I thoroughly enjoyed my trip with Chris photographing snowy owls.
Chris’s knowledge of the location of the owls each day was key to all the participants getting great opportunities to photograph the owls.
What made the trip a great success for me was Chris’s easy and informative style in communicating camera settings and techniques for best results.
I would highly recommend a trip with Chris.
Ian Brennan Ireland
Hi Chris, Great trip, EH!!
Seriously, I want to thank you for a wonderful week. Great company, wonderful opportunities on the Snowy Owls and lots of fun.
I have been on quite a few photo workshops, and what sets yours apart (aside from the fun), is your knowledge of the natural history of the subjects, and your encyclopedic knowledge of nature photography and photography in general. You seemed to know what the Owls would do before they did, and thus we got great shots.
I profited as much from the down time between shots as from the shooting time. What was so helpful to me was that I not only learned your recommendations for settings, but the why, in detail. You have a depth of knowledge such that when I challenged assumptions (which is natural for me as a physician), there was always a firm explanation leading back to a scientific or photographic principle. As a result I understand exactly why I am using that particular technique, and am completely comfortable with it. I learned a ton!!!
The focus was always on us getting the shots (after the welfare of the wildlife), on learning, and thirdly on fun.
I would go on another workshop with you in a minute, because no matter where it was I know I would learn something.
I really appreciate your scientific approach to photography, your having researched and tested your choices!
I feel fortunate to have had the experience of learning from one of THE BEST. Thanks for a great week.
Until next outing.
- Mike Gotthelf Fitchburg | MA | USA
What can I say? Your Winter Owl Photo Tour was an absolute sensory overload of owls, knowledge and fun! A smashing success! I have to say this was the very best photo trip I have ever joined (and I have joined many). It was an EPIC adventure, and it was a huge success; with your help, I managed to pull off an incredible portfolio of Owl images that was miles better than I could have imagined! Just like your stated goal; I can attest to the fact that the single most important objectives for you as the leader is for your clients to achieve an EPIC portfolio that you would have been proud to call your own, and for everyone to learn. Mission accomplished, my friend…many fold. I would have been thrilled with just one of the hundreds of EPIC images that I created under your wise guidance. You will see me again on another workshop soon. I can offer anyone considering this trip the following advice: DO IT! You won’t regret it. Chris works extremely hard for you to get the very best images; images that will impress everyone. He’s fun and eager to teach anyone, regardless of their abilities. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Peter Frost London | England
Thank you so much for a memorable week during your Snowy Owl Workshop, I have enjoyed it immensely.
The week has been EPIC, Exhilarating Pictures, Instructional Colossus, what more can I say.
It has been a long held ambition of mine to photograph Snowy Owls and in choosing your trip all my expectations have been filled and some. The company has been an important and enjoyable part of the trip and I will recall with great fondness many of the hilarious moments we have shared together.
I appreciate all the hard work that you have put in to ensure the success of our trip and I wish to thank you for that.
I hope the season continues to go well for you and I wish you happiness in your life.
Again a heartfelt thanks.
John Sheppard Banbury | England
The winter owl workshop was excellent. From the pre-planning through the last spectacular day with the snowy owls. In addition to the skills and nature experience Chris brings to the workshop, he also brings his passion of nature photography as well as a genuine focus on the safety of the owls and wildlife. The group size was great and the team composition was excellent, travel was pleasant, safe and comfortable. It was great to be able to peak into Chris's personal life, spending time with Chris opened up a new world for me that I want to explore. I learned value insights and lessons related to exposure, histograms and the habitats and behaviours of owls. It was great being out in the nature and cold, learning not only to capture razor sharp images, but how to do so in extreme weather. Most americans will not know the excitement of seeing a Tim Horton's in the distance or the comfort of fresh Poutine, I can say I am now a fan.
Kim Ringeisen Flying Monkey Photography North Carolina | USA
A Great Week With Chris and Snowy Owls.
