Northern Gannet Branch Manager

A Northern Gannet “The branch manager” bringing a branch back to its nest over the cliffs of Bonaventure Island during my Gannets Galore and so much more workshop in Quebec. While most of the Gannets returning with something to line their nests bring seaweed, grass, and sometimes sticks or feathers, I have occasionally seen them return with fishing nets and garden hoses over the decades of leading workshops at Bonaventure Island.

Northern Gannet in flight at Bonaventure Island

I don’t think it is a big secret: I love Gannets! They are magnificent and graceful creatures. I used my Sony Alpha 1 camera paired with the Sony 200-600 (my favourite lens) to capture this Northern Gannet landing against the textured pastel sky over the Gulf of the Saint Lawrence during my Gannets Galore and so much more Workshop in Quebec.

Northern Gannet in flight with seaweed

A Northern Gannet returns to its nest on Bonaventure Island with seaweed during my Gannets Galore and so much more workshop. This one is from a folder I found from my 2022 workshop. We had a pretty great day with some spectacular skies!

Northern Gannet love

The last frame from the first day of my Gannets Galore and so much more workshop on Bonaventure Island. I had to lie in the wet grass to get this, but it was well worth it - smile.

Northern Gannets reinforce their bond through mutual preening, nape nibbling, and "fencing," where the pair knocks bills together.

Northern Gannet Preening

A Northern Gannet Preening photographed during my recent Gannets Galore and so much more workshop in Quebec.

Preening allows the bird to remove dust, dirt and parasites and realign each feather and their tiny barbules in the correct position relevant to the next feather, following the body's contours underneath. Birds preen several times a day, often for hours, to keep their feathers in top shape.

Northern Gannet in flight with seaweed

A Northern Gannet brings home seaweed to line its mud bowl nest during my Gannets Galore and so much more workshops on Bonaventure Island in Quebec. This dark grey background made standing in the rain all day well worth it - smile! Join me next June for the adventure!

Northern Gannet Artistic Eye Detail

Here’s another Gannet from the first day (June 5, 2023) of my Gannets Galore and so much more workshops on Bonaventure Island. Near the end of our very long day of rain, it started to let up a little, and I decided to lie down in the wet grass and wait for a Gannet to get close. I spent almost 25 minutes with it before starting the hike back to catch the boat. I wanted something that would work on a cover, so I kept the camera in vertical orientation and let the composition …develop - smile.

Click on the image above to see and read about a horizontal image cropped to vertical and published on the cover of the now-defunct Dutch E & V magazine way back in 2010. ©Christopher Dodds

Northern Gannet in flight with seaweed

A Northern Gannet landing with seaweed during my recent GANNETS GALORE WORKSHOP on Bonaventure Island in Quebec. The heavy fog during our first day became patchy, and I made this image while wandering between the main colony and the tower during a brief window of light fog at the end of the first day.

There are many ways of dealing with fog post-capture, including the dehaze tool, curves and levels adjustments, etc. I usually try to preserve the foggy scene but occasionally process a foggy image so the result negates any sign of the fog.

Northern Gannet foggy landing

A Northern Gannet landing in the fog from my recent GANNETS GALORE AND SO MUCH MORE WORKSHOP on Bonaventure Island in Quebec. I always keep an eye open for unique backgrounds and love the foggy background here; I think this was the only bird that swung around and landed away from the gentle breeze.

Northern Gannet flying with seaweed

The early morning boat excursion under the cliffs of BONAVENTURE ISLAND during my Gannets Galore workshop offered so many different and unique opportunities. This Gannet had just collected the seaweed and flew right past us: I love the contrast between the dark water, shadows and subject here.

Northern Gannet landing with seaweed in fog

On the first day (June 5, 2023) of my Gannets Galore and so much more WORKSHOP, after our four hours along the cliffs under the colony in the Zodiac, we loaded our gear onto the specially arranged 4-wheeler for the park staff to transport for us, and we hiked up to the gannet colony. The fog was thick, and the gannets were plentiful. This image was made from the memorial platform that is a tribute to Gilbert, a friend, former long-time park employee and Gannet lover.

Northern Gannet landing with seaweed

A Northern Gannet brings home some seaweed to line its mud-bowl nest during my recently concluded GANNETS GALORE AND SO MUCH MORE Workshop on BONAVENTURE ISLAND.

After spending an incredible four hours on the Zodiac, we loaded our gear on the park’s four-wheeler (a special arrangement only available to my group) and made our way up to the fog-enshrouded Gannettry; it is always an impressive sight. The fog was heavy, but the rain was manageable. This image was made towards the end of the day as the fog let up a little.

Northern Gannet with Seaweed

Gannets Galore Workshop update

Two spots just opened up for my June 5-7, 2023, Gannets Galore (and so much more) workshop in Gaspé, Québec. Learn more about this epic adventure, with includes a daily four-hour Zodiac excursion HERE.

The best photographic event that any of us had ever experienced

Thank you for a magnificent workshop on Bonaventure Island. Your efforts on our behalf were nothing short of heroic. I don't know where you get your energy, from Sun up to long after it set, you were working to make this the best photographic event that any of us had ever experienced, and you succeeded. Bonaventure Island is a photographers paradise, I have never returned from a workshop with so many 'Portfolio shots. If all your endeavors as fruitful, can't wait to get my lens on those Snowy Owls this winter.............

I had a heck of a good time doing what I love, thanks to you.

