Five groups. Countless puffins. Long days in the field, plenty of laughter, wonderful meals, new friendships and more memorable photographic opportunities than I could possibly count.
With the final group now finished, another season of my Deluxe Atlantic Puffins Galore Photography Workshops on Île aux Perroquets, Quebec has come to an end.
Most of all, I want to say a huge thank you to everyone who joined me this year. Each of the five groups brought its own personality and energy to the island, and that is a big part of what makes these workshops so much fun for me to lead year after year.
It was especially wonderful to welcome back so many repeat clients—some of whom have joined me on multiple workshops over the years—and to meet photographers joining me for the first time. Seeing familiar faces return is something I never take for granted, and watching new friendships form along the way is one of the great rewards of my work.
Photographing Atlantic Puffins at Eye Level
There are few places quite like Île aux Perroquets for Atlantic Puffin photography.
We live right on the tiny island, surrounded by the sights and sounds of a thriving seabird colony. Instead of commuting back and forth each day, we're already there when the light and conditions come together. The puffins are only a short walk from our accommodations, giving us the luxury that wildlife photographers value most: time with our subjects.
And time creates opportunities.
We photographed Atlantic Puffins resting among the rocks, interacting with one another, flying past at remarkable speed and returning from the Gulf of St. Lawrence carrying beaks full of fish for their waiting chicks.
The image above is one of my many favourites from this year's workshops. There are many more images still to sort through, but this one immediately caught my attention.
This puffin was coming straight toward me with a bill packed with fish, wings spread and those unmistakable orange feet lowered for landing. I love the symmetry of the pose, the direct eye contact and, especially, the way the soft grey background and green foreground allow every detail of the bird to stand out.
The tiny droplets suspended in the air add another layer of atmosphere and a sense of place.
Camera & Exposure
Sony α9 III
Sony FE 600mm F4 GM OSS
1/5,000 sec. at f/4 ISO 4,000
A shutter speed of 1/5,000 second gave me the speed I wanted to freeze the puffin's rapid approach and preserve the fine detail in the wings, fish and face. Shooting the 600mm wide open at f/4 helped isolate the bird against that beautifully soft background, while ISO 4,000 gave me the exposure I needed without sacrificing shutter speed.
This is exactly the kind of situation where I don't hesitate to raise the ISO. The photograph comes first.
More Than Puffin Photographs
Looking back over another season on Île aux Perroquets brings back far more than memories of the images we made.
There were early mornings, changing weather, great food, plenty of laughs and hours spent watching and photographing puffins together. Some participants arrived knowing one another; many didn't. Some were joining me for the first time, while many were returning clients whom I've had the pleasure of photographing alongside on previous adventures.
By the time we left the island, everyone had shared an experience that is difficult to experience anywhere else.
That's one of the things I continue to love most about leading photography workshops. The photographs matter enormously, but so do the people and the experience of being there.
To everyone who trusted me with your time, travelled from near and far and joined me on Île aux Perroquets this season: thank you. And to those of you who continue to come back and join me again and again, an especially heartfelt thank you. Your continued trust and friendship mean a great deal to me.
Five Groups — One Remarkable Island
And here they are—the five groups that made the 2026 Atlantic Puffins Galore season such a memorable one.
Group 1: July 29 to August 1, 2026 Puffins Galore photography workshop group with Christopher Dodds on Île aux Perroquets, Quebec, Canada. Susan & Robert, Alan, David & Wipada (Wippy), Ted, Alex & Cindy.
Group 2: August 1-4, 2026 Puffins Galore photography workshop group with Christopher Dodds on Île aux Perroquets, Quebec, Canada. Connie & David, Vikram & Chelsea, Toni, Joanne, Nancy & Ryan.
Group 3: August 4-7, 2026 Puffins Galore photography workshop group with Christopher Dodds on Île aux Perroquets, Quebec, Canada. Susan, Catherine, Susan, William, Toni & Susan (Ron & Linda never made it thanks to Air Canada).
Group 4: August 7-10, 2026 Puffins Galore photography workshop group with Christopher Dodds on Île aux Perroquets, Quebec, Canada. Barbara & John, Carol, Wendy, Ulrike, James & Christina.
Group 5: August 10-13, 2026 Puffins Galore photography workshop group with Christopher Dodds on Île aux Perroquets, Quebec, Canada. Seethram (Ram), Chuck, Cheryl, Eileen Michael, Susan, Chris & Gwendolen (Gwen).
Join Me for Atlantic Puffins Galore in 2027
If photographing Atlantic Puffins in Quebec has been on your bucket list, I'll be returning to Île aux Perroquets for another season of Deluxe Atlantic Puffins Galore Photography Workshops in 2027.
These are deliberately small-group workshops, and we stay right on the island in the historic lighthouse keeper's accommodations, only a short walk from the puffins. Being there gives us extraordinary access and the flexibility to take advantage of changing light, weather and activity throughout our stay.
The workshops are designed around one simple goal: giving you as much quality photographic time with Atlantic Puffins as possible while helping you make better photographs.
Several 2027 sessions already have bookings, and space is limited.
If you'd like to join me for Atlantic Puffins Galore in 2027, visit the workshop page for dates, complete details and availability.
I hope to see you on the island next summer.
— Christopher Dodds