You are an excellent professor of the art

Now in September, with the images of our Northern Gannet workshop processed and filed, I want to thank you for your outstanding planning and execution of the our adventure/trek/shoot on Bonaventure Island this summer. It was a pleasure to be your customer/client.
 Your execution provided an experience to make it one of the two best that I have been a part of in my many years of summer shoots. Given the uncertainties of rain, tides, winds, and clouds, you exploited so well every opportunity that came our way. On these trips the purpose is to get good looks at the birds. The some 3,100 exposures that I came home with were solid evidence that I got the looks at this magnificent gannet I was hoping for ---I netted many quality images. Good stuff now in the files. 
Our housing was just what we want: accessible, comfortable, clean and a good buy. The schedule was chock full, we did not have avoidable down minutes, and we squeezed all of the looks available to us out of the time and conditions available. The access to an ATV to tote our gear from the dock to the colony, for a guy of my age, was a real plus and that comes about only with your obvious advance work and solid relationships with the park folks.
 The trip on the water to the far side of the island was a highlight for me and shows best your foresight and planning to get us in not otherwise available, shooting positions. That was unique time, extraordinary. 
But most of all, Chris, your ever-present availability to be immediately responsive to our technical photographic and logistical questions makes this trip so exceptional. So many of the shoot producers put themselves above and before the client-photographer and are spending more time getting their own shots or just not being around when you need their advice. You stay available to provide professional guidance to the guys and gals paying for the experience. I observed that no question is too mundane; you patiently helped the rookies, just as you did the most advanced. Personally, I improved my techniques and banked a good range of knowledge, thanks to you. 


My summary: You are an excellent professor of the art, a solid expedition planner, a constant steward of the details, and a good guy with whom to spend days on a trek. 
I'm very interested in getting some Spring/nesting shots of that Atlantic Puffin. If you put together such a trip, please let me know. 
I look forward to another shoot with the unique Dodds' touch. 
Continued success to you, with all best wishes,

Andy Hays Chicago, Illinois, USA

You always had us in the best spots regardless of the weather

I really enjoyed the Bonaventure Island Workshop. You always had us in the best spots regardless of the weather. Your tips on flash for high key shots and postprocessing of the shots were really helpful. The Zodiac trips before going onto the island were very interesting and fun. Diving Gannets are definately a challenge to capture! .......... I look forward to doing more trips with you to further improve my skills and add to my portfolio.

John Dupps Middletown, Ohio, USA

Chris Dodds is a terrific teacher

If you want a really fun adventure as well as a great learning opportunity, you must visit Bonaventure Island with Chris Dodds and sign-up for his Bonaventure Island Photographic Expedition. Perce, the island and its surroundings are beautiful; every day was a wonderful surprise. It’s amazing how different everything looks with the changes in the weather and that’s something that’s guaranteed; the weather will vary, sometimes from one minute to the next. Gannets are amazing birds to watch and photograph. They can go from looking really graceful to really goofy and everything in between. The time spent in the Zodiac was fabulous, a real challenge photographically speaking. Lastly, Chris Dodds is a terrific teacher. He was patient, informative and really concerned with the participants’ well being. He made sure everyone’s questions were answered and that we were all having a good time. He’s a true gentleman and lots of fun to be with. I learned a lot from him in a very short time by asking lots of questions and simply watching what he does. L’Isle de la Bon Aventure is just that, a truly magical place and seeing it with someone who is truly at home there was a plus. A word of warning: if you go make sure you schedule vacation time for after the vacation, Chris packs a lot of activity into a very short time-you’ll be exhausted, but it will be a happy exhausted.


