Photographing Snowy Owls is an unforgettable experience that belongs on every nature photographer’s bucket list. Book your Snowy Owl Photography Workshop today.
For the past Ten years I have successfully led Snowy Owl Photography Workshops for photographers from around the world.
I have exclusive access to a large property of farm land where Snowy Owls winter every year. The property is private so there are no observers or traffic roads to be concerned with.
Every year, in preparation of my snowy owl photography workshops I spend between four and five weeks, locating and then getting the snowy owls accustomed to my presence. This effort ensures the owls are ready and are comfortable being photographed. As a result, workshop participants have always had their expectations exceeded!
Snowy Owl Photography Workshop Size
- Workshops are limited to five participants.
- Smaller groups and private one-on-one workshops are also available.
Workshop Booking
Workshops run in January and February for five days, Monday to Friday, and cost $2,700.00 USD per person.
To reserve and confirm your place in the workshop a deposit of $1,000.00 USD is required.
For group rate discounts please contact me.
My personal objective and pledge is to ensure that each participant, regardless of their photographic skill level, captures images of the highest standard and worthy of framing.
Great Grey Owls
These magnificent owls often winter in our area. If your Snowy Owl Photography Workshop trip corresponds with the arrival of Great Grey owls, then we can photograph them too.
Other owl species such as Northern Hawk, Saw-Whets, Boreal, Barred, Great Horned, also winter in our area. If I have reliable sightings then we may also photograph them as well. However, the primary focus of the workshop will be to photograph Snowy Owls.
What Is Included
- Five days in the field shooting Snowy Owls (Mon – Fri).
- Professional guiding and assistance with camera settings, composition etc.
- I will aim to ensure we are always in the field shooting snowy owls using the day’s first and last light.
Note: I have limited seating for local transportation. If I am able to, I will provide daily transportation to and from your accommodations and the workshop. If this is not possible, then you will need to rent a vehicle.
What’s Not Included
- Transportation from airport to hotel and hotel to airport.
- Transportation to and from the workshop (see note above).
- Accommodations: hotels, meals, drinks, or other personal expenses.
Recommended Equipment
- Camera body and a backup camera body.
- Extra camera batteries (cold temperatures drain batteries quickly).
- Lenses: Just about every lens will work;
- Varied focal length ranges provide maximum flexibility for take-off and pick-up captures such as, 70-200, 100-400, 80-400, 150-600, 200-500, etc.
- Large lenses, with a tripod are ideal for capturing a nice bokeh, and for photographers who are comfortable hand holding a large lens.
- A wide angle for creative close up shots.
- Extra memory cards, back-up hard drive and laptop.
Clothing and Accessories
It can be extremely cold; with temperatures dipping down to -25ºC/-13ºF. Standing in a windswept open area makes it even colder. It is very important that you be prepared, when you attend the Snowy Owl Workshop, for the cold or some days you might find yourself sitting in the car or back at the hotel.
- Warm under layers, merino wool is very good.
- A second layer of fleece or wool, top and bottoms.
- An outer layer of a down filled-parka and snow-pants.
- Boots rated for the coldest climates you can find.
- A balaclava is recommended to keep your face protected from the cold and wind.
- Cold temperature gloves and/or a mitten glove combo.
- Hand Warmers that fit into gloves/mitts and boots.
- A warm wool toque or hat in addition to your parka/jacket hood.
Physical Health
For the safety of the owls the workshops are held far from the road (up to a kilometre). Although the ground is flat, if there has been a fresh snowfall walking can be strenuous or slippery if icy conditions develop. Therefore, you need to be in reasonably good physical health to participate in the workshop.
Travel and Accommodations
The flight destination city is Ottawa, Ontario Canada (YOW). I will recommend the preferred hotel for accommodations near the location of the Snowy Owl Workshop location, once you have confirmed your booking.
Cancellations and Refunds
The Snowy Owl Photography Workshop deposit can be refunded within the first 30 days of booking, less a $100.00 administration fee.