Chris leads a great workshop. It quickly became clear the amount of prework Chris had done in the weeks leading up to the trip. Chris knew where the owls would be each morning when we arrived in the fields. Another amazing ability Chris has, is he can spot a snowy owl hundreds of yards away. I remember laughing a few times as I am looking through binoculars saying are you sure and every time he was correct.
Chris is an amazing photographer and extremely knowledgeable on both Nikon and Canon photography equipment. I came home a much better photographer, with a better understanding of my camera gear and how to adjust for the environment and light. Throughout the day Chris was continually making sure everyone had the correct setting and reminding us to check our exposure/histogram.
Additionally Chris is just a great guy. He is what i would consider a true outdoorsman and has the adventure stories to go with them. I really enjoyed the travel and downtime with Chris and we had a lot of good laughs.
I would definitely recommend a Chris Dodds photography workshop especially the winter owl workshop and am looking forward to my next trip with Chris.
Brad Lewis Gilroy | California
Chris Dodds knows how to do a workshop!
I had the pleasure of attending Chris' Snowy Owl Workshop this past January. To be honest, I did not know much about Chris before the trip. All I knew was the quality of his images on his website and that I wanted Snowy owl pictures. Needless to say, Chris met and exceeded my expectations. He goes over and above to get you in the right place at the right time to capture the best images possible. Having been on numerous workshops around the world with various leaders, I can say Chris worked harder than most..... He also made sure that we were in position to get a variety of images and not just 1000 photos of the same animal behavior. Chris knows his birds and what they are going to do next (as much as humanly possible). He teaches in a way that things make sense. I was getting frustrated with my photography before this trip. I was able to get great shots before the workshop but felt that the percentage of great shots to missed shots needed to be better. Chris explained ways to change a few of my bad habits in a way that no one else ever did. I have tried manual exposure in the past but never got comfortable with it but after a day or two with Chris it clicked in my mind and my images improved and percentage of keepers went up.
If you get a chance to go on a workshop with Chris I would highly recommend it. I know I will again.
Rick Susi Orlando, FL, USA
I'm happy to say I survived Africa and now I survived the bitter cold and wind of Ontario. Once I saw the movie the "Big Year" the Snowy Owl went to the top of my bucket list. There was only one photographer who combined excellence and instruction that I wanted to help me achieve capturing the Snowy Owl; Chris Dodds. Chris is an amazing photographer who taught our group to use manual setting and fully explain the technical aspects of our cameras(we were all Nikon users & Chris is a Canon guy). Chris made sure we were all in the position to capture a great image and he constantly was helping us and reviewing our skill set and lack of skill set. I was able to get a lot of great images and fully understand photography at a professional level. I am now a better photographer.. His preparation for his workshop was the best I have been part of. The small group workshop allowed Chris to spend individual time with each of us and that was the real bonus. If you want to capture great images and learn from a master photographer there is no one better in my opinion. The workshop and the accommodations were great. I look forward to my next outing with Chris.
Carl Bilancione (Survivor Africa contestant) Winter Park, Florida
Winter owl photography was near the top of my bucket list. My research kept ending up with one name, Christopher Dodds. I had participated in nine previous field instructional photo tours throughout the USA, Canada, Japan and the Falklands with six different professional photographers all of which were excellent but this one was a cut above.
The best field photography instructors are professionals, formally trained in photography and have extensive experience in studio work as well as other areas. Chris Dodds comes with those credentials and 20 plus years as an outdoor photographer and is a sub specialist in winter owl photography. He understands and teaches from the basics to the most advanced science and technical knowledge in the field.
Beyond the photography Chris’ Owl Prowl stands out as the model for a highly successful experience. After 20 plus years of developing relationships and infrastructure his photo tours are characterized by superb organization, logistic, transportation, and communication. We stayed on schedule at a relaxed pace and he was always mindful of our small group's personal safety during extreme weather conditions.
The return on my investment and expectations in Chris Dodds' Great Owl Prowl was excellent. It's true! you get what you pay for.
CJ Hockett Vermont USA www.cjhockett.com