Jacqueline Leader Miami Lake, Florida, USA

I found the workshop very educational

I want to thank you for the photography workshop you led to Ile Bonaventure, an area of Canada I probably would have never visited and for the opportunity to meet and enjoy the company of the other photographers that attended. I found the workshop very educational. It catered to all levels of photographers. You managed to spend quality time with everyone helping us learn from your experiences as a bird photographer. I learned how to properly use my handheld light meter, how to improve my flash photography and that you can shoot in rain and fog with excellent results. Once we got inside you had a very interesting guest speaker and on the other nights during the Photoshop tutorials, you changed me from a lazy user to a more skilled user without taking up much more time on the computer. The accommodations you arranged and your dining suggestions were wonderful. Overall I would say that I would be happy to attend your workshops whenever I get a chance to do so.
Keep up the good work. 


John Zimmerman (President Montreal Camera Club) Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Chris Dodds photographic knowledge was immense and his instruction was never intimidating

My wife Marla and I attended Chris Dodds' Gannets Galore photo workshop on Bonaventure Island, Quebec in August. We both found it a tremendous advancement for our photographic skills and vision. We felt Chris’ knowledge of both the wildlife and the area was supreme, always looking for the perfect spot and technique to make better images. His photographic knowledge was immense and his instruction was never intimidating.
 Always cheerful, Chris kept a constant vigil to satisfy the group as well as providing personal attention along the way. I don’t believe anyone felt shorted either way. He put us in front of so many unique situations. As a result, my wife (even with an awkward arm cast) and I shot the most remarkable nature photos of our lives.
 The workshop was intense but the atmosphere was always kind, low-key and generous. At the end of the last day, we felt we had witnessed one of the great places on earth, accomplished something remarkable photographically and gained a friend in the process. Well done, Chris.

Jeff Moore Arlington Heights, Illinois , USA

The best photographic event that any of us had ever experienced

Thank you for a magnificent workshop on Bonaventure Island. Your efforts on our behalf were nothing short of heroic. I don't know where you get your energy, from Sun up to long after it set, you were working to make this the best photographic event that any of us had ever experienced, and you succeeded. Bonaventure Island is a photographers paradise, I have never returned from a workshop with so many 'Portfolio shots. If all your endeavors as fruitful, can't wait to get my lens on those Snowy Owls this winter.............

I had a heck of a good time doing what I love, thanks to you.

Malcolm MacKenzie West Palm Beach, Florida, USA

An experience I will never forget

In June, I decided to sign up for a photo workshop with Christopher Dodds, one of the best photographers according to a friend of mine who met Chris a few months earlier.
I'm a Software Engineer and photography is my passion. This is how I spend all of my spare time. Over the years, I have learned a lot about wildlife photography but I wanted to improve my techniques, especially with flying birds with different and changing backgrounds. Also, my skills were not growing at a fast enough pace.
This workshop held on beautiful Bonaventure Island in August 2007, was my first, and will remain an experience I will never forget. Chris was such a kind person, an amazing teacher with great photo skills. The other students were also amazingly friendly. This workshop offered me more than I expected. I learned how to shoot birds in flight with, or without, sunlight. I learned all about the camera settings to get the most out of my shooting and the techniques that will make my photos look better.
A highlight was learning all about using an incident light meter and shooting in manual mode to greatly increase my keeper rate. Chris is a superb teacher, who knows how to explain complex techniques to regular people. I realized how serious he was about photography and how much he wanted us to improve the quality of our photographs. He taught us about bird behaviour and how to use it to make the best photos possible. Overall, this workshop was a well-organized trip, and a successful photographic experience. Chris answered all my questions and I feel I have achieved a level of experience I had never expected in my life. What an awesome experience!

Gilles Archambault Québec City, Quebec, Canada

Great presentation last night

Dear Chris, Just a few words to warmly thank you again for a great presentation last night. Your images are simply the best bird photography around these days and we thank you for sharing them. You are really taking bird action photography to another level. Yes, digital technology has helped us photographers shoot better action imagery but your images are simply exceptional.

I spend a lot of time myself trying and I was blown away by the quality of your material. I was particularly impressed by the breadth and depth of your collection but also by the luminosity of your images which always look bright but also always perfectly exposed, even in bad weather....

