Osprey Calling with fish in first light

After an early breakfast, we drive to Lake Blue Cypress and board the pontoon boat for what is always a magical ride through the Osprey-filled Blue Cypress trees that grow in the water as the sun begins to cast its magical first drops of light. On the last morning of the first Ospreys Galore Workshop (April 7), I heard the celebratory calling of this Osprey showing off its fresh catch to its mate, and Captain Don quickly did his part and got us in position to make a series of images before leaving the bird in peace.

Join me next April for this magical adventure: Ospreys Galore and so much more Aril 5-7 & 8-10, 2025. Learn More HERE.

OSPREY in flight with fresh catch (Pandion haliaetus, Balbuzard pêcheur, OSPR) from my Ospreys Galore Workshop on April 7, 2024, at Lake Blue Cypress near Vero Beach, Florida, USA. Image copyright ©Christopher Dodds Sony Alpha a9 III Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 600mm f/4 G Master OSS Lens with Sony 2X Teleconverter @1,200mm ISO 3,200, f/8 @ 1/5,000s. Manual Exposure mode. Full-frame image. Join me for my Ospreys Galore workshop every April. To learn more, CLICK HERE.

Peregrine Falcon in Golden Light

Peregrine Falcons don’t nest in Florida but can be seen during seasonal migrations. We often get to see them during my Ospreys Galore Workshops every April.

Fun Fact: “Peregrine” means wanderer. Northern breeders migrate from the Arctic tundra to South America.

Peregrine Falcon in golden light (Falco peregrinus, Faucon pèlerin, PEFA) from my Ospreys Galore Workshop Lake Blue Cypress near Vero Beach, Florida, USA. Image copyright ©Christopher Dodds Sony Alpha a1 Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 600mm f/4 G Master OSS Lens with Sony 1.4X Teleconverter @840mm ISO5,000, f/5.6 @ 1/5,000s. Manual Exposure mode. Join me for my Ospreys Galore workshop every April. To learn more, CLICK

Coastal Brown Grizzly Bear Sow with Pink Salmon

My group was treated to more than a few phenomenal moments during my Ultimate Coastal Brown Bears of Katmai Adventure Workshop. This is the mother of the Coastal Brown (Grizzly) Bear Yearling with Pink Salmon I posted yesterday. She put on quite a show with her yearling twins, and my “secret spot” on the Salmon River, with its amazing backgrounds, made the images surreal.

Join me for my Ultimate Coastal Brown Bears of Katmai Adventure Workshop

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Join me for my Ultimate Coastal Brown Bears of Katmai Adventure Workshop 🧸

Coastal Brown (Grizzly) Bear Sow with Pink Salmon (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 and Sony 2X Tele extender @1,200mm. ISO 8,000, f/8 @ 1/5,000s Manual exposure.

Coastal Brown (Grizzly) Bear Yearling with Pink Salmon

Here is another favourite from my Ultimate Brown Bears of Alaska Workshop Adventure: Our favourite yearling showing off his prize. We were in the right place for the light and fantastic autumn colours in the background, but there were no bears when we first set up. All of my experience told me to hold tight and wait - smile!

Join me in June or September for the trip of a lifetime! Learn more about my Ultimate Brown Bears of Katmai workshop HERE.

Coastal Brown (Grizzly) Bear Cub with Pink Salmon (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 and Sony 2X Tele extender @1,200mm. ISO 2,000, f/8 @ 1/5,000s Manual exposure.

Snow Goose Landing in Last Drops of Golden Light

The light was spectacular, and the Snow Geese were plentiful. For most of the afternoon, the wind blew into our faces when we were positioned with our shadows pointed toward the birds with the sun at our backs. The worst combination: the birds landing toward the wind or away from us. All we saw was the south end of northbound birds - smile! The sweeter the light got, the more the wind shifted in our favour. What a perfect ending!

Snow Goose Landing in last drops of golden light (Chen Caerulescens, Oie des Neiges, SNGO) from my recently concluded Better than Bosque workshop. Bernardo Wildlife Area (Ladd S. Gordon Waterfowl Complex), 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 6,400, f/8 @ 1/5,000s Manual exposure. Full frame image.

Sandhill Crane in last light

A Sandhill Crane in flight against the out-of-focus Cottonwood trees and distant snow-covered Sandia Mountains in the last drops of golden light.

We had some epic light and unforgettable experiences during my recently concluded Better than Bosque Workshop in New Mexico. The group was terrific, and the photographic opportunities were plentiful and awe-inspiring.

After driving our RV across the country, Julie and I spent a week scouting dozens of locations outside the Bosque del Apache NWR to ensure the group had the best opportunities as the Bosque del Apache refuge continues to decline as a photographic destination. We had an epic trip!

