A Golden Glimpse of Pink Amidst the Storm: Roseate Spoonbill Cover Image

The first day (April 8) of the second Florida Workshop certainly threw us a curveball! Mother Nature decided to put on a dramatic show: It rained, the wind howled, and the sky crackled with thunder and lightning. Not exactly ideal conditions for Osprey photography from an open, aluminum pontoon boat in a lake!

Undeterred, we pivoted and made our way to the Roseate Spoonbill rookery, hoping for a break in the weather. As they say, patience is a virtue, especially for wildlife photographers. For a good portion of our time there, the skies remained stubbornly grey, the air thick with humidity.

But then the clouds parted. A glorious golden light bathed the scene for just a few fleeting moments: The kind of light that transformed the ordinary into the extraordinary, painting the lush green foliage in warm hues and illuminating the delicate pink of the Roseate Spoonbills.

And that's when Mother Nature offered her prize – a reward for those who had braved the weather and remained vigilant. In that brief window of golden light, the rookery came alive. It was a breathtaking spectacle, a reminder that even amidst the harshest conditions, beauty can emerge if you are simply present and ready to witness it.

This image, captured during that precious interlude, serves as a testament to the power of perseverance and the unexpected gifts that nature can bestow. It wasn't the day we had initially envisioned, but it was truly memorable, filled with the raw energy of a storm and the delicate beauty of the Spoonbills bathed in golden light. Sometimes, the most rewarding moments are the ones you least expect.

Roseate Spoonbill landing in Dramatic First Light (Platalea ajaja, Spatule rosée, Espátula rosada, ROSP). Image made April 4, 2025, while scouting for my Ospreys of Florida Workshop. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds. Sony a9 III Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 400-800mm f/6.3-8 G OSS Lens @400mm ISO 3,200, f/6.3 @ 1/5,000s. Manual exposure.

Read about my recent adventures with the new Sony 400-800mm Zoom Lens:

Perfect Portraits of Black Vultures on a Stormy Day

The Magic of Bokeh: Elevating Your Bird Photography

Osprey in flight with Black Crappie in Golden Light

Dancing with the Wind and a Willet: Willet in flight a la Sony a9 Mark III and the new Sony 400-800mm Zoom Lens

Green Heron Calling in Flight Sony 400-800 with Sony 1.4X Tele-converter

Red-shouldered Hawk and the freedom of the new Sony 400-800mm Zoom lens

Less is More: Finding Freedom with only the Sony a9 III and 400-800mm in Florida

FE 400–800 mm F6.3–8 G OSS Mini-review. Is this the "Holy Grail" for bird photography? by Christopher Dodds

Neotropic Cormorant with Rainbow Trout

Here is a Neotropic Cormorant with a Rainbow Trout from yesterday morning (November 30, 2024) while I scout the best locations and opportunities for my upcoming Best of Bosque Worksop in New Mexico.

I was working with the local ducks, and this Cormorant had the nerve to cause a commotion and catch a Rainbow Trout directly in front of me. Despite the best techniques, setting myself up with the best light angle and background, there was an ounce of luck involved in getting an eye on the fish and bird visible in the image.

Neotropic Cormorant with Rainbow Trout (Nannopterum brasilianum, Cormoran vigua, NECO) from yesterday morning (November 30, 2024) while scouting for my Better than Bosque workshop. Near Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds. Sony a9 III Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 600mm f/4 G Master OSS Lens with Sony FE 2X Teleconverter @1,200mm ISO 3,200, f/8 @ 1/5,000s. Full frame image. Manual exposure.

Snowy Owl Workshop New Dates Just Announced!

Here is another image of what I believe to be the same Snowy Owl that I posted yesterday. It was so nice to find it in time for the nice light—smile. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it hangs around.

I have announced an additional Owl Workshop from February 10 to 14, 2025. CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE OR SIGN UP.

Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus, Harfang des neiges, SNOW) Quebec, Canada. Sony a1 mirrorless camera body Sony & Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS Lens @600mm F/6.3 ISO 10,000 @ 1/5,000s.