While I have just recently met you, I can also commend you for being a very good teacher and for being a real gentleman. I am sure that you are very successful with your workshops because you seem to bring the right skills: no arrogance, engaging personality, solid knowledge and an emphasis on hard work. On behalf of the Lakeshore Camera Club, Looking forward to meet you again, in the field or at the Guggenheim!

Vincent Lamoureux Montreal, QC, Canada

Winter Owl Photography Workshop Testimonial — Rhett Gibson

“Talking to Chris, he mentioned he has had several customers attend more than one workshop. Now I understand why. We had a small group, so there was plenty of time to really talk about many things and make sure everyone understood. I’ve spent so much money and time on gear, books and “camera user guides”, but I still didn’t really understand. Before I left, I anticipated learning how to properly expose for snow, etc. If you had dropped me off in front of one of the owls, I would not have been able to get the shots I wanted exposed properly. What I didn’t realize was that I would finally learn how to evaluate the scene and determine the correct exposure, whatever the subject, situation, scene or light level. Now I finally have the answers to so many questions ... I finally understand exposure theory! I’m from Alabama, so an unexpected treat was to learn how to deal with the cold temperatures. It got down to -9° F while we were there.

As a testimonial, I most definitely plan to attend another workshop with Chris. Now I’ve just got to decide where I want to go. ”

— Rhett Gibson | Alabama, USA | Winter Owl Photography Workshop 2013

Gannets Galore Photography Workshop Testimonial — Leslie Scopes Anderson

“What an amazing experience! My husband and I attended the Gannet workshop and were awed by the vast expanse of beautiful birds and impressed with the expertise of the instructors. The course advanced my comprehension of digital photography, and taught techniques for capturing birds in flight and in varying weather conditions. For example: How do you photograph a white bird against a white sky? The one-on-one instruction at all levels was very beneficial.

I was thrilled that one of my photos from the workshop was recognized as a "photo of the week" in the 2009 National Geographic International Photography Contest.

Thanks for sharing your invaluable expertise!”

— Leslie Scopes Anderson | Arcata, California, USA | Gannets Galore Photography Workshop

Gannets Galore Photography Workshop Testimonial — Jean-Daniel Gagne

Dear Chris,

We are back from this wonderful experience we all had on Bonaventure Island this week (August 12 to 14, 2007). I am completely exhausted physically, but highly energized mentally after our 3 intensive days.

There are images that will definitely stay imprinted in my mind starting with the Gannets twirling around us, and diving for fish, when you positioned the Zodiac in the middle of a school of fish on the last morning and many more.

What an experience!

I should say that I am a marketing professional who has done photography for more than 30 years. For the last 10 years, photography has been a passion. My personal goal is to become a professional photographer in a few years. I did think, and my experience at your workshop has proven this to me, that a good photography workshop allows someone to make a major leap forward in his progression in the art of photography.

Your Bonaventure Island workshop has been a revelation for me on several points; such as shooting in manual mode and working with an incident light meter, composition, lens usage and understanding bird behavior.

Days were long in training hours but everyone, including myself, were always excited to start a new day of learning.

I should also add that your dedication to your workshop attendees' learning has been exemplary. The workshop has definitely surpassed my objectives and I came back home with more knowledge and abilities in bird photography, as well as with more friends.

I should add, as an anecdote, that I was surprised how local people were happy to see you back, even though you were not a local, which I think describes the facility you have in getting along well with people.

Please keep me informed of the next workshops you intend to organize; if my schedule allows it, I shall be part of it again.

I will keep this workshop in my mind as a super experience; that's for sure.

To anyone considering a workshop by Christopher Dodds, I say: “Chris is a remarkable photographer and coach. He took good care to have everyone learn as much as they wanted. I should say that after 30 years of serious photography, I was amazed at what I have learned. Which gave me a great leap in my progression.”

Regards and friendship,

— Jean-Daniel (JD) Gagne | Montreal, Quebec, Canada | Bonaventure Island Gannets Photography Workshop 2007