island, there are just so many birds landing all day long. Shown above against the Gulf of the St-Lawrence on an overcast day.

Northern Gannet DIVE, Morus Bassanus, Fou de Bassan Bonaventure Island, Quebec

©Christopher Dodds www.chrisdoddsphoto.com

Canon EOS 1DMKII, 70-200mm F2.8 Lens with @ 160mm

ISO 250, F7.1, 1/1600s Manual

I just love parking the Zodiac under the Gannet Colony with the chocolate brown cliffs reflecting in the water.

Northern Gannet DIVING, Morus Bassanus, Fou de Bassan Bonaventure Island, Quebec

©Christopher Dodds www.chrisdoddsphoto.com

Canon EOS 1DMKII, 70-200mm F2.8 Lens @200mm from Zodiak

ISO 250, F6.3, 1/1600s Manual

At 02:00, only a few short hours from now, I'll be making the twelve hour drive to one of my favorite places on earth for bird photography. The action is non-stop from the moment we board the Zodiak at 04:45, until the very end of the day. Bonaventure Island is a bird photographers heaven - even better with the hundreds of Gannets we have swirling around our Zodiac each morning. There are still a couple of spots available on my last June trip, and on the August trip. The two spots on the June 19-21 trip are at a huge discount (see my last post).

Manual mode is so scary to many photographers that it blows me away. When your subject is in constant light (2 hours after sunrise, until 2 hours before it sets on a bright, blue sky day), setting your camera to manual mode ensures an almost perfect exposure while following moving subjects against changing backgrounds. Lock & load, but don't forget to check your camera's histogram often.

Gannets Galore Workshop Huge Discount

Northern Gannet SKYPOINTER, Morus Bassanus, Fou de Bassan Bonaventure Island, Quebec

©Christopher Dodds www.chrisdoddsphoto.com

Canon EOS 1DsMKII, 500mm F4 Lens with 1.4X II Tele-converter

ISO 400, F11, 1/800s Manual, Canon 580EXII Flash ETTL II 1/16 power manual

Northern Gannet Portrait, Morus Bassanus, Fou de Bassan Bonaventure Island, Quebec

©Christopher Dodds www.chrisdoddsphoto.com

Canon EOS 1DsMKII, 500mm F4 Lens with 1.4X II Tele-converter

ISO 400, F11, 1/800s Manual, Canon 580EXII Flash ETTL II 1/16 power manual

Due to last minute cancellations, I have two spots available for the June 19-21, 2009 Gannets Galore Photography Workshop at a HUGE discount. The price of the workshop is CAD$2,395.00 per person, but the folks who have cancelled have told me they would be happy to get CAD$1,395.00 - that's a $1,000.00 savings!

The trip includes 4 nights lodging, three 4 hour Zodiac trips under the Gannet colony (weather permitting), three breakfasts, three days photographic instruction. Please give me a call @ (450) 827-1007 to secure your discounted spot now. Visa and MasterCard accepted.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE

Here's how great friend Artur Morris described his experience during my June workshop last year:
"On the morning of June 14, my 62nd birthday, we took the ferry to Bonaventure Island and made the 1.8 mile walk up the big hill. I had been a bit worried about making that walk up and down for five straight days, but Chris was right: “Take it slow and it is an easy walk.” When we arrived at the gannetry, I was totally blown away. So so many birds at arms length. Dozens, even hundreds of gannets in the air at all times, many carrying huge loads of nesting material, many landing just yards away. That day, the photographic action was nonstop, but it was not a birthday present, for the succeeding four days were equally exciting. And as each day came and went, I visualized and created many new and different images. I felt like a painter locked in a huge warehouse with hundreds of blank canvases and an unlimited supply of paints. I was in bird photographer’s heaven.
That evening Chris and I met the five remaining members of the group. Weather permitting, we planned to spend four hours in a large Zodiac photographing the gannetry and the cliffs from the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Though it was rough on the two mornings that we went out very early, we had some great flight and scenic opportunities. Then Danny, the skipper of the Zodiac, would drop us of on the island and we would make the climb to the birds. Danny brought along coolers full of sandwiches and fruit, enough to feed an army. Once he learned that I was diabetic he had his chefs prepare me egg salad and fruit salad every day. We would load our vests with food and head up the hill.
I have been to Antarctica. I have been to Kenya. I have been to Tanzania. And I have been going to Bosque for the past 13 years. All of those places offer great photographic opportunities. But no place that I have been has ever offered as consistent and spectacular action as Bonaventure."

A group of Gannets has many collective nouns, including a "company", "gannetry", "newspaper syndicate", and "plunging" of Gannets. Served as a local delicacy in the town of Isle of Lewis, Inhabitants are allowed to kill up to 2,00 Northern Gannets annually. Though the Bass Rock colony in the U.K. was the largest in the world; there is no room for further expansion, making Bonaventure Island in Quebec, Canada the largest Northern Gannet colony in the world.

