Coastal Brown Bear Photobombed by a Wolf

This is an image from my June 2010 Ultimate Brown Bear Photo Tour in Katmai National Park, Alaska. This wolf spent the day foraging the bear’s leftovers. This image was made after the sun had set.

In Katmai, the documented encounters between the species include wolves stealing fish from bears, wolves harassing courting bears, wolves displacing bears from a moose carcass, bears briefly chasing wolves, wolves travelling with bears, and wolves fishing alongside bears.

“Enjoyed the trip completely. Your input was perfect for my taste and I learned several things I had suspected but didn’t understand completely. Now going trough the images and an very pleased.”
— Otto (Chuck) Guedelhoefer | Illinois, USA - Deluxe Atlantic Puffins Galore Workshop 2024

Coastal Brown Bear and Wolf (Ursus arctos or Grizzly Bear and Canis lupus) from June 2010. Hallo Bay, Katmai National Park, Alaska, from my Ultimate Brown Bear Photo Tour. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds. 500mm ISO 1,600, f/4 @ 1/320s. Manual exposure.

Atlantic Puffin in Flight with Fish in Golden Light and more Kudos

Atlantic Puffin in flight with fish in Golden Light (Fratercula arctica, Macareux moine, ATPU) from my Deluxe Puffins Galore Lighthouse Island Workshop Adventure. Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve, Quebec, Canada. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds. Sony A9 III Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 600mm f/4 G Master OSS Lens with Sony FE 1.4X Teleconverter @840mm. ISO 4,000, f/5.6 @ 1/5,000s Manual exposure. Full frame image.

“Puffins galore! This was an amazing workshop on so many levels! The puffins were plenty and provided us with boundless opportunities for BIF (Birds in flight) and portraits alike. Chris is a great teacher and has an in-depth knowledge of his subject and the environment. He always guided us to the best locations at the right time for optimal lighting. On top of it all the island setting was wonderful. Living in the original light-keeper’s house was very special and the food was delicious!

Chris listens to your needs and adapts to your level. His time is entirely dedicated to making your trip a great one while helping you bring home amazing images and great souvenirs. Thank you Chris for making this an unforgettable experience !”
— Louise Bertrand | Québec, Canada | Deluxe Puffins Galore Workshop August 2024

Atlantic Puffin in flight portrait with fish

The light was magical as the fog started to lift on the morning of August 3 during my second (of five) Deluxe Atlantic Puffins Lighthouse Island Adventure Workshop in Quebec. I have previsualized this image for a very long time: a portrait of a Puffin with a load of fish made in flight with its wings back in magical light. This image is a true testament to the abilities of today’s modern cameras (precisely the Sony a9 mark III), as this bird was flying at 88km/h (55MPH) and is at the minimum focusing distance of the lens and extender combination.

“A fabulous workshop with an artistic and accomplished photographer!

This workshop exceeded all of my expectations: the technical and artistic training in photographing the puffins offered by Chris, the personalized monitoring and attention to detail while photographing the birds, the numerous puffins floating on the water, perched on the cliffs and passing a few inches over your head, the exceptional beauty of the island, the welcoming staff, the lodgings and the food and the perfect group size. Chris is a great communicator and a passionate photographer who will explain with great patience the important notions of bird photography or the settings of your camera to take the best possible shots, rephrasing his explanations in different ways if necessary, until you understand them fully. All of it with a great sense of humor! I loved my experience and would strongly recommend it to others. In addition, Chris is a very good story teller and knows how to create a very friendly group atmosphere. ”
— André Beauchesne | Québec, Canada

Atlantic Puffin in flight portrait with fish (Fratercula arctica, Macareux moine, ATPU) from my Deluxe Puffins Galore Lighthouse Island Workshop Adventure. Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve, Quebec, Canada. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds. Sony A9 III Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 600mm f/4 G Master OSS Lens with Sony FE 1.4X Teleconverter @840mm. ISO 5,000, f/5.6 @ 1/5,000s Manual exposure. Full frame image top[ to bottom (cropped sides to 4x5 aspect ratio).

