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

Razorbill flying with fish and Sony Community Event in Montreal

A Razorbill flying with fish as the last drops of fog burn off in the morning light during my Deluxe Puffins Galore Workshop in Quebec.

Razorbill with fish flying in light fog and morning light (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 Alpha 1 Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 600mm f/4 G Master OSS Lens with Sony 1.4X teleconverter (@840mm). ISO 1,250, f/5.6 @ 1/5,000s Manual exposure. Full-Frame Image.

I am thrilled to be one of the creators hosting a Sony Community Event on Saturday, June 15, 2024, from 1:00-5:00 PM at Studio Notre-Dame Angus 4888 rue Molson, Montreal, QC H1Y 3J8. Click the image below to book your free ticket!

Razorbill with fish flying over out-of-focus seaweed

A Razorbill with fish flying over out-of-focus seaweed at low tide during my Deluxe Puffins Galore Lighthouse Island Adventure Workshop in Quebec, Canada.

Razorbill with fish flying over out-of-focus seaweed (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 Alpha 1 Mirrorless camera and Sony 200-600mm Lens @600mm. ISO 2,000, f/6,3 @ 1/5,000s Manual exposure. Full-Frame Image.

Razorbill Last Call in Golden Light

Everyone joins my Deluxe Atlantic Puffins (and so much more) workshops for the Puffins, but the Razorbills are so beautiful and elegant. Often called the Penguins of the North, Razorbills are only found in the Atlantic Ocean.

Razorbill Last Call in Golden Light (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 Alpha 1 Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 600mm f/4 G Master OSS Lens with Sony 1.4X teleconverter (@840mm) ISO 1,600, f/5.6 @ 1/4,000s Manual exposure. Full Frame Image.

Razorbill Flying with Fish

A Razorbill brings a couple of fish to its nest during my Deluxe Puffins Galore and so much more Lighthouse Island Workshop in Quebec, Canada.

Mixed into the swarms of Atlantic Puffins Galore returning to their nests with mouths full of fish are Razorbills bringing Capeline to feed their babies. Razorbills are one of the 22 species of Auks found only in the northern oceans. All family members are expert divers that use their short wings for flying and as flippers for swimming in pursuit of fish, shrimp, and other prey.

Razorbill in flight with Fish (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 Alpha a1 Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 600mm f/4 G Master OSS Lens with Sony FE 1.4X Teleconverter @840mm. ISO 5,000, f/6.3 @ 1/5,000s Manual exposure. Full frame image.

Razorbill in flight

A Razorbill in flight from my recent Deluxe Atlantic Puffins and so much more workshops. It was a dark and rainy day at low tide when this Razorbill flew over the seaweed-covered rocks as it returned to its nest on the cliff.

Razorbills, also known as razor-billed auks or lesser auks, are a unique species of seabird known for their sharp, hatchet-shaped bills and strong swimming abilities. With their sleek black-and-white plumage and distinctive bills, razorbills are a striking sight.

Razorbill in flight with Sand Lance

A Razorbill with Sand Lance caught breaking before it hit me in the head. This image was created with the Sony Alpha 1, 600mm f/4 G-Master Lens and the Sony 1.4X Tele-extender.

I have just announced the 2024 Deluxe Atlantic Puffins and so much more workshops. Learn more:

Razorbill in flight with fish takeout

It’s not only Puffins: A Razorbill bringing home some fish for its baby during my Deluxe Atlantic Puffins and so much more Workshop.

Razorbill calling in last light

Razorbills simply fascinate me. Newfoundland hunters called Razorbills “tinkers,” the local pronunciation of “thinkers.” They were given this name because during courtship displays, males hold their bills vertically, appearing to contemplate the heavens.

Razorbill in flight with Capelin fish

Unlike the Puffins that usually circle a few times before landing and scurrying into their burrows, the Razorbills usually just fly straight in on the first attempt. This Razorbill made a few attempts before it landed, and banked right in front of us a few times before finally landing.

Razorbill in flight with Capelin fish

A Razorbill brings Capelin fish back to its nesting site to feed its baby. The very last frame of a sequence of 32 was captured; This one was chosen for the visible Capelin head and its position.

Razorbill in flight with fish

The striking black-and-white Razorbill nests in cliffside colonies overlooking the ocean, often among murres, fulmars, puffins and kittiwakes. It uses its sharp, hatchet-shaped bill to catch fish underwater, sometimes diving to 100 meters (330 feet).

Incredibly, the oldest known Razorbill was at least 41 years old It was banded as a nestling on Bardsey Island in the United Kingdom in 1968, and was resighted while breeding in 2009.

