From Landscape Photography to Puffins in Flight

Sometimes everything lines up.

The first golden light was burning through the morning fog and illuminating the cliffs behind this Atlantic Puffin as it flew directly towards me with a beak full of fish.

At 1,200mm, the bird and its outstretched wings filled the frame. That is part of the thrill of photographing fast birds in flight so tightly: the subject gets larger with every split second, and there is almost no room for error.

For a brief moment, the puffin, fish, fog, golden cliffs and light all came together.

Camera settings: 600mm lens with 2× teleconverter at 1,200mm, 1/5,000 second, f/8, ISO 10,000.

The photograph above is mine, but today’s story belongs to Joanne Johnson—a landscape photographer who arrived at my Deluxe Atlantic Puffins Workshop wondering whether she could photograph these extraordinarily fast little birds in flight.

Landscaper Attempts Birding

“I prefer to shoot mostly landscape photos. It's what I enjoy but more importantly, the scenery doesn't move! That means there's lots of time to figure out composition, lighting and focusing. Then I attended Chris's Atlantic Puffin Workshop. Boy, was I out of my depth!

The first day my photos were either empty of flying subjects or out of focus. Chris encouraged me to try a number of things: Instead of using the display screen to compose (my standard landscaper's option), he suggested using the viewfinder. That took some getting used to for these old eyes. He pointed me towards reviewing my manual for specific auto-focus settings (Canon's ‘Whole Area Tracking Servo AF’ and ‘Subject to Detect’). We talked a lot about how to track flying birds and the importance of practice.

After incorporating these changes, I was capturing puffins focused and completely in the frame more often than not. One of his last suggestions, but one with the most impact, was to customize a button to switch back and forth between the display screen and the viewfinder. So simple but an enormous help when switching from shooting to reviewing. And all these suggestions were for a camera system that was not what Chris currently shoots. He sure knows his stuff!

I also loved the picturesque, small island abundant with colorful wildflowers. At first glance, it appears there's not much to photograph other than birds but if you slow down, breathe and explore, I found there was a lot of beauty to discover & capture. The lighthouse was absolutely breathtaking in the early morning fog! I came home with wonderful landscape photos that recorded my time there in addition to some amazing puffin shots (FISH). The lightkeeper's house was rustic and charming, the food was amazing (best breakfast sandwich EVER) and the staff wonderful and kind. Chris was also very engaging and entertaining at the meal table so lots of laughter.

I highly recommend Chris's workshop to anyone of any skill level as he tailors his help according to each person's skill level and equipment. I did not have the best long lens (100–400mm), nowhere near the size of my fellow participants, but I came home with some amazing photos that I am very pleased with. This workshop was definitely out of my comfort zone and I'm so glad I went. Thanks, Chris, for a great few days.”

— Joanne Johnson | Deluxe Atlantic Puffins Photography Workshop Aug. 2026

Joanne’s photograph says the rest.

Atlantic Puffin flying in front of the lighthouse on Île aux Perroquets on a foggy morning. Photograph © Joanne Johnson, created during the Deluxe Atlantic Puffins Photography Workshop.

She arrived most comfortable photographing landscapes—subjects that gave her time to think about composition, light and focus. By the end of the workshop, she was successfully tracking Atlantic Puffins in flight and keeping them sharp and inside the frame.

She did it with her Canon camera and a 100–400mm lens.

Helping photographers understand the fundamentals, get the most from their own equipment, recognize developing behaviour and build the skills to make photographs they are proud of is exactly why I lead these workshops.

Photograph Atlantic Puffins in Quebec

My small-group Deluxe Atlantic Puffins Photography Workshop takes place on Île aux Perroquets in Quebec’s Mingan Archipelago. We stay beside the colony and photograph in changing light and weather while working together in the field on exposure, autofocus, flight tracking, composition and anticipating behaviour.

You do not need the biggest lens or years of bird-photography experience. Bring the equipment you own, a willingness to learn and plenty of memory cards.

A Second Migration Gift — Prothonotary Warbler Reflections at Point Pelee

Spring migration at Point Pelee National Park is already legendary for small songbirds arriving low and slow after crossing Lake Erie. In my recent post about photographing an American Redstart during spring migration, I touched on the magic of warbler fallout and how understanding bird behaviour can completely transform your photography.

But there was another moment — one that pulled me into the shadows and reminded me why I chase light as much as birds.

This Prothonotary Warbler wasn’t perched out in the open, nor was it offering a classic pose against fresh spring greens. Instead, it moved quietly along the edge of a dark, still pool, gleaning insects from wet bark, its golden head briefly mirrored in the water below. The surrounding bark—layered with texture and shadow—formed a natural frame, and the stillness of the moment became its own kind of light.