Razorbills in love and more workshop kudos

I made this image of a pair of Razorbills during my recent Deluxe Puffins Galore Lighthouse Island Adventure Workshop in Quebec, Canada. Razorbills are extraordinarily beautiful. During the breeding season, they have a thin white line from the eye to the base of the bill and another white line across the otherwise black bill—striking!

Razorbills (Alca torda, Petit Pingouin, RAZO) from my Deluxe Puffins Galore Lighthouse Island Workshop Adventure. Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve, Quebec, Canada. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds. Sony a9 III Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 600mm f/4 G Master OSS Lens with Sony 1.4X teleconverter (@840mm). ISO 5,000, f/5.6 @ 1/5,000s Manual exposure. Full-Frame Image.

“No matter your experience with birds in flight or type of camera, you can’t help but pick up valuable knowledge and photographic skills during this wonderful excursion. Chris knows lighting. He knows (the) best camera settings from his long experience. And he knows puffins. He shares his insights and advice without being overbearing. I venture to say Chris is not exaggerating when he describes this as the best place in the world to photograph these adorable birds. . . . . I highly recommend Chris and this workshop. ”
— Belinda Prinz | Ohio, USA | Deluxe Puffins Galore Workshop 2024

Atlantic Puffin flying with fish against golden cliffs

It takes a minute for the dust to settle before we can fully appreciate everything we witness and experience. Looking back through the memories of my recently completed five sold-out, back-to-back Deluxe Atlantic Puffin workshops, I can’t help but feel somewhat overwhelmed by them. There are those moments frozen in time by my camera, but there are also the moments standing on the beach before sunrise, waiting for the imagess to emerge from the scene. It’s not only about the images! I keep thinking about new friendships and when a client starts to understand a new technique or theory or, perhaps, realizes that exposure theory may be simpler than they thought. That’s what makes me happy!

“The Deluxe Atlantic Puffin Workshop Photo Tour was fantastic! The island is remote, and Chris helped me with some complex travel arrangements. The location is beautiful, away from other people getting in your shots. There are many photo ops on the island, many razerbills, gulls, and my favorite, 1,000s of puffins. We were able to shoot them on land, taking off, flying, and bringing back fish. Not only is Chris an internationally renowned wildlife photographer, he is an incredible teacher. He assessed each of our photography skills and worked with us at our level, answering questions and making suggestions. We were able to shoot several times each day. He would walk around the island and let us know if there were spots that were especially good, helping us find the best opportunities. We stayed in the lightkeepers inn, which was very nice. Our French chef was fantastic, and prepared meals with several options. I especially liked the eggs Benedict and salmon. I would strongly recommend this tour to photographers at any level, beginner to advanced. Thank you Chris! ”
— Victoria Steelman | Iowa, USA | Deluxe Puffins Galore Workshop 2024

Atlantic Puffin flying with fish against golden cliffs (Fratercula arctica, Macareux moine, ATPU) from my Deluxe Puffins Galore Lighthouse Island Workshop Adventure. Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve, Quebec, Canada. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds. Sony A9 III Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 600mm f/4 G Master OSS Lens with Sony FE 2X Teleconverter @1,200mm. ISO 12,800, f/8 @ 1/5,000s Manual exposure. Full frame image.

Common Eider Female and Saint Cuthbert's Legend

I photographed this female Common Eider on the morning of August 9 during my Deluxe Puffins Galore Lighthouse Island Adventure Workshop in Quebec. I couldn’t help but think about the close association with Northumberland (North East England) that the bird and I share (Why aye, man, I am a Geordie originally from Whitley Bay).

Saint Cuthbert of Lindisfarne was an Anglo-Saxon monk, bishop, and hermit widely regarded as Northumbria's patron saint. While his life and legacy are associated with many miracles and religious practices, one of his most notable contributions was the creation of one of the first bird protection laws in history.

The common eider, a large sea duck found along the northern coasts of Europe, North America, and eastern Siberia, has interested humans for centuries. A famous colony of eiders lives on the Farne Islands in Northumberland, England, where Saint Cuthbert established a law protecting the birds in 676.

Legend has it that Saint Cuthbert was captivated by the eiders’ beauty and the value of their down feathers. He recognized the need to protect them from overhunting and established a law forbidding the taking of the birds and their eggs from the Farne Islands. This law is considered one of the earliest recorded instances of bird protection in history.

