Picture Of The Week 08-18-08

Where: Falmouth, ME • Muscongus Bay

Notes: This shot was from a week long visit to National Audubon's Leadership Training Camp (Audubon Hog Island Camp), which was held just off the coast of Maine, on a three hundred and thirty acre island. I occasionally found time to get in a little picture taking between a full roster of classes, meals and events. Late one afternoon I noticed a family of Black Guillemots that seemed to prefer feeding along the western shore of the island. So I got my camera and sat by the edge of the coniferous woods for an opportunity. Each time this small, twelve inch bird dove it came up closer and closer to my position. While it was underwater, I crept slowly towards the water's edge and sat behind a stone ledge. The bird dove again and then popped up right in front of me, just as I hoped. Knowing the auto focus often has difficulty with water reflections, I switched to a higher f-stop number to increase the focal length and used manual focusing. I could even see it's pink feet in the clear cool water.

Audubon's Hog Island has been a landmark facility of environmental education since 1936, Its center's residential programs educate adults, children, and families about coastal wildlife in Maine and beyond. I found this camp a great resource. Not just for its environmental education, but also because it re-ignited my personal passion for our natural world that is constantly in harm's way. I have a renewed commitment, both personally and within my community, to do what ever part I can to have God's amazing creatures here for future generations to appreciate and protect.

Visit: Audubon Hog Island Camp