Malcolm MacKenzie West Palm Beach, Florida, USA

Gannets Galore Bird Photography Workshop

“Hi Chris: As you know, I attended the Gannets Galore Workshop in June 2014 in Quebec and wanted to drop you a note and let you know what a profound experience it was for me, in terms of both the Gannets themselves, and the opportunity to work with a true professional. I learned many things on this trip regarding not only the technical aspects and capabilities of my camera and lens, but also in my approach to understanding what I really hoped to obtain as a final photographic image. This trip, coupled with your patient guidance, have truly changed the way that I use my equipment and forced me to think about what I really hope to accomplish as an end result – and I finally understand the importance of the “Histogram” – hooray! The Gannets themselves were breathtakingly wonderful and I shall never forget this once-in-a-lifetime experience. Thanks again for a really great workshop. I’m saving my pennies so that hopefully I can take another trip with you in the future.”

— Jake Jacoby, Captain, U.S. Coast Guard (Retired)

Gannets Galore Bird Photography Workshop

Here’s a Northern Gannet from my Gannets Galore workshop on Bonaventure Island. I just love the post downfall battleship grey backgrounds of the dark sky reflected by the surface of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. If you are serious about mastering bird photography, then this is the very best workshop to attend at the very best venue to truly master your craft. Three full days of in the field and non-stop action and instruction. All three days start with an amazing four hour Zodiac tour of Bonaventure Island where we immerse ourselves in the awe-inspiring and mesmerizing activity at the incredible seabird colony. We will be feet away from the thousands of Common Murres, Razorbills and diving Gannets; not to mention the Grey Seals, Common Eiders, Harlequin Ducks and more - a must-see wonder!

Northern Gannet Lovebirds

Happy Valentines Day!

I just love the super saturated colors immediately after a rain storm passes at the largest Northern Gannet colony in the world. Join me in June for my Gannets Galore Workshop on Bonaventure Island in The Gulf of the Saint Lawrence. This is, by far, the very best venue in the world to learn, refine and master your bird photography skills!

Gannets Galore

One of the highlights of my year is always my annual Gannets Galore workshop on Bonaventure Island in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence every June. Seabird colonies are always my favourite to visit, as the activity at a big colony like Bonaventure Island (about 58,000 breeding pairs) can be somewhat overwhelming. Particularly so when it's windy and easy for the Gannets to take-off; there can be 10,000 Gannets flying around at any given time!

The Gannets love brings seaweed back to their mate when they return to the nest. It's always fun to photograph the Gannets landing; more so when they are delivering a load of seaweed.

As for workshops, Bonaventure Island is THE place to learn all about bird photography; from Birds in flight, portraits, behaviour and all of the required technical expertise to become a technically and artistically proficient bird photographer. The included early morning Zodiac boat excursions will round out your portfolio with other species and the exciting action of diving Gannets.

Learn more about my Gannets Galore workshop HERE.

Black and White Portrait of a Northern Gannet

Northern Gannet B&W PORTRAIT (Morus bassanus, Fou de Bassan, NOGA) From my Gannets Galore Workshop on Bonaventure Island at Parc National de l'île Bonaventure-et-du-Rocher-Percé, Quebec, Canada. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds. Sony Alpha a9 Mirrorless Camera & Sony FE100-400 F4.5-5.6 G Master OSS @ 400mm and minimum focusing distance. Full frame image. ISO 800, f/5.6 @ 1/4,000s Manual exposure mode.

Northern Gannet a la Sony a9

Northern Gannet BOUQUET (Morus Bassanus, Fou de Bassan, NOGA) Parc national de l'Île-Bonaventure-et-du-Rocher-Percé, Bonaventure Island, Quebec, Canada. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds. Sony Alpha a9 Mirrorless Camera & Sony FE100-400 F4.5-5.6 G Master OSS  @176mm. ISO 640 f/5.6 @ 1/4,000s Manual exposure mode. PURCHASE A PRINT or LICENSE IMAGE FOR PUBLICATION HERE.

Here's a Northern Gannet from a rare opportunity to photograph alone on Bonaventure Island while I was testing the new Sony a9 mirroless camera with the new Sony FE100-400 F4.5-5.6 G Master OSS lens. I was blessed with a cloudy bright day, which is my absolute favorite lighting for my all-time favorite bird photography place where I have spent more than a year of my life since falling in love with the Gannets there! (If you were to add up all of the days spent teaching workshops there over the years).

I still have a couple of spots available for my June 5-7, 2018 Gannets Galore workshop there. Read more about the workshop I host there every year HERE.

Northern Gannet THE BOUQUET

Northern Gannet THE BOUQUET (Morus Bassanus, Fou de Bassan, NOGA) Parc national de l'Île-Bonaventure-et-du-Rocher-Percé, Bonaventure Island, Quebec Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds www.chrisdoddsphoto.com All Rights Reserved. Canon EOS 1DX Mark II, 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 L IS II USM @400mm. ISO 1600, f/8 @ 1/3,200s Manual. Full Frame. PURCHASE A PRINT or LICENSE IMAGE FOR PUBLICATION HERE.

Here's another Gannet from the first day of my Gannets Galore workshop. This one in heavy fog. Foggy images lack contrast, and look washed-out when exposed properly.

You can adjust the contrast several ways, to reflect how much fog you would like in the image; I used the levels tool (in Photoshop), and adjusted the darks by grabbing the left slider and dragging it to the right. Hold down the "ALT" Key while moving the slider, and you will see when the darks start to clip. If you move the slider far enough to clip the darks, you loose details in the darkest parts of the image. Be aware that this might increase any noise in the image; An effect that is amplified if you start with a poorly exposed image.