Images Alberta Camera Club Presentation Kudos

Here are some kudos from my recent presentation to the Images Alberta Camera Club:

As a member of the St. Albert Photography Club, I was able to piggyback onto the Images Zoom session on the 14th. The session was interesting, beneficial, and enlightening on many fronts, and it was visually stunning due to the quality of your work. Thank you very much for sharing your wealth of knowledge in such a friendly, easy-going manner. - Ken Collett

I know this is repetitive but I really am very grateful to you and to Sony Canada for the fantastic presentation tonight. You set a record for us in terms of attendance and we didn’t have as many guests from other clubs as we could have if I had opened up the numbers of invites I sent to them. The chat messages were very laudatory as you will see when I send the file tomorrow. - Garry Ford

I saw your presentation Jan14 and am in awe of your images. - Michele Baddoo

Really really enjoyed your presentation. You were so very generous with your tips! The photos are stunning! - Judy Johnston

From the live chat:

• Thank you for that histogram explanation. - Tanya Ironside

• I am in awe... -Katie

• Absolutely stunning images. - Satvinder Singh

• I'm speechless...absolutely amazing images! - Erin Oor

• Very generous with the tips...thank you so very much!

• Amazing images. thank you!!! - Linda Marion

• Incredible information, birds in flight are my passion - Lee Lachance

• Keep going !!!!! - Katie

• Thank you very much & merci beaucoup! Fantastique - Cathy

• Following you on Instagram now! Amazing! and I agree great info along the photo tour. Thanks a bunch! - Maritta Renz

• Amazing photographs. Thanks for sharing these with us. - Wendy Royer

• Thank you so much, loved the presentation. Beautiful work. - Michelle Shynkar

• This has been an amazing presentation. I cannot believe how tack sharp your images are and how much work you put into making them such incredible captures. Thank you for sharing your passion and your expertise with us tonight!! - Colleen Sayer

• Great presentation with lots of interesting tips and information. Thank you! - Tanya Ironside

• Fabulous presentation with great tips, all backed up with superb images. - Ken

• Thanks for the great information accompanied by amazing pictures. It was very illustrative and interesting. It felt like 5 minutes - David A.

• Excellent presentation - just loved it! - Lynette Jonson

• A wonderful presentation. thanks so much. - Barbara Adams

• Thank you so much for inviting other Clubs - Victoria in particular. This has been fantastic and so worthwhile. I'd love to go on a workshop with you! - Kim

These comments after realizing I went way over my scheduled time limit, and asked if anyone wanted to keep going - smile!

• Keep going!!! - Judy Johnston

• Waahooo! - Katie

• Yeah, keep going - Tarra

• You are a natural teacher, way to go!! - Cathy

• Thanks for sharing your photos and expertise. Loved the presentation. • Absolutely awesome images. Thank you Chris, Sony, and the Alberta club. Love from the West Coast. - Lynn

• This has been an eye opener presentation. - Satvinder Singh

• Thanks Christopher .. - Brenda and Jean-Marcel

• Very inspirational! Thank you so much - Lee Lachance

• Thanks for the presentation Christopher. It inspires me to get out there and take some great photos. - Christine

• Thank you Chris and thank you Alberta Photo Club for giving us the opportunity. - Satvinder Singh

• Thank you very much for the presentation. - Dipan Das

• Loved this. Thanks to Images Alberta for inviting Camera Club of Ottawa to share in this evening. Chris you're awesome. - Julia Hardwick

• Thank you so much. - catherinepage

• (And when I said I had to end the meeting) NOOOOOO! - Katie

• Thank you so so much Chris! Amazing presentation. - Erin Oor

• Thanks so much Chris. I learned a lot and really enjoyed the show! - Clayton

• Thank you so much!!! - Katie

• Fantastic presentation !!! - Ron Snider

• Thanks, Christopher, for staying up late for us - Cathy

• Amazing photos.... great body of work! love to go on a trip with you! - Nora

• Amazing presentation and images - Michele

• Thank you for your time - Curtis Polishuk

• Thank you, Chris, for your very inspiring information and photos. - Corinne Overwater

• Thanks so much. wonderful - Sue

The organizer was copied on a message to a member of another club that attended, who was describing the show to a friend who missed it:

Chuck,

Sorry about the short notice, I only noticed the email late afternoon.

I hate to say it, but it was one of the best presentations I have ever seen! Not only was the photography, every single image, absolutely amazing, he offered tips and strategies that I had never heard of before. Unfortunately, it will also be a very expensive presentation for me … no question now that I will make the jump to Sony as soon as my Nikon gives up the ghost, not too long from now.

Razorbill and Atlantic Puffin Tandem Flight

Windy days at seabird colonies are the most fun; it's effortless for them to take-off, so they do. The biggest challenge is to avoid having out of focus birds in your backgrounds. I was tracking this Razorbill with the hope that it would fly low enough that I would get a uniform green background....I wasn't expecting it to fly into the Puffin - smile.