Overview
Join me, John K. Putnam, from July 23 – July 27, 2025, for an unforgettable island experience in Quebec, Canada! We will spend four comfortable nights on this beautiful island eating wonderful food, enjoying each other’s company, and photographing Atlantic puffins (and other birds) to our heart’s content. Not only will we have the island almost all to ourselves we will also be able to move around the island freely for close-up views of puffins all day long and in all types of light with endless opportunities for in-flight photos! No blinds and no time limits! Other than photographing birds we will also have other worthy subjects such as the Île aux Perroquets Lighthouse, an expansive intertidal zone, and, with any luck, the occasional passing whale. This is an educational workshop meant not only to expose you to a rarely visited corner of the world but also to help you improve your skills as a photographer with in-the-field guidance and post-processing instruction.
Basic Schedule
Day 1: AM departure for Île-aux-Perroquets (approximately 20-minute boat ride) from Longue-Pointe-de-Mingan, QC. Lunch upon arrival to the island. Orientation. Afternoon photo session. Dinner. Evening photo session.
Day 2: Sunrise photo session. Breakfast. Morning photo session. Image review/post-processing. Lunch. Break. Afternoon photo session. Dinner. Evening photo session.
Day 3: Sunrise photo session. Breakfast. Morning photo session. Image review/post-processing. Lunch. Break. Afternoon photo session. Dinner. Evening photo session.
Day 4: Sunrise photo session. Breakfast. Morning photo session. Image review/post-processing. Lunch. Break. Afternoon photo session. Dinner. Evening photo session.
Day 5: AM departure from Île-aux-Perroquets. Say our goodbyes.
About Île-aux-Perroquets
Île aux Perroquets is a tiny island that sits at the western end of the Mingan Archipelago in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Quebec, Canada. A walk from one end to the other takes only a few minutes. Its beauty, however, is endless. Perched on its crest is the Île aux Perroquets Lighthouse, keeper’s house, and assistant keeper’s house. Both houses have been converted into an inn with cozy, comfortable rooms and a shared bathroom in each building. Delicious meals made from local ingredients are prepared for us and served in the keeper’s house.
The island’s name, translated from French, means “parrot island” a reference to the Atlantic puffin, one of the many species of seabird that nest in numbers there. Other common species include the razorbill, black guillemot, black-legged kittiwake, common eider, and the notorious black-backed gull… the apex predator on the island.
Transportation to and from the island is by boat and is a 20-minute ride from the mainland. Some days the ride is smooth and other days, well… it’s not. The weather ranges from sunny and warm to foggy and cool to cold and windy. Island landings are of course affected by the weather. Rarely, the surf can become too rough to depart, delaying trips to the island. On the other end, it is possible to be stuck on the island. Attendees will receive refunds for the cost of any nights missed if we are not able to depart for the island. If we are stuck on the island an additional $100/day for meals will be charged to each attendee.
What to Bring
Photo Equipment:
As far as camera equipment goes, a Digital SLR or mirrorless camera is your best option. My favorite lenses are my 14-35, 24-105, and 100-400 but we will make anything work… though a telephoto lens is highly recommended for photographing the birds. You will need a laptop with post-processing software installed (my preferred software is Adobe Lightroom which is what I will be using for any editing demonstrations).
- DSLR or mirrorless camera
- Wide-angle and telephoto lens
- A sturdy tripod and head
- Rain cover for your camera
- Camera backpack. If you sign up for this workshop you will receive 15% off your next f-stop purchase at fstopgear.com!
- A laptop with editing software installed
Clothing and Other Gear:
I recommend layering your clothing. The temps we will be working in will change, starting cool in the mornings and warming up throughout the day, and then dropping again at night. You will want warm clothing for windy days and for the boat ride out to L’ile aux Perroquets. Personal floatation devices will be provided. Other suggested items are found below.
- Down jacket
- Hat and gloves
- Insect repellant
- Sunscreen
- Rain Gear
Price: $4500 – SOLD OUT, please contact us to be added to the waitlist.
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This workshop is all-inclusive. Boat transportation from Longue-Pointe-de-Mingan to and from Île-aux-Perroquets, all meals on the island, room service, park entry fees, photo/post-processing instruction, and a welcome cocktail upon arrival to the island are all included.
Attendees are responsible for:
- Transportation to and from Longue-Pointe-de-Mingan, QC, Canada.
- Accommodations the night before departure.
- Gratuities for island staff.
- Travel insurance.
For accommodations the nights before and after the workshop we recommend Les Maisonnettes Des Îles in Longue-Pointe-de-Mingan. Otherwise, you could stay in Sept-Iles which has many more options for food and accommodations, and still have plenty of time to get to the boat launch on the morning of departure.
Cancelations:
Cancelations made 60 days in advance will receive a full refund for any amount paid over the non-refundable deposit. Cancelations less than 60 days before the start of the workshop will receive no refund. If a canceled spot can be filled before the start date of the workshop a full refund will be given, including the deposit.