Sandhill Crane Wings up (Grus canadenis, Grue du Canada, SACR) from my Better than Bosque workshop last December 7 at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, San Antonio, New Mexico, USA. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds. Sony Alpha alpha 1 Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 600mm f/4 G Master OSS Lens with Sony FE 2X Teleconverter @1,200mm ISO 1,600, f/8 @ 1/5,000s Manual exposure. Full frame image.
A Sandhill Crane in flight from my Best of Bosque workshop last December. I love the fire-like background in this frame.
Thank you!
Special thanks Sony, Vistek and to all who filled the stands at my ProFusion Expo Presentations this week. It was a huge success and so great to get back out and see so many friends!
Special thanks to Raquel Rizzuto Hitchcock from Sony of Canada for the images.
Snow Goose landing (Chen Caerulescens, Oie des Neiges, SNGO) from my Better than Bosque workshop last Dec. Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, San Antonio, New Mexico, USA. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds. Sony Alpha alpha 1 Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 600mm f/4 G Master OSS Lens with Sony FE 2X Teleconverter @1,200mm ISO 2,500, f/8 @ 1/5,000s Manual exposure. Full Frame image.
There are still two spots available for my Dec. 5-9 Best of Bosque workshop. Join me at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife near Socorro, New Mexico for an awesome adventure and come home with a diversified portfolio while learning to become a master bird photographer. Learn more HERE.
Northern Pintail Landing (Anas acuta, Canard Pilet, NOPI) from my Better than Bosque workshop. Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, San Antonio, New Mexico, USA. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds. Sony Alpha alpha 1 Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 600mm f/4 G Master OSS Lens with Sony FE 2X Teleconverter @1,200mm ISO 3,200, f/8 @ 1/5,000s. Full frame image. Manual exposure.
Thrilled and proud to be presenting at ProFusion Expo in Toronto today and tomorrow for Sony! Come and see a free mini-workshop/seminar/slideshow. Sony has generously sponsored an extra hour-long meet & greet, so come and say hello and bring your questions (if I can’t answer them, I am sure we will have some awesome support from my friends at Sony :)
The shows start at 12:00 (Noon) on both days. Click the picture below to learn more!
Sony presents Sony ambassador Christopher Dodds November 9 &10, 2022 at 12:00 at Canada’s largest camera expo. Learn more: https://profusionexpo.com/speaker/chris-dodds/
Ross’s Goose Wings Up (Chen rossii, Oie de Ross, ROGO) from my Better than Bosque workshop. Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, San Antonio, New Mexico, USA. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds. Sony Alpha alpha 1 Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 600mm f/4 G Master OSS Lens with Sony FE 2X Teleconverter @1,200mm ISO 3,200, f/8 @ 1/5,000s. Full frame image. Manual exposure.
Come and say hello and join me for my FREE mini-workshop presentation at Canada’s largest camera show in Toronto. I will be presenting at 12:00 on both November 9th and 10th. The presentation is sponsored by Sony and I look forward to seeing you there! Learn more about ProFusion Expo HERE.
Sandhill Crane predawn call (Grus canadenis, Grue du Canada, SACR) from my Better than Bosque workshop last December 7 at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, San Antonio, New Mexico, USA. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds. Sony Alpha alpha 1 Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 600mm f/4 G Master OSS Lens with Sony FE 2X Teleconverter @1,200mm ISO 16,000, f/8 @ 1/2,000s Manual exposure. Full frame image.
Here is another Sandhill Crane from my Better than Bosque workshop last December 7. It was dark, the air was cold, but still and we listened to the chorus of Sandhill Cranes waking for a good long while before they started to fly out. The dark overcast conditions were perfect for low contrast out-of-focus backgrounds. The key when working at high ISOs like 16,000 is to expose the image perfectly and try your best to capture full-frame images that don’t require cropping (or much cropping).
Snow Goose last call in golden light (Chen Caerulescens, Oie des Neiges, SNGO) from my Better than Bosque workshop last Dec. Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, San Antonio, New Mexico, USA. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds. Sony Alpha alpha 1 Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 600mm f/4 G Master OSS Lens with Sony FE 2X Teleconverter @1,200mm ISO 2,500, f/8 @ 1/5,000s Manual exposure. Full Frame image.
Last call for my Best of Bosque workshop from December 5-9. Join me in New Mexico for an action-packed five-day workshop/adventure. Learn more about my Best of Bosque Workshop HERE.
Snow Goose against out-of-focus Cottonwood trees Dec. 6, 2021 (Chen Caerulescens, Oie des Neiges, SNGO) from my Better than Bosque workshop last Dec. Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, San Antonio, New Mexico, USA. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds. Sony Alpha alpha 1 Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 600mm f/4 G Master OSS Lens with Sony FE 2X Teleconverter @1,200mm ISO 1,000, f/8 @ 1/5,000s Manual exposure. Full Frame image.
