Northern Gannet Dreamy Landing in the fog Last minute openings for Gannets Galore Workshop

In a world softened by ethereal light, a magnificent gannet descends from the fog with its wings outstretched. With eyes fixed on its mate below, it glides with a grace that transcends the ordinary, a ballet of feathers and devotion. Around them, a dreamlike gathering of their kind, softly blurred, forms a gentle chorus, emphasizing the singular, poignant moment of connection.

This is more than just a spectacle; it's a photographer's dream. The air vibrates with the cacophony of 64,000 nesting pairs. The noise is incredible, a constant, roaring chorus of calls. Amidst this chaos, each gannet recognizes its mate by sound.

The sheer scale of the colony is astounding. Thousands upon thousands of gannets fill every available space, their white forms creating a striking contrast against the rugged landscape. The foggy landscape adds an ethereal quality, perfect for crafting breathtaking images.

LAST MINUTE AVAILABILITY! Join my photography workshop and learn to capture the magic of Bonaventure Island!

  • Master bird photography: Master exposure and learn techniques to capture stunning images of gannets in their natural habitat, from portraits to action shots.

  • Birds in flight photography: Discover the secrets to freezing the dynamic movements of these magnificent birds as they soar and dive.

  • Unlock your creative vision: Develop your artistic eye and learn to craft compelling compositions that tell a story.

  • Daily Zodiac excursion: Start each morning under the Gannetry to get close to Murres, Razorbills, Guillemots, Seals, Whales and many other species, including Harlequin Ducks (weather permitting).

  • Gear transportation: I have arranged for the park service to haul our gear to the colony, so we don’t have to carry it!

Join the adventure! LEARN MORE HERE

〰️

Join the adventure! LEARN MORE HERE 〰️

Northern Gannet Landing (Morus bassanus, Fou de Bassan, Alcatraz atlántico, NOGA) from my GANNETS GALORE WORKSHOP at Bonaventure Island, Quebec, Canada ©Christopher Dodds All Rights Reserved. Sony Alpha a9 III Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS Lens @433mm. ISO 1,000, f/6.3 @ 1/5,000s Manual exposure. Full-frame image.

Northern Gannet Landing with Seaweed in a foggy Gannetry

A Northern Gannet lands directly in front of me with a fresh load of seaweed on a windy and foggy morning during my Gannets Galore Workshop in Quebec. Because it is so easy for the huge Gannets to lift off in high winds, the sky fills with circling birds calling their mates (they recognize their mates by sound); The sky full of tens of thousands of Northern Gannets swirling around you is one of the greatest wonders to witness!

Northern Gannet Landing with Seaweed in a foggy Gannetry (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 1,600, f/5.6 @ 1/5,000s Manual exposure. Full-frame image.

Northern Gannet Portrait showing off nasofrontal hinge

A Northern Gannet poses during my Gannets Galore Workshop for a portrait with its mouth wide open, showing off its nasofrontal hinge.

That’s not an accidental break in its beak! At the base of the upper mandible, a thin sheet of nasal bone is attached to the skull at the nasofrontal hinge, which gives mobility to the upper mandible, allowing it to move upward and downward.

Northern Gannet Portrait showing nasofrontal hinge (Morus bassanus, Fou de Bassan, NOGA). Image made during my GANNETS GALORE WORKSHOP at Bonaventure Island, Quebec, Canada ©Christopher Dodds All Rights Reserved. Sony Alpha a9 III Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS Lens @598mm. ISO 400, f/14 @ 1/400s Manual exposure. Full frame image.

Coastal Brown Grizzly Bear Mother and Yearling on the run

Seeing a bear explode from a nap to 56km/h (35MPH) is impressive! Even more so as they head directly towards you! My Ultimate Brown Bears of Alaska group saw this several times during my workshop in the sacred Halo Bay on the Katmai Coast in Alaska.

Not to worry, although they look like they are about to run us over (especially while looking through a zoom lens @347mm), this intelligent mother is running behind us to use us as a shield from the boar who turned away when he saw us.

Few sights are as terrifying for a mother brown bear in Alaska as a big male brown bear. Adult male bears (boars) are known to kill cubs —and sometimes the mother that defends them. A new study suggests that intelligent mama bears have found a surprising way to protect their young. To shield her cubs from male attacks, mom has to raise them near an adult bear's No. 1 enemy: humans.

Join me in Alaska for the Ultimate Brown Bears of Alaska for eight days of brown bear photography! Learn more HERE.

Coastal Brown Grizzly Bear Mother and Yearling on the run (Coastal brown bear, Grizzly bear, Ursus arctos, ours brun) from my June Coastal Brown Bears of Katmai workshop in Alaska. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds. Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless camera & Sony 200-600mm Lens (@347mm) ISO 3,200, f/6.3 @ 1/3,200s Manual exposure. Full frame image.