Common Eider Female (Somateria mollissima, Eider à duvet, COEI) from my Deluxe Puffins Galore Lighthouse Island Workshop Adventure. Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve, Quebec, Canada. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds. Sony A9 III 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.

Atlantic Puffin Flying with Fish at Sunrise

Special thanks to all my clients (friends) who made my five back-to-back Deluxe Puffins Galore workshops successful. We had fantastic weather, exceptional photography, and more Puffins with fish than usual, all mixed with lots of learning and good times. Did I mention the food? Smile!

“I had a spectacular time! It is a once-in-a-lifetime, wonderful adventure with Chris on Ile Aux Peroquets, a tiny island paradise! I was able to get up-close shots of Puffins as well as many in-flight shots of these comical birds. I also learned about proper exposure! Fields of wildflowers, gourmet food and comfy accommodations were the finishing touches on this unique, cool workshop!

Thank you so much!”
— Kara Mason | New York, USA | Deluxe Puffins Galore Workshop 2024

On the morning of August 9, 2024, we all waited patiently. The fog magically lifted as the sun projected its magical golden rays at sunrise. This is the first frame from that morning session:

Atlantic Puffin flying with fish at sunrise (Fratercula arctica, Macareux moine, ATPU) from my Deluxe Puffins Galore Lighthouse Island Workshop Adventure. Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve, Quebec, Canada. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds. Sony A9 III Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 600mm f/4 G Master OSS Lens with Sony FE 2X Teleconverter @1,200mm. ISO 12,800, f/8 @ 1/5,000s Manual exposure. Full frame image.

Northern Gannets

A Pair of Northern Gannets exchange nesting material at the Bonaventure Island Gannetry during my Gannets Galore workshop. This pair had built a nest on a rock, and the vegetation kept getting blown away; perhaps next year, they will return and make a mud bowl nest like all other Gannet pairs.

Northern Gannets Nest Building (Morus bassanus, Fou de Bassan, NOGA) from my GANNETS GALORE WORKSHOP at Bonaventure Island, Quebec, Canada ©Christopher Dodds All Rights Reserved. Sony Alpha a9 III Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 600mm f/4 G Master OSS Lens & Sony 1.4X Tele-extender @840mm. ISO 250, f/7.1 @ 1/1,000s Manual exposure. Full frame image.

Coastal Brown (Grizzly) Bear Charging after fish

A Coastal Brown (Grizzly) Bear charging after salmon during my Ultimate Brown Bears of Alaska Adventure Workshop in Katmai National Park. I love the monochromatic feel to this one ;)

Join me for my Ultimate Coastal Brown Bears of Katmai Adventure from September 17 to 24 for an incredible 8-day/7-night photographic adventure on a private charter along the Katmai Coast of Alaska. We will photograph the numerous Coastal Brown Bears congregating along streams overflowing with salmon as they fatten up for the long and harsh Alaskan winter. Unlike many other tours, our itinerary starts by flying out to the ship from Kodiak, Alaska, on day 1 (flights from Kodiak to the boat and back are included), and we remain there until we fly back to Kodiak on day 8. We photograph bears from day 1 to day 8, so eight days of epic brown bear photography! There are only two spots left!

September 17-24 is the best time to capture images with autumn colours and golden light. The sun has already started its winter journey south of the equator, so the low light angle is spectacular for photography. The bears will be about as big as they will get before winter hibernation, and all that fish oil they have been digesting makes their fur glisten in the light.

Coastal Brown (Grizzly) Bear Charging after fish (Ursus arctos, ours brun) from my Ultimate Coastal Brown Bears of Katmai adventure workshop in Alaska. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds. Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 600mm f/4 G Master OSS Lens with Sony 2X Tele extender @1,200mm. ISO 16,000, f/8 @ 1/5,000s Manual exposure. Full-frame image shot vertically and cropped slightly on top & bottom to make a 4 X 5 aspect ratio.

A Coastal Brown (Grizzly) Bear Cub in golden light

This Coastal Brown (Grizzly) Bear Cub was the star performer during my Ultimate Brown Bears of Alaska Workshop last September. Join me for an incredible all-inclusive eight days of Brown Bear photography along the Katmai coast with departure from Kodiak, Alaska, September 17-24.