Sandhill Crane in last light (Grus canadenis, Grue du Canada, SACR) from my recently concluded Better than Bosque workshop. Bernardo Wildlife Area (Ladd S. Gordon Waterfowl Complex), Bernardo, 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. Full frame image.

Sandhill Crane After the Storm

This Sandhill Crane was photographed during my Best of Bosque Workshop as it landed in golden light after a storm that brought record-breaking rainfall during a drought. The dark stormy sky was the perfect backdrop as hundreds of Sandhill Cranes started to land in the fields. My December workshop is full this year, but a couple of spots are left for 2024!

Deluxe Atlantic Puffin workshop just announced

Another from my recent Deluxe Puffins Galore Lighthouse Adventure in Quebec. An Atlantic puffin with a bill full of capelin in golden light against out-of-focus golden cliffs. This has quickly become one of my favourite images from one of my favourite places! There is no better place in the world to photograph than Puffin Paradise in Quebec, Canada.

Just announced! August 10-13, 2023 Deluxe Atlantic Puffin Workshop

If you would like to photograph Atlantic Puffins flying with fish in golden light while eating gourmet food, consider joining me in August. Wait! Did I mention that we live in a recently renovated lighthouse? The trips were sold out completely, so I added August 10-13. My trips are timed perfectly so the babies are big enough to need constant feeding, but it ends just before the adults abandon them to fend for themselves.

““Puffins Galore” is a very apt name for this photography workshop with Christopher Dodds on L’Ile Aux Perroquets in the St. Lawrence Seaway. Puffins, Razorbills, Guillemots, and many shorebirds use this little island in the Mingan Archipelago as their nesting home during the breeding season and the place is alive with activity with many opportunities for images of birds in flight and birds around their burrows. Chris Dodds is acquainted with every aspect of puffin behaviour and is very generous with time and advice; he helped me improve my skills capturing images of fast-moving birds. Everyone in the group came away with images that they were thrilled with. The guest house on the island is a converted lighthouse keeper’s residence and provides a very comfortable experience. The meals alone would be worth the trip. Puffins Galore and much, much more!”

— Paul Ludden (Wisconsin, USA)

Osprey in flight in golden light

We had an epic time with fantastic light, weather, ospreys and ospreys with fish during both of my Ospreys Galore workshops on Lake Blue Cypress in Florida. It was fantastic to be out on the lake with some new and some old friends.

“Hi Chris, Thank you for the magical photography experience on Lake Blue Cypress. The opportunity to witness and capture images of this annual ritual of the osprey life cycle was truly a privilege. The setting and expertise of you and the captain were perfection, with the weather and wind in remarkable compliance for the ideal opportunities for memories of a lifetime. Thank you again for putting together this wonderful experience. Honestly, I am in awe of the photos that came out of my camera— you set me up for success! Thank you so much for this!”

— Marsha Lomis (Ontario, Canada)

Sandhill Crane Landing at Last Light

After a cold morning start and a brutally harsh sunny day, we were rewarded with the warmest, sweetest last light and hundreds of Sandhill Cranes landing in front of us.

Join me for my Best of Bosque Workshop December 5-9 in Socorro, New Mexico (near Albuquerque). Learn more HERE.

Sandhill Crane Landing in Golden Light

A Sandhill Crane lands in the very fist golden rays of high desert (5,000ft) light. You always know that you are in for a treat when the light and wind align from behind you :)

Join me Dec 5-9 for my Best of Bosque workshop adventure. Learn More HERE.

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Join me Dec 5-9 for my Best of Bosque workshop adventure. Learn More HERE. 🪶

Atlantic puffin in flight with fish and golden light

Another from my recent Deluxe Puffins Galore Lighthouse Adventure in Quebec. An Atlantic puffin with a bill full of capelin in golden light against out-of-focus golden cliffs. This has quickly become one of my favourite images from one of my favourite places! There is no better place in the world to photograph than Puffin Paradise in Quebec, Canada.

If you would like to photograph Atlantic Puffins flying with fish in golden light while eating gourmet food yourself, then consider joining me next August. Wait! Did I mention that we live in a recently renovated lighthouse? Spots are filling quickly. My trips are timed perfectly so the babies are big enough that they need constant feeding but ends just before the adults abandon the babies to fend for themselves.

Join me next year for my Deluxe Puffins Galore Lighthouse Adventure. Learn more HERE.

Bald Eagle fishing in golden light

“Chris, Thanks for another great photo adventure to Alaska during your Eagles of Alaska photograpic Expedition!!!!!!
This is the third trip with you and they keep getting better. Always challenging. Always easy-going. Always taking my photography forward. (Take a look at my site for a few new pictures from Alaska.) Your instruction is the best I've experience in taking these kinds of trips. You always seem to know where to put us in the absolute best place. Top Notch!!!! Can't wait till the next one.....wherever that might be. Thanks again!!!!!!!”

— Jeff Moore Arlington Heights, Illinois, USA