A Snow Goose gently lands against the distant out-of-focus Cottonwood trees at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge on the second day of my Best of Bosque workshop last December.
Sandhill Crane on final approach (Grus canadenis, Grue du Canada, SACR) from my Better than Bosque workshop. Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, San Antonio, New Mexico, USA. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds. Sony Alpha alpha 1 Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 600mm f/4 G Master OSS Lens with Sony FE 2X Teleconverter @1,200mm ISO 800, f/8 @ 1/5,000s Manual exposure. Full frame image.
Here is another Sandhill Crane from my Best of Bosque workshop last December. It is surprisingly difficult to to get a head-on landing image with the head and neck clear of the wings and body. As always, having five full days and an abundance of subjects and activity with an ounce of patience paid off - wink.
Wood Duck Horizontal Portrait (Aix sponsa, Canard branchu, WODU) from my Better than Bosque workshop. Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, San Antonio, New Mexico, USA. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds. Sony Alpha alpha 1 Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 600mm f/4 G Master OSS Lens with Sony FE 2X Teleconverter @1,200mm ISO 1,000, f/8 @ 1/3,200s. Full frame image. Manual exposure.
Here’s another Wood Duck Portrait from my Best of Bosque workshop last December. Wood Ducks are high on most bird photographers’ want lists and we usually have plenty of great opportunities to fill memory cards full of images of them during my Best of Bosque workshop. Amazingly, two spots are still left for my December 5-9 Best of Bosque workshop after a couple cancelled for medical reasons. Learn more and sign-up HERE.
Bosque Dawn Silhouette Eagle in a tree with Sandhill Cranes (Grus canadenis, Grue du Canada, SACR) from my 2008 Better than Bosque workshop. Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, San Antonio, New Mexico, USA. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds. 600mm f/4 Lens. ISO 200, f/16 @ 1/6s Manual exposure. Full frame image.
Here is a dawn silhouette from my 2008 Best of Bosque workshop. As with pretty much all of my silhouettes, I took some creative liberties with the white balance to make the image pop.
Sandhill Crane Dream (Grus canadenis, Grue du Canada, SACR) from my Better than Bosque workshop. Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, San Antonio, New Mexico, USA. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds. Sony Alpha alpha 1 Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 600mm f/4 G Master OSS Lens. ISO 800, f/5.6 @ 1/25s Manual exposure. Full frame image.
I am not a huge fan of most of the intentional blurs that I see. I really feel there needs to be more than trying to make something out of a “mistake”. The vast majority of these types of images lack light; yeah, photographers try it when there is not enough light, but I mean they lack the quality of light to make them shine and stand out as art. In this case, I absolutely love the dreamy, rusty, oranges and texture in the background.
Dream of Sandhill Cranes? Join me at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge for my Dec. 5-9 Best of Bosque Workshop. Learn More HERE.
Coastal Brown Bear mother with twin cubs (Ursus arctos) Hallo Bay, Katmai National Park, Alaska from my Ultimate Brown Bear Photo Tour in 2018. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds. Sony a9 and Sony Ef 100-400 GM lens and Sony 2X teleconverter at 636mm. 1/800s, f/13 @ 1,000 ISO. Full Frame image.
Here is a Coastal Brown Bear mother and her twin cubs from my 2018 Ultimate Brown Bear Workshop in Katmai, Alaska. Katmai National Park is home to some of the most beautiful brown bears! These are exactly the same species as Grizzly Bears which live inland and way from the rich, plentiful and diverse food available on the coast.
Snow Goose Calling in flight (Chen Caerulescens, Oie des Neiges, SNGO) from my Better than Bosque workshop. Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, San Antonio, New Mexico, USA. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds. Sony Alpha alpha 1 Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 600mm f/4 G Master OSS Lens with Sony FE 2X Teleconverter @1,200mm ISO 6,400, f/8 @ 1/5,000s Manual exposure. Full Frame image.
A Snow Goose calls as it comes into the safety of the pond for the night. I love how simple this almost monochromatic image is with the bright red bill calling out its arrival. There are still two spots open due to cancellation; Learn more about my Dec. 5-9, 2022 Best of Bosque workshop HERE.
Great Egret with fish (Ardea alba, Grande Aigrette,GREG) from my Best of Bosque workshop. Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, San Antonio, New Mexico, USA. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds. Sony Alpha alpha 1 Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 600mm f/4 G Master OSS Lens with Sony FE 2X Teleconverter @1,200mm ISO 10,000, f/8 @ 1/5,000s Manual exposure. Sony bird-eye auto-focus. Full Frame image.