Wood Duck emerging from shadow

A beautiful Drake (male) Wood Duck emerges from the shadow of a tree to bask in the golden rays of first light during my Best of Bosque Workshop in New Mexico.

Wood Duck emerging from the shadows (Aix sponsa, Canard branchu, WODU) from my Better than Bosque workshop. Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, San Antonio, New Mexico, USA. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds. Sony a1 Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 600mm f/4 G Master OSS Lens with Sony FE 2X Teleconverter @1,200mm ISO 1,250, f/8 @ 1/5,000s. Full frame image. Manual exposure.

Sandhill Crane calling in flight in golden light

A Sandhill Crane calls as it flies past the out-of-focus autumn foliage of the cottonwood trees.

Sandhill Cranes can be heard as far as 2.5 miles (4km) away. They give loud, rattling bugle calls, each lasting a few seconds and often strung together.

Sandhill Crane calling in flight in Golden Light (Grus canadenis, Grue du Canada, SACR) from my Better than Bosque workshop. Bernardo Wildlife Area, 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 3,200, f/8 @ 1/5,000s Manual exposure. Full frame image.

Osprey showing off Fish for Breakfast in Golden Light

Being out on the boat on Lake Blue Cypress and in position at sunrise is one of my favourite ways to start a morning. Add the melody of calling Ospreys proudly announcing their arrival with breakfast and the first drops of golden light….with an Osprey showing off its fresh fish; it doesn’t get any better!

Due to a medical accident, one spot is still available from April 5-7. You can learn more or sign up for my Ospreys Galore Workshop on Lake Blue Cypress HERE.

OSPREY Showing off a Fish for breakfast in golden light (Pandion haliaetus, Balbuzard pêcheur, OSPR) 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 ISO 4,000, f/5.6 @ 1/5,000s. Manual Exposure mode. Full-frame image. Join me for my Ospreys Galore workshop every April. To learn more, CLICK HERE.

“I had the pleasure of meeting Chris Dodds a few weeks ago in Florida when I signed up for his Osprey workshop. The sign up process and pre workshop communication was excellent and concise. I must admit that as I drove over from Tampa to the hotel I was a bit uneasy after looking at Chris’s images wondering if he was approachable, patient, and a good teacher with someone like me who didn’t have a lot of experience shooting wildlife before. We met in the hotel lobby , chatted for 30 minutes or so and thankfully Chris put my concerns to rest. I went to bed that night knowing that the next few days would be an adventure.

I can honestly say that Chris Dodd’s workshop for Ospreys far exceeded my expectations. Chris is a great guy, very happy to answer your questions and the best thing of all, fun to shoot with. I learned a lot, met a new friend and best of all was blown away at the quality of my images because of Chris’s help/techniques. I cannot wait to meet Chris somewhere else in the wild and experience another awesome outdoor shooting experience. Thank you Chris, I hope to see you again soon!”

— Mark Weaver Tampa, Florida, USA

Short-eared Owl (Shortie) in flight in nice light

The Great Lakes have no ice on them because it has been unseasonably warm this winter, so there have been a lot of lake-effect clouds, rain and snow. We were treated to a few hours of blue sky and enjoyed every moment with this Short-eared Owl photographed in the last drops of golden light.

I will limit the number of Winter Owl Workshops again next winter, so book early HERE to avoid missing out.

Short-eraed Owl in Flight in last drops of light (Asio flammeus, Hibou des marais, SEOW). From my second Winter Owls Galore workshop that concluded on Friday. 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 10,000, f/8 @ 1/5,000s Manual exposure. Full frame image.

Bald Eagle Calling in Golden Light

A Bald Eagle calling in first light can be a goosebump-inducing moment. We had some pretty epic cloudy bright conditions for most of my first workshop but were looking forward to the “mostly sunny” forecast. We crossed the bay before sunrise, landed on the beach and waited for the sun to rise - smile!

