Atlantic puffin banking in first drops of golden light

There were so many opportunities for Puffins with fish, it was an exercise to remember to get some without a beak full of Sand Lance or Caplin :)

Common Raven with Razorbill egg in golden light

All of the seabirds on the cliffs evacuate at the first sight of the Raven. They are quite skilled at carefully carrying stolen eggs :( Part of their success as a species is due to their omnivorous diet: they are extremely versatile and opportunistic in finding sources of nutrition, feeding on carrion, insects, cereal grains, berries, fruit, small animals, nesting birds, and food waste.

Atlantic Puffin in flight silhouette

I can love making silhouettes at sunset on windy days at seabird colonies :) The biggest mistake folks make is not using a fast enough shutter speed to capture sharp edges - wink.

Crested Auklet Vertical

Shoot it vertical and practice!

Here is a Crested Auklet from my recent Saint Paul Island Workshop. If you want to improve your birds in flight skills, try shooting with your camera turned vertically to Portrait mode. As I age, my vision, reflexes and hand-eye coordination are all working hard to slow me down - I stay sharp by spending hours tracking super small, fast and erratic birds in flight and often orient the camera vertically - smile.

Red-faced Cormorant in flight

Here is a Red-faced Cormorant returning to it’s perch on the cliffs of Saint Paul Island. It was great to see the species doing so well with many more accessible for photos than in recent years. Also known as the Red-faced Shag and Violet Shag, this is likely the least studied North Pacific bird species.

Crested Auklet in flight on black

Here’s another Crested Auklet in flight a la Sony 200-600mm lens and Alpha 1 camera. This combo is such a bomb that I am seriously considering leaving my prime 600/4 at home next year. Getting tired of Crested Auklet pics?

Peek-a-boo Horned Puffin

After seeing the effects of avian flu on the Bonaventure Island Northern Gannet colony firsthand, it was nice to see more Horned Puffins than there have been during the last decade on the cliffs of Saint Paul Island this year. This Horned Puffin has a great home with a fabulous view of the Bering Sea!

Backlit Crested Auklet in flight

This image has been on my bucket lit for a very long time. Crested Auklets are the least abundant seabirds on the cliffs of Saint Paul Island, so finding them flying into the right background can be challenging. All of the other images in this sequence had busy and bright coloured rocks in the background. I was fortunate to have a few sequences as this bird circled multiple times waiting for the right wind to land.

Deluxe Atlantic Puffins Galore Workshop last minute openings

I am sad to report a couple of cancellations for my Deluxe Puffins Galore and so much more workshops. If you love Puffins, gourmet food and adventure (think living in a fully renovated lighthouse on a tiny island), then get in touch to grab your spot! If you want to master birds in flight photography and create a complete portfolio of Atlantic puffin images, then this is the trip for you!

July 29 to August 1 SOLD OUT

August 1 to 4 LAST MINUTE OPENING!

August 4 to 7 SOLD OUT

August 7 to 10 SOLD OUT

August 10 to 13 ONLY ONE ROOM LEFT!

Crested Auklet in flight

There was no shortage of Crested Auklets on Saint Paul Island during my recently concluded workshop there. They share the same habitat as the much more numerous Parakeet Auklet, so you really do need to focus on finding the few Crested Auklets amongst the masses of seabirds flying on windy days. The quick identifier is the dark belly compared to the pale underside of the Parakeet Auklet. Absolutely my favourite bird on Saint Paul Island - smile.

Tufted Puffin in flight with feather

Here’s a Tufted Puffin flying straight up the cliff towards me against receding sea foam below. The Sony bird eye auto-focus really improved the keeper rate while doing this type of extreme birds in flight photography - smile.

Tufted Puffin Portrait Bad Hair Day

A curious Tufted Puffin was photographed while pointing my lens straight down off the cliffs of Saint Paul Island during my recent workshop.

Parakeet Auklet in flight vertical

Here’s another from the cliffs of Saint Paul Island. I always make a point of practicing shooting full frame verticals when it is windy and there are loads of subjects :)

Pribilofs Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch In Flight 2

The second time I have been lucky enough to photograph this species in flight. See my last effort in my blog post from 2020 Pribilofs Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch In Flight.

Horned Puffin in flight over the Bering Sea

Once again, the Sony Alpha 1 paired with the 200-600 zoom lens proved to be the most versatile kit during my recent Saint Paul Island workshop. It is easy to carry around and hold all day during our long cliffside shoots. Here I am only a few seconds before making the Horned Puffin image above:

Canadian nature photographer Christopher Dodds high atop the cliffs of Saint Paul Island (The Pribilof Islands, in the Bering Sea, Alaska, USA) with a Sony Alpha 1 camera and Sony 200-600mm lens. June 27, 2022 Image courtesy and copyright Dale Johnson - Thanks, Dale :)

Tufted Puffin BIRD OF A FEATHER

Here’s a Tufted Puffin from my recently concluded Saint Paul Island Workshop. Birds often bring nesting material back to the nest, and I have seen my share of plastic waste, so this one came together nicely when the bird’s pose, background and that feather all aligned in a pleasing way :)

Tufted Puffin in flight over the Bering Sea

We had some EPIC opportunities for birds in flight during my recent Saint Paul Island workshop. This is a Tufted Puffin in flight over the Bering Sea. Photographed hand-held from my little perch on a cliff - smile.

Atlantic puffin in flight with Caplin

It’s not too late! There is still only one room left for my August 10 to 13, 2022 Deluxe Atlantic Puffins Galore and so much more workshop. Don’t miss this chance to live a real life adventure: Newly renovated Lighthouse accommodations, gourmet food, Puffins Galore and so much more.

Atlantic puffin silhouette

Last minute opportunity for my Deluxe Atlantic Puffins Galore and so much more workshop

There is only one room left for my recently announced August 10-13, 2022 Deluxe Atlantic Puffins and so much more workshop. If you want to master birds in flight photography and create a complete portfolio of Atlantic puffin images, then this is the trip for you.

July 29 to August 1 SOLD OUT

August 1 to 4 SOLD OUT

August 4 to 7 SOLD OUT

August 7 to 10 SOLD OUT

August 10 to 13 ONLY ONE ROOM LEFT!

Deluxe Atlantic Puffins Galore workshop update

There is only one room left for my recently announced August 10-13, 2022 Deluxe Atlantic Puffins and so much more workshop. If you want to master birds in flight photography and create a complete portfolio of Atlantic puffin images, then this is the trip for you.

July 29 to August 1 SOLD OUT

August 1 to 4 SOLD OUT

August 4 to 7 SOLD OUT

August 7 to 10 SOLD OUT

August 10 to 13 ONLY ONE ROOM LEFT!