Sandhill Crane Landing HEAD-ON

The excitement was off the charts when a Sandhill Crane landed directly in front of us during my Best of Bosque Workshop in New Mexico. When the wind is right, you know where to go to get the best backgrounds in New Mexico (The out-of-focus autumn Cottonwood leaves), and you are set up and ready for action……

Sandhill Crane Landing HEAD-ON (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 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. Full frame image.

CLICK HERE to learn more and sign up for Best of Bosque Workshop Dec. 5-9

🪿

CLICK HERE to learn more and sign up for Best of Bosque Workshop Dec. 5-9 🪿

Peek-a-Boo Sandhill Crane

This is an image of a Sandhill Crane landing in a cornfield midway through my five-day workshop in New Mexico on December 7. So many Cranes landed in the freshly cut corn that it was hard to isolate a single subject in the frame. We worked our way to the outside edge of the activity and worked on the birds outside the circling flight path, which limited the number of birds in the background.

Peek-a-Boo Sandhill Crane Landing in Golden Light (Grus canadenis, Grue du Canada, SACR) from my Better than Bosque workshop. Bernardo Wildlife Area, Bernardo, New Mexico, USA. 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 8,000, f/8 @ 1/5,000s Manual exposure. Full frame image.

Sandhill Crane Landing above Autumn Cottonwood Foliage in Golden Light

CRANES ARE BIRDS OF SUPERLATIVES. They are one of the oldest groups of birds, dating back to the Paleocene, some 60 million years ago. They are also long-lived, with captive cranes surviving into their seventies and eighties. They are the tallest flying birds; some species stand up to 1.8m (6ft) high!

Sandhill Crane Landing above Autumn Cottonwood Foliage in Golden Light (Grus canadenis, Grue du Canada, SACR) from my Better than Bosque workshop. Bernardo Wildlife Area, Bernardo, New Mexico, USA. 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 1,600, f/8 @ 1/5,000s Manual exposure. Full frame image.

Snow Goose (dark morph, or blue goose) Landing in Golden Light

Here is another magical memory from last December’s Best of Bosque Workshop in New Mexico. Although the wind direction was wrong, some geese circled on the final approach, and the wind shifted in our favour as the light got sweet - a reward for our patience!

Snow Goose (dark morph, or blue goose) Landing 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 1 Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 600mm f/4 G Master OSS Lens with Sony FE 2X Teleconverter @1,200mm ISO 2,000, f/8 @ 1/5,000s Manual exposure. Full Frame image top to bottom - cropped left side to 4x5 aspect ratio.

Snow Goose Landing in Magical Light

A Snow Goose lands directly toward us in magical light during last year’s Best of Bosque Workshop.

Did you happen to know? Food passes through the Snow Goose's digestive tract in only an hour or two, generating 6 to 15 droppings per hour.

Snow Goose landing in magical 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 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.

Sandhill Crane Landing in Golden Light against out-of-focus Cottonwood Autumn Foliage

A Sandhill Crane landing in golden light against magical out-of-focus Autumn foliage (Cottonwood trees) from Dec. 9, 2023, during my Better than Bosque Workshop in New Mexico. We had some off-the-charts magical light last December!

There are still a few spots left for my Dec. 5-9, 2024, Better than Bosque workshop!

Sandhill Crane Landing in Golden Light against out-of-focus Cottonwood Autumn Foliage (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 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 Manual exposure. Full frame image.

Sandhill Crane landing in a dust storm

The last day of my Better than Bosque Workshop in New Mexico last December was overcast and extremely windy. Thousands of Sandhill Cranes landed before us as the afternoon progressed, making an incredible chorus of their rolling, trumpeting calls. As they foraged for freshly cut corn and preened, they disturbed quite a lot of dust, which acted as an ethereal diffuser at ground level. During the last few minutes of light, the sun tried to appear through the clearing cloud cover in the west; much like smoke, dust filters out part of the light spectrum and changes the colour temperature of the light. I love the resulting warm light and painterly quality of this image.

Sandhill Crane landing in duststorm (Grus canadenis, Grue du Canada, SACR) from my Better than Bosque workshop. Ladd S. Gordon Wildlife Management Area, New Mexico, USA. 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 12,800, f/8 @ 1/5,000s Manual exposure. Full frame image.

“Your workshop (Best of Bosque) was wonderful - you chose a beautiful setting, and I sincerely appreciate your time and effort in putting together a great photographic experience. I learned so much from you over the course of the week, including an understanding of histograms, exposure, shutter speed and how various settings interact to achieve the effects we are trying to create. I appreciated your kindness and patience, and regular checking of my histograms, feedback, and answering any and all of my questions! I have some unexpectedly great photos, including sharp ones of the cranes in silhouette against the setting sun!!!”
— Marsha Lomis Ontario, Canada

American Kestrel with mouse

An American Kestrel proudly displaying its lunch (a mouse) during my Better than Bosque Workshop in New Mexico.

American Kestrel in flight (Falco sparverius, Crécerelle d'Amérique, AMKE) 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.

“Here is the testimonial for the workshop, which I found to be excellent:

I recently attended the Puffins Galore workshop organized by Chris Dodds. I have attended many workshops in the last 15 years, and Chris’s was one of the most interesting. The location is amazing. Chris takes time to answer our questions and gently explain what we could be doing better. Before the workshop, I could not shoot puffins as they are erratic and quick. Now I can, thanks to Chris! ”
— Réne Bastien | Ontario, Canada | Deluxe Puffins Galore Workshop 2024

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.