For such a large bird, the Bald Eagle’s voice is surprisingly weak. Its call is compared to a snickering laugh and consists of seven or eight notes sounded quickly and haltingly in a way that sounds very laboured. It can be written to sound like ki-ki-ki-ki-ki-ki-ker.

Atlantic puffin with fish on golden cliffs

We gathered on the beach well before the 04:40 sunrise and the air was still and the sky was clear. Will the Puffins be bringing back fish to their babies as the sun rises? Will they be flying towards us? There are so many variables which include the tide, but I knew the tide had turned and was starting to rise. Without wind, I knew there would be less activity; seabirds love to fly in high winds. We set up hopeful that the stars would align - smile.

Atlantic Puffin with fish on green in golden light

Are you getting sick of Puffin images yet? How about Puffin with fish images? LOL.

If you really want to up your birds in flight game, try turning the camera to vertical or portrait orientation: the challenge is a tough one, but will help you learn to acquire fast moving targets more reliably - smile.

Atlantic puffin landing at last light

The light was sweet and there were so many Puffins landing right in front of us! We had such an awesome time as they landed in the last drops of sweet light directly towards us. Once the sun set, we walked about 200 meters (200 yards) into the lighthouse for another awesome gourmet meal - life is good - smile.

Atlantic puffin banking in first drops of golden light

There were so many opportunities for Puffins with fish, it was an exercise to remember to get some without a beak full of Sand Lance or Caplin :)

Common Raven with Razorbill egg in golden light

All of the seabirds on the cliffs evacuate at the first sight of the Raven. They are quite skilled at carefully carrying stolen eggs :( Part of their success as a species is due to their omnivorous diet: they are extremely versatile and opportunistic in finding sources of nutrition, feeding on carrion, insects, cereal grains, berries, fruit, small animals, nesting birds, and food waste.

Atlantic Puffin and the red boathouse

An Atlantic Puffin in golden light against an out of focus red boathouse makes for something completely different. Image made in camera during my Deluxe Atlantic puffin workshop in Quebec, Canada.

Atlantic puffin in Flight in Golden Light

An Atlantic Puffin battles heavy winds while landing at its nesting site in the very last drops of golden light. Join me for a deluxe adventure of a lifetime on a little island full of Puffins and Razorbills. We will be the only inhabitants on the island and have exclusive use of the lighthouse and newly restored accommodations. Did I mention the gourmet food? Learn more about the Deluxe Puffins Galore Workshop HERE.

2020 Alaska Seabird Die-offs

2020 marks the sixth consecutive year of seabird die-offs in Alaska. Alaska's northern oceans have been experiencing record-breaking, above-average sea surface temperatures. Seabirds eat zooplankton and cold-water fish that are both reliant on cold water. If the cold-water fishes have relocated because the ocean is too warm, or less zooplankton are reproducing in the warmer water, then the seabirds have a more difficult time finding enough food. Coldwater fish are fattier and provide more calories and nutrients for the birds, so even if they can find warm-water fish to eat, they may still have trouble meeting their calorie needs.

The seabirds affected in 2020 are:

• Crested Auklets

• Horned Puffins

• Common Murrs

• Short-tailed Shearwaters

• Northern Fulmars

• Black-legged Kittiwakes

Most of the dead birds appear to have died of starvation. Murres, for example, have a high metabolic rate and consume 10-30% of their total body weight every day. Changes to their food supply can impact their basic functions such as flying, feather molt and weatherproofing, and thermal regulation. Seabird die-offs also impact the entire population because of the reduction in breeding adults and the low productivity rate (success of eggs becoming chicks and becoming adults). Some species have experienced reproductive failure because the females are not in good enough body condition to produce eggs.

Join me on Saint Paul Island, AK for the trip of a lifetime. Learn more HERE.

Top birds in flight settings for Sony a9II

“Hey Chris!
It’s Trevor Pottelberg. Hope you and your family are staying safe and healthy! With the unique spring we are all facing, I have been finding myself photographing more songbirds. They are obviously a lot faster and more erratic than the larger predatory birds. Do you have any suggestions of settings for capturing them in flight? I’ve tried with the Flex Point M setting but haven’t had a lot of tracking luck when a bird leaves it’s perch. Any suggestions would be great! Thanks Trevor”

Hey Trevor,

Thank you. We are safe, healthy and staying in self-isolation on our property.