It’s not too late to join me in New Mexico for my Best of Bosque workshop from December 5-9! CLICK HERE to learn more or sign-up for my five-day workshop at an incredible location, Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge.
Coyote (Canis latrans) from my recent Best of Bosque workshop. Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, San Antonio, New Mexico, USA. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds. Sony Alpha alpha 1 Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 600mm f/4 G Master OSS Lens with Sony FE 2X Teleconverter @1,200mm ISO 2,500, f/8 @ 1/500s Manual exposure. Sony animal eye auto-focus. Full Frame image.
A different Coyote from Last year’s Best of Bosque Workshop last December. I must admit to being frustrated that the Coyotes never made direct eye contact while I was photographing them - I rather like the less intrusive view - smile.
There are still two spots to fill after a relatively last-minute health cancellation. To learn more and sign-up for my Dec. 5-9, 2022 Best of Bosque Workshop CLICK HERE.
Wood Duck Portrait (Aix sponsa, Canard branchu, WODU) from my Better than Bosque workshop. Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, San Antonio, New Mexico, USA. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds. Sony Alpha alpha 1 Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 600mm f/4 G Master OSS Lens with Sony FE 2X Teleconverter @1,200mm ISO 2,500, f/8 @ 1/2,500s. Full frame image. Manual exposure.
A portrait of a drake (male) Wood duck from my Best of Bosque workshop last December. When the light angle is right, all of the colourful iridescence show wonderfully!
As iridescent birds move, nanoscale structures within their feathers’ tiny branch-like filaments — known as barbules — interact with light to amplify certain wavelengths depending on the viewing angle. This iridescence is known as structural coloration, wherein crystal-like nanostructures manipulate light.
Sandhill Crane Landing (Grus canadenis, Grue du Canada, SACR) from my Better than Bosque workshop. Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, San Antonio, New Mexico, USA. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds. Sony Alpha alpha 1 Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 600mm f/4 G Master OSS Lens with Sony FE 2X Teleconverter @1,200mm ISO 10,000, f/8 @ 1/5,000s Manual exposure.
A Sandhill Crane lands directly toward us during my Best of Bosque workshop last December. The vast majority of Sandhill Cranes fly in family units with two adults and one juvenile, so isolating a single bird is always the challenge :)
I still have a couple of openings for my Dec. 5-9, 2022 Best of Bosque Workshop due to cancellations. Join me for an incredible adventure to photograph Cranes, Geese, Ducks and so much more!
Coyote (Canis latrans) from my recent Best of Bosque workshop. Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, San Antonio, New Mexico, USA. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds. Sony Alpha alpha 1 Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 600mm f/4 G Master OSS Lens with Sony FE 2X Teleconverter @1,200mm ISO 5,000, f/8 @ 1/5,000s Manual exposure. Sony animal eye auto-focus. Full Frame image.
We had some awesome Coyote encounters during my Best of Bosque workshop last December. The record-breaking drought in the west meant much fewer flooded wetlands for migrating birds, so all of the wildlife was concentrated around the limited flooded zones: Much like during the dry season in Africa, where there is an abundance of prey, there are also predators lurking.
Eared Grebe with reflection (Podiceps nigricollis, Grèbe à cou noir, EAGR) from my Better than Bosque workshop. Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, San Antonio, New Mexico, USA. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds. Sony Alpha alpha 1 Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 600mm f/4 G Master OSS Lens with Sony FE 2X Teleconverter @1,200mm ISO 1,600, f/8 @ 1/5,000s. Full frame image. Manual exposure. Full Frame image.
Still water on a cloudy and windless day was perfect to create images with reflections. This is an Eared Grebe from my Best of Bosque workshop last December.
Among the most skillful of all diving birds, grebes not only plunge headfirst underwater; they also can sink slowly out of sight by compressing their feathers and driving out trapped air, thus making themselves less buoyant. Grebes, in fact, are so well adapted to life in the water that they seldom fly, and many birders have never seen one on the wing.
Northern Pintail in flight (Anas acuta, Canard Pilet, NOPI) from my Better than Bosque workshop. Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, San Antonio, New Mexico, USA. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds. Sony Alpha alpha 1 Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 600mm f/4 G Master OSS Lens with Sony FE 2X Teleconverter @1,200mm ISO 1,600, f/8 @ 1/5,000s. Full frame image. Manual exposure. Full Frame image.
A Northern Pintail banks in flight in preparation for landing. Photographing the ducks in flight during my Best of Bosque workshop is so much fun and very rewarding when things work out. As they land, they tend to bank and change flight path suddenly making it challenging.