A Coastal Brown (Grizzly) Bear Cub in golden light. (Ursus arctos, ours brun) From my Ultimate Coastal Brown Bears of Katmai adventure workshop in Alaska. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds. Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 600mm f/4 G Master OSS Lens. ISO 800, f/4 @ 1/5,000s Manual exposure. Full Frame Image (cropped slightly top & bottom to 4 X 5 aspect ratio).

Coastal Brown (Grizzly) Bear Cub showing off fresh salmon in golden light

The light was spectacular, the out-of-focus autumn background perfect, and the bear cubs played with dinner directly before us —what could be better?

This image was made during my Ultimate Fishing Brown Bears of Alaska Adventure last September.

There are still two spots left for my Sept. 17-24 Ultimate Brown Bears of Alaska Adventure Workshops. All-inclusive from Kodiak, Alaska, we spend eight full days (7 nights) photographing the many Coastal Brown (Grizzly) Bears of Katmai National Park.

A Coastal Brown (Grizzly) Bear Cub showing off fresh salmon in golden light. (Ursus arctos, ours brun) From my Ultimate Coastal Brown Bears of Katmai adventure workshop in Alaska. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds. Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 600mm f/4 G Master OSS Lens. ISO 800, f/4 @ 1/5,000s Manual exposure. Full Frame Image.

Grey Ghost (Male Northern Harrier) in flight

A backlit Grey Ghost (male Northern Harrier) from a recent private workshop with a couple of wonderful clients (new friends, Dave & Christine) at the Lake Saint-François National Wildlife Area in Dundee, Quebec. The light got harsh quickly, and this Grey Ghost put on quite a show on the wrong side of the light, but I did pull off this keeper from the day :)

Northern Harrier GRAY GHOST (Circus hudsonius, busard Saint-Martin, NOHA) from a PRIVATE WORKSHOP at the Lake Saint-François National Wildlife Area (Réserve nationale de faune du Lac-Saint-François) in Dundee, Quebec, Canada ©Christopher Dodds All Rights Reserved. Sony Alpha a9 III Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 600mm f/4 G Master OSS Lens with Sony FE 2X Teleconverter @ 1,200 mm. ISO 6,400, f/8 @ 1/5,000s Manual exposure. Cropped from Vertical.

Happy Fourth of July

Happy Fourth of July to all of my American friends and family. This image was made during my annual Eagles Galore Workshop in Alaska every March. The predawn colours in the sky were a fantastic pallet of pastels - and the Eagles were singing their morning chorus. What could be better?

Bald Eagle Call of the Wild (Haliaeetus leucocephalus, Pygargue à tête blanche, BAEA) near Homer, Alaska. Image copyright ©Christopher Dodds Sony 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 @ 1/3,200s. Manual Exposure mode. Join me for my Eagles Galore workshop in March. To learn more, CLICK HERE.

Coastal Brown (Grizzly) Bear Eye to Eye

A Coastal Brown (Grizzly) Bear cub proudly shows off its prize: a freshly caught salmon during my Ultimate Brown Bears of Alaska Workshop in Katmai National Park.

If you dream of fishing bears in golden light with unique autumn colours in the background, my Ultimate Brown Bears of Alaska trip is for you! We are the last group in the park for the season, and the bears are enormous, with fur that glistens from eating so much salmon to prepare for their winter hibernation. The September sun in Alaska has started to move south of the equator for the winter, so the low light angle and light quality are spectacular.

Join me for my Ultimate Coastal Brown Bears of Katmai Adventure from September 17 to 24 for an incredible 8-day/7-night photographic adventure on a private charter along the Katmai Coast of Alaska. We will photograph the numerous Coastal Brown Bears congregating along streams overflowing with salmon as they fatten up for the long and harsh Alaskan winter. Unlike many other tours, our Itinerary starts by flying out to the ship from Kodiak, Alaska, on day 1 (flights from Kodiak to the boat and back are included), and we remain there until we fly back to Kodiak on day 8. We photograph bears from day 1 to day 8, so eight days of epic brown bear photography! There are only two spots left!