There are a lot of factors that collide into a razor sharp action shot of anything. Here’s the short list:

• Firmware: Make sure you are using the latest firmware from your camera manufacturer. It amazes me how few opt to check and upgrade their camera’s firmware. Manufacturers constantly tweak and tune many aspects of how your camera operates and often unlock great new features.

• Shutter Speed: I strive to use at least 1/5,000s when I want razor sharp images. As you can see from the settings above, I was at 1/6,400 of a second exposure to ensure every detail was sharp in this image. Our cameras and lenses resolve so much detail these days, it is imperative to start to realize that freezing our movement (or that of the camera/lens) is just as important as freezing the subject; think about the wingtip speed of a windmill vane (blade).

• Silent shutter: Be sure to use electronic shutter and turn off any shutter sounds so that your subject remains undisturbed. Migrating songbirds fly away as soon as they hear the sharp sound of a mechanical shutter; it was always the best way to end a great opportunity, we used to have to hold off until everything was just right and often missed the best image with hope of something better; something mirrorless has changed forever.

• Solid footing: I use a solid tripod with gimbal head (Wimberley Head II) as often as I am able.

• Camera settings: Here are the key settings that I use most often to ensure the most reactive AF on my Sony a9II:

• Priority set in AF-C (Camera 1 - 5/14): AF

• Focus area (Camera 1 - 5/14): Tracking: Flexible Spot S (note that less experienced action shooters or those who have trouble acquiring and following the target may get better results with Flexible Spot M)

• AF Tracking Sens. (Camera 1 - 6/14): 1 (Locked-on). This is counter-intuitive to some who feel that they need to use 5 (Responsive) for fast moving birds with erratic flight patterns. The AF remains really responsive when set to 1 (Locked-on), however it will stay locked-onto your target much more reliably. If you were photographing a team sporting event, you would choose 1 (Locked-on) to continue to track a player when other players enter the frame between you and your target. You would choose 5 (Responsive) if you wanted to start tracking that new player who entered the frame in front of your original target.

Hope this helps. Enjoy and be safe.

Bald Eagle Fishing in Golden Light MISSED IT

I’ve only been fishing a handful of times, but there is a story for every one of them. When fishing for the first time shortly after moving to Canada my first bike (a metallic gold banana seat bicycle - but I probably shouldn’t tell you that) was destroyed by a drunk taxi driver in Chateauguay, Quebec and new friend that day Kevin Harvey (Now of Juno Nominated Durham County Poets fame) saved the day like the rock star his today (He remembered the Taxi permit and license numbers, and his dad drove me and my wrecked bicycle home). I’ve fought battles with what seemed like monster Halibut in Alaska, but they were really 20 pound Rock Fish. Finally, I do know that feeling of a great catch escaping the hook just before being landed in the boat when Halibut fishing in the Shelikof straight (AK); it would have been the biggest Halibut ever caught I’m sure!

Adult Bald Eagle Portrait

Here’s a head shot of an adult Bald Eagle made with the Sony Alpha a9 II Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS Lens. The edge to edge sharpness is as impressive as the Sony 600mm f/4 GM OSS Lens.

Bald Eagle HOOKED ON FISHING

This is one of many thousands of images made from the ultra-low angle at the water’s edge. My March 5-9 workshop window has delivered flat water and golden light with a sprinkle of snow for every workshop for more than 15 years running; it is simply the very best time to be on Kachemak Bay photographing Eagles!

My Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS Lens continues to be the most versatile lens that I have ever used. It’s zippy auto-focus and amazingly sharp results continue to blow my mind.

Coronavirus discount

It seems like the world is in a state of health and wealth panic right now, so I am offering a US$500.00 discount off my March 5-9, 2021 Eagles Galore workshop. This is a limited time offer while space is available only.