All final balance payments are nonrefundable unless a replacement participant for that Snowy Owl Workshop is found. If a replacement is found the snowy owl workshop, payment—less the original deposit will be refunded. If a replacement is not found, a credit may be applied to be used within one year of the workshop date.
Testimonials and Endorsements
Ronnie Gilbert (Scotland UK, February 2022) — I am very very pleased with my images and I have some beautiful ones which I would not have been able to take without the benefit of your skill, knowledge and experience, which you shared freely with us. I’ve been on many photographic trips, to many countries over 30 years and the five days in Canada with you and your owls is up there with the very best. My heartfelt thanks for everything…………… I only wish you were several thousand miles closer.
David Russell – Ithaca, New York (February 2022) — This trip in Feb 2022, was my first photographic outing since the Covid Pandemic began and it was brilliant on so many different levels. Rick is an extremely knowledgeable and attentive guide/host who works unbelievably hard to ensure that you get the maximum enjoyment and the best photographs from your trip. I thought I knew my equipment before this trip but I learnt so much from spending 5 days working intensively with my camera and lenses, twice a day, on different subjects and situations. And with gentle suggestions from Rick. I am extremely happy with both the quality and the diversity of the photographs I took. This was an extraordinary experience that I’d recommend to anyone who want good Snowy Owl pictures (and who doesn’t) – thank you!
Susan Creighton – Washago, Ontario (February 2022) — I just returned from 12 days of photography in Ontario and Quebec. The highlight was attending Rick Dobson’s Snowy Owl Photography Workshop in Ottawa. I can’t say enough about how amazing this experience was. Mother Nature and her weather threw everything at us and we pushed through. We never gave up. I got some amazing photos. Rick was an outstanding guide. He worried about me and my shots. He helped me with my equipment as we tracked through wet fields and he even took my jacket home to be dried as it was soaked. I highly recommend this workshop. Thank you, Rick, for this amazing and memorable workshop!
Carlos Carreno (Florida, 2018 and 2019) — I’ve photographed Snowy owls (male and female) and Great grey owls with Rick for two consecutive years. The animals are majestic and photographing them in the middle of Canadian winters is exhilarating.
Although photographing wildlife has an inherent element of unpredictability; there are workshop leaders that go above and beyond to add value and maximize your chances of capturing remarkable images. Rick is such a leader. He spends weeks searching for the animals and conditioning them so they are cooperative. He has access to locations, away from highways, that provide for safe shooting conditions and clean backgrounds. He is constantly checking with every single participant to ensure that everyone is getting the shots they envisioned. And last but not least, he is a gentleman; treating everyone with respect, never complaining, and making the outings incredibly enjoyable.
I highly recommend Rick and hope to shoot with him for many more years!
Gunnar Numme (Norway 2018)—If shooting Snowy Owls is a must for you – then Rick Dobson is the man to trust. Not only is he friendly and helpful but he is very knowledgeable on this very topic. Even more important; the shootings take place quite a distance from roads and traffic which makes a safe situation for the owls. Also no disturbance from other people. He is not pushing the limits, and the welfare of the owls is clearly focused on. Rick will find the owls for you, let you do some shooting……..and make you happy.
Mike Cohen (Florida USA 2019)—Rick, thank you so much for making my Snowy Owl experience a success. Prior to hiring you to guide me, I had been with a “famous” bird photographer who personally sold me on some tours, including Snowy Owls. During that experience we wandered in search of owls. When we were lucky enough to find an owl, it had to be close to the vehicle or he would not let us walk to it. You came highly recommended by a close friend and I decided to try again. During our time together you always gave me the feeling that it I was your first priority. Most importantly, you had spent weeks searching out and getting owls used to your presence. You knew ahead of time where the owls were likely to be, knew the specific owl and its behavior, and had places, far from the road for the owl’s safety, from which to shoot. You are also someone that’s a pleasure to spend time with. It was a truly grand experience. And, I have some great images that I am I’m proud of. I can’t thank you enough Rick.
Duy Pham (Norway 2017)—The last sunset before heading home 🙂 and what a great trip we had, thanks to Rick Dobson who made the impossible possible for all of us.