Canon 5D Mark II firmware update is now available HERE

The new firmware allows Canon EOS 5D Mark II owners to achieve even more stunning video results with the camera, the firmware update will include the following manual controls when shooting video:
• Full aperture selection
• ISO speed: Auto, 100 – 6400 and H1
• Shutter speed: 1/30th – 1/4000th second

Cerulean Dreams

Cerulean Warbler Vertical, Dendroica Cerulea, Paruline Azurée Kingston, Ontario Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds www.chrisdoddsphoto.com All Rights Reserved. Canon EOS 1DsMKIII, 500mm F4 Lens with 2X II Tele-converter, Tripod & Wimberley Head II. ISO 800, F8, 1/125s Aperture priority (evaluative +2/3), Canon 580EXII Flash ETTL II -3. PURCHASE A PRINT OR LICENSE AN IMAGE FOR PUBLICATION HERE

Cerulean Warbler horizontal, Dendroica Cerulea, Paruline Azurée Kingston, Ontario. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds www.chrisdoddsphoto.com All Rights Reserved. Canon EOS 1DsMKIII, 500mm F4 Lens with 2X II Tele-converter, tripod & Wimberley Head II. ISO 800, F8, 1/320s Aperture priority (evaluative +2/3), Canon 580EXII Flash ETTL II -3 PURCHASE A PRINT OR LICENSE AN IMAGE FOR PUBLICATION HERE.

Environment Canada forecast heavy rain all day yesterday, with little chance of bright overcast conditions that would have been conducive to great warbler photography all day long. I decided to venture to the Kingston area of Ontario to give it a try anyway. Worst that could happen is a good birding day without images; sure beats being in the office.
My parents are visiting from Calgary, so I got them up early, loaded into the car and delivered to their friends home in Kingston before most are out of bed (did I mention it was a three hour drive?). From Kingston, I made my way to the Chaffey’s Lock area and spent a few hours in just about perfect photographic conditions. While there weren’t many birds, there certainly were great quality birds. The rain that did fall was light and misty, while it was mostly just dark and overcast. Considered a photographic nemesis bird by many, I had a blast photographing this gorgeous male Cerulean Warbler. I've photographed Cerulean Warblers many times there before, but Queen's University conducts research and most are banded - it was a dream come true to get a nearly perfect male without bands in Ontario. While using the Canon 1DsIII, I strive to keep the ISO under 400; however, there are times when I simply have to use a higher ISO. Properly exposing the image in the camera is the single best way to minimize noise.

The Cerulean Warbler (Dendroica cerulea, Paruline Azurée) gets its name from the vivid blue coloration of the male warbler's back and cheeks that makes this a difficult bird to find in the tree tops, where it lives and nests. Cerulean Warblers are forest-interior birds that require large, relatively undisturbed tracts of mature, semi-open deciduous forest. In Ontario, they are restricted to such habitats in the Carolinian Forest zone and the southern part of the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Forest zone. These birds begin their long migration to wintering grounds in northeastern South America in late summer. A species of special concern both Provincially and Nationally here in Canada, and in the United States, it is considered a species at risk by many. Recent studies suggest its population is only 30% of what it was only 20 short years ago; dropping faster than any other North American Warbler. On the North American breeding grounds, the chief threat to this warbler is habitat loss resulting from forest fragmentation and degradation. On the South American wintering grounds, forested tracts in mountainous regions are preferred, and these areas are considered to be under a high degree of threat from logging. Nest parasitism by the Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater) may become an increasing problem as cowbird populations increase in degraded forest habitats. The Cerulean Warbler is protected in a Schedule under the federal Migratory Birds Convention Act.

MORE KUDOS:

Point Pelee photography workshop participant, Michael Lyncheski (from Gladstone, NJ) emailed me this testimonial (thanks, Michael):

“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!”

Reflections of Pelee

Yellow Warbler Reflection Vertical, Dendroica Petechia (Paruline jaune) Point Pelee National Park, Essex County, Leamington, Ontario, Canada. Image Copyright©Christopher Dodds www.chrisdoddsphoto.com All Rights Reserved. Canon EOS 1DMKIII, 500mm F4 Lens with 2X II and 1.4II Tele-converters. Tripod and Wimberley Head II. ISO 400, F8, 1/80s Aperture priority (evaluative +2/3), Canon 580EXII Flash ETTL II -2+2/3. CLICK HERE TO BUY A PRINT or LICENSE IMAGE FOR PUBLICATION.

It often takes only one bird to have a great photography day. I had a blast with this Yellow Warbler bathing in a puddle on the road that joins the two parking lots of the Sanctuary trail at the North end of Point Pelee National Park in Leamington, Ontario. I had ventured off along the seasonal trail on my own to try to find warblers for the group, when I realized that Tuma (pronounced Duma), Nick and Gill had discovered a Nashville Warbler bathing in this puddle. I missed the Nashville, but am thrilled with this Yellow. After working the bird with the 500mm and 2X tele-converter for a few frames, I added the 1.4X and the resulting images from the stacked converters were the money shots for me. Good technique is the key to getting sharp images when stacking converters. I lock both knobs on my Wimberley Head and plant my face into the viewfinder, all the while using my left hand to compress the lens, both converters and the camera body into my face. I find this technique eliminates any play between the camera body, converters and lens; resulting in a much higher percentage of sharp, usable images. A solid tripod and head are also vital to success. While auto focus will work very slowly with pro camera bodies from Canon, it is much faster to focus manually.