Coastal Brown (Grizzly) Bear Cub with Salmon. Eye to Eye. (Ursus arctos, ours brun) From my Ultimate Coastal Brown Bears of Katmai adventure workshop in Alaska. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds. Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 600mm f/4 G Master OSS Lens. ISO 1,000, f/4 @ 1/5,000s Manual exposure.

Coastal Brown Bear eating fresh salmon

Ultimate Coastal Brown Bears of Alaska Workshop Update:

Join me for my Ultimate Coastal Brown Bears of Katmai Adventure from September 17 to 24 for an incredible 8-day/7-night photographic adventure on a private charter along the Katmai Coast of Alaska. We will photograph the numerous Coastal Brown Bears congregating along streams overflowing with salmon as they fatten up for the long and harsh Alaskan winter. Unlike many other tours, our Itinerary starts by flying out to the ship from Kodiak, Alaska, on day 1 (flights from Kodiak to the boat and back are included), and we remain there until we fly back to Kodiak on day 8. We photograph bears from day 1 to day 8, so eight days of epic brown bear photography! There are only two spots left!

Coastal Brown (Grizzly) Bear Cub Eating Fresh Salmon (Ursus arctos, ours brun) from my Ultimate Coastal Brown Bears of Katmai adventure workshop in Alaska. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds. Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 600mm f/4 G Master OSS Lens with Sony 1.4X Tele extender @840mm. ISO 20,000, f/5.6 @ 1/1,000s Manual exposure. Full-frame image.

Coastal Brown Bear Fishing Workshop Update

Ultimate Brown Bears of Alaska Adventure Last Minute Openings:

A Coastal Brown Bear Sow (female) slams salmon during my Ultimate Brown Bear Fishing Adventure in Katmai, Alaska. I love the out-of-focus cub in the background, as it tells the story of who mom is fishing for :)

I still have a couple of spots open for the Ultimate Brown Bears of Katmai Fishing Bear adventure from September 17-24. Join me for the ultimate 8-day/7-night adventure along the Katmai Coast with loads of close-up fishing bears!

Coastal Brown (Grizzly) Bear Sow Fishing for Jr. (Ursus arctos, ours brun) from my recent Ultimate Coastal Brown Bears of Katmai adventure workshop in Alaska. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds. Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 600mm f/4 G Master OSS Lens with Sony 2X Tele extender @1,200mm. ISO 3,200, f/8 @ 1/5,000s Manual exposure. Full-frame image.

Northern Gannet Landing with Seaweed in a foggy Gannetry

A Northern Gannet lands directly in front of me with a fresh load of seaweed on a windy and foggy morning during my Gannets Galore Workshop in Quebec. Because it is so easy for the huge Gannets to lift off in high winds, the sky fills with circling birds calling their mates (they recognize their mates by sound); The sky full of tens of thousands of Northern Gannets swirling around you is one of the greatest wonders to witness!

Northern Gannet Landing with Seaweed in a foggy Gannetry (Morus bassanus, Fou de Bassan, NOGA) from my GANNETS GALORE WORKSHOP at Bonaventure Island, Quebec, Canada ©Christopher Dodds All Rights Reserved. Sony Alpha a9 III Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 600mm f/4 G Master OSS Lens & Sony 1.4X Tele-extender @840mm. ISO 1,600, f/5.6 @ 1/5,000s Manual exposure. Full-frame image.

Northern Gannet Portrait showing off nasofrontal hinge

A Northern Gannet poses during my Gannets Galore Workshop for a portrait with its mouth wide open, showing off its nasofrontal hinge.

That’s not an accidental break in its beak! At the base of the upper mandible, a thin sheet of nasal bone is attached to the skull at the nasofrontal hinge, which gives mobility to the upper mandible, allowing it to move upward and downward.

Northern Gannet Portrait showing nasofrontal hinge (Morus bassanus, Fou de Bassan, NOGA). Image made during my GANNETS GALORE WORKSHOP at Bonaventure Island, Quebec, Canada ©Christopher Dodds All Rights Reserved. Sony Alpha a9 III Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS Lens @598mm. ISO 400, f/14 @ 1/400s Manual exposure. Full frame image.