Photographing it was less about reacting and more about waiting, watching, and blending. The bird wasn’t high, wasn’t bold — but it was present. And when I found the light as it dipped into the pool, the reflection emerged like a second subject: a mirror image capturing both behaviour and environment in a single frame.

Moments like this are exactly why spring migration at Pelee is so special. It’s not only the abundance of species — the Redstarts, Blackburnians, Bay-breasteds — but the quality of opportunity that comes when birds aren’t fleeing but settling. They arrive tired, intentional, and yes, sometimes reflective — literally and metaphorically.

You can read the full story of this encounter, and see how light and shadow played a role in making this image come alive, in my earlier post:

👉 Light and Shadow — Capturing a Prothonotary Warbler’s Reflection
https://www.naturephotographyblog.com/blog/light-and-shadow-capturing-a-prothonotary-warblers-reflection

Why this matters for your photography

This kind of moment isn’t random. It’s the result of:

• Being in the right place at the right time – Point Pelee during peak spring migration

• Reading bird behaviour – noticing when songbirds are low and deliberate

• Understanding light and environment – letting shadows and reflections work for you

• Mastering in-camera exposure – catching subtle tones without over or underexposing

When you align those elements, you find pictures you didn’t even know you were looking for.

Few spots left — join me at Point Pelee

If these kinds of experiences speak to you — American Redstarts moving low after crossing Lake Erie, Prothonotary reflections in shadowed pools, and the subtle art of seeing before you shoot — there are still a handful of spots left in my Songbirds of Pelee Bird Photography Workshop, May 7–11.

We’ll explore:

• Photographing warblers and other songbirds during spring migration

• Ethical fieldcraft and how to read bird behaviour

• Mastering in-camera exposure for fast-changing light

• Working thoughtfully during warbler fallout days

📸 Limited spaces remain.
👉 Learn more and book here:
https://www.chrisdoddsphoto.com/songbirds-of-pelee-photo-tour

Spring migration won’t wait — neither should your opportunity to photograph it.

Chris

Photographing an American Redstart at Point Pelee During Spring Migration

Why warbler fallout makes this Canada’s best bird photography workshop location

Every spring, Point Pelee National Park becomes one of the most important bird migration stopovers in North America—and for bird photographers, it’s nothing short of magical. During my Point Pelee Spring Migration Workshop, I had the opportunity to photograph this stunning American Redstart at close range, in beautiful light, during peak migration conditions.

American Redstarts are typically fast, restless warblers—constantly flicking, darting, and disappearing into dense foliage. But spring migration changes everything.

Why spring migration is the best time to photograph American Redstarts

By the time American Redstarts reach Point Pelee, many have just completed a demanding overnight crossing of Lake Erie. This is a major physiological effort for a bird weighing only a few grams. When weather systems align—southerly winds, overnight rain, or sudden temperature drops—birds arrive low, slow, and visibly exhausted.

For bird photographers, this creates rare opportunities. Instead of racing through the canopy, American Redstarts often perch at eye level, forage methodically, and pause just long enough for carefully composed images. These conditions are exactly why spring migration at Point Pelee is so productive for photography.

Gear and approach in the field

This image was made using the Sony a9 Mark III, paired with the Sony FE 400-800mm f/6.3-8 G OSS Lens @790mm—a really portable setup that allows me to keep a respectful distance while still filling the frame with fine detail. During migration, patience and restraint matter more than speed. When birds are tired, ethical fieldcraft means letting them settle, feed, and recover while you work quietly and deliberately.

American Redstart migration facts

American Redstarts are long-distance migrants, wintering in the Caribbean, Central America, and northern South America. Each spring, they travel thousands of kilometres to reach breeding territories across Canada and the northern United States. Point Pelee, as the southernmost point of mainland Canada, acts as a critical first landfall—making it one of the best places anywhere to observe and photograph them during spring migration.

When warbler fallout happens at Point Pelee

On the right mornings, Point Pelee delivers what birders and photographers dream about: warbler fallout. Dozens of species—American Redstarts, Blackburnians, Magnolias, Bay-breasted Warblers, and more—can be found feeding low, resting in open cover, and allowing intimate views that are rarely possible elsewhere.

When fallout occurs, the park feels alive. Every trail holds possibility. It’s not about chasing birds—it’s about slowing down, reading behavior, and letting moments unfold naturally.

Join my Point Pelee Bird Photography Workshop

If photographing American Redstarts, experiencing warbler fallout, and immersing yourself in spring migration at Point Pelee sounds appealing, I invite you to join me for my Songbirds of Pelee Bird Photography Workshop, running May 7–11.

📸 Limited spots available.
👉 Join me at Point Pelee this May and experience one of the finest bird photography workshops in North America—right in the heart of spring migration.