Carolus Linnaeus, a Swedish botanist, physician and zoologist first described the Yellow Warbler (Dendroica Petechia) in 1766. Often parasitized by the Brown-Headed Cowbird, Yellow Warbler nests can sometimes have up to six tiers; the result of them re-building their nest on top of the parasitized one. DNA based studies indicate that the Chestnut-Sided Warbler is their closest relative. Both sing similarly phrased songs. A group of Yellow Warblers are collectively known as a “stream”, “sweetness”, and “trepidation” of warblers.

Canon Enables Manual Exposure in Video on EOS 5D Mark II

This is HUGE news from Canon. I am going to predict that within 18 months, there will be no digital SLR still cameras available without HD video. Way to go Canon!

Media Alert
***EMBARGOED UNTIL 27th May 2009 03:00 CET***

Canon Enables Manual Exposure in Video on
EOS 5D Mark II


LONDON, UK, 27th May 2009: Canon announced today it will release a firmware
update for the EOS 5D Mark II allowing users to manually control exposure when
shooting video. The new firmware will be available for download from 2 June 2009 on
Canon Europe’s support web site.
Following the launch of the EOS 5D Mark II in September 2008, Canon’s Research and
Development team has listened closely to customer feedback to develop additions to
the camera’s movie recording functionality.

Allowing EOS 5D Mark II owners to achieve even more stunning video results with the
camera, the firmware update will include the following manual controls when shooting
video:
• Full aperture selection
• ISO speed: Auto, 100 – 6400 and H1
• Shutter speed: 1/30th – 1/4000th second

The EOS 5D Mark II integrates full HD movie capability into a high-end 21.1 Megapixel
camera; opening a multitude of new possibilities for photo-journalists and news
photographers. Since its launch the camera has proved its appeal to professionals
working in diverse fields, from studio and wedding to nature and travel. Now,
following customer feedback, Canon has improved functionality for professional video
users, further unleashing the potential of the EOS 5D Mark II for cinematographers and
photographers alike.

- ENDS -

Indigo Buntings - Dauphin Island, AL

Indigo Bunting Vertical, Passerina Cyanea, Dauphin Island, AL

©Christopher Dodds www.chrisdoddsphoto.com

Canon EOS 1DMKIII, 500mm F4 Lens with 2X II Tele-converter

ISO 400, F8, 1/500s Aperture priority (evaluative +1/3), Canon 580EXII Flash ETTL II -2+2/3

I love photographing birds perched in the shade against a sunlit background using flash.

Indigo Bunting Horizontal, Passerina Cyanea, Dauphin Island, AL

©Christopher Dodds www.chrisdoddsphoto.com

Canon EOS 1DMKIII, 500mm F4 Lens with 2X II Tele-converter

ISO 400, F8, 1/80s Aperture priority (evaluative +2/3), Canon 580EXII Flash ETTL II -2+2/3

Male Indigo Buntings are actually black; it is the diffraction of light through their feathers that make them appear many shades from turquoise to black. Using the pattern of stars nearest the North Star to guide them, Indigo Buntings migrate at night. In captivity, they will become disoriented if they can’t see the night stars in April/May and September/October.

Thinking back to Daulphin Island, Alabama, the southern hospitality shown by everyone we met was beyond kind. We met Mike Rogers on our first day there and he kindly showed us around Dauphin Island’s birding hot-spots, then took us to his gorgeous ocean-side resort home and cooked us an amazing crawfish, shrimp and crab dinner. Mike also introduced us to Terry Hartley and together they introduced us to Chris and Michele Steber who let us takeover their bird feeders and setup perches for Indigo Buntings, Blue Grosbeaks and a few other great birds. Thank you Chris & Michele, Mike and Terry. After our first morning, Mike and Terry took us to the home of John & Jennie Stowers who were hosting a marvelous lunch for the Alabama Ornithological Society – what a great way to meet many wonderful birding folks!. I had my first (and definitely not my last) bowl of Gumbo, WOW!

I would like to say that photographing these birds at feeders was easy, but it did require quite a bit of patience. I wasn’t until our third session (and after an amazing smoked turkey beast dinner that Chris and Michele had made) that we were able to produce useable, full-frame images. Leaving the blankets that we had been using as a blind blowing in the wind overnight proved to be the key to acclimatizing the birds to our close proximity. I love the effect of flash on a bird in the shade, against a sunlit background. In fact, while photographing migrant warblers, I’ll take the birds in the shade over harsh, or dappled, sunlight any day.