Photo of the Month: July 2008
Every month we choose for recognition three photos from among those contributed to the report by member photographers in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. Here are the current Photo of the Month and honorable mentions. The POM winner gets a $300 award and the runners-up each get $50.
Russ Dillingham
Sun Journal
Lewiston, Maine
Honorable Mentions
Daryn Slover
Sun Journal
Nick Begin of Litchfield casts for pike as storm clouds roll over Sabattus Pond on July 9. Begin had no luck with the pike and the quick-moving storm sent him running for cover.
Joe Phelan
Kennebec Journal, Augusta, Maine
Joel Marsh and his wife pose in Randolph, Maine, on July 18. Joel dieted away 172 pounds and 22 inches in 20 months.
Dillingham:
" I was coming back from another assignment when I noticed a butterfly land on some flowers at one of the local fountains that are surrounded by flowers. I am always looking for nature photos, and I had yet to shoot a butterfly or flower close-up this spring, so I pulled over and cleaned off my macro.
"The butterfly was nowhere to be seen, but I noticed the flowers were teaming with these fluorescent bees. I didn't quite get the clean background I was looking for, but they move so quick, and focusing is so difficult......I pre-set the focus and move myself back and forth rather than rely on auto focus in these situations.
"After a couple dozen photos, I got this one just as my cell went off calling me out to another assignment. The most difficult thing was getting an ID. By the time I got back to the office, it was late Friday afternoon, and all my usual contacts I rely on to double check what I have found on the Internet were gone.
"I spent nearly a half hour going from Website to Website, and after numerous reputable sites led me to the same conclusion, I was satisfied it was a sweat bee. After all, it said there are over 1,000 different species of the bee, so I felt confident I had the correct ID.
"Monday morning I got a reply from one of my sources confirming I was correct. There is nothing worse than getting a good photo, but having the caption information wrong."
Sun Journal
Kennebec Journal, Augusta, Maine
Dillingham:
" I was coming back from another assignment when I noticed a butterfly land on some flowers at one of the local fountains that are surrounded by flowers. I am always looking for nature photos, and I had yet to shoot a butterfly or flower close-up this spring, so I pulled over and cleaned off my macro.
"The butterfly was nowhere to be seen, but I noticed the flowers were teaming with these fluorescent bees. I didn't quite get the clean background I was looking for, but they move so quick, and focusing is so difficult......I pre-set the focus and move myself back and forth rather than rely on auto focus in these situations.
"After a couple dozen photos, I got this one just as my cell went off calling me out to another assignment. The most difficult thing was getting an ID. By the time I got back to the office, it was late Friday afternoon, and all my usual contacts I rely on to double check what I have found on the Internet were gone.
"I spent nearly a half hour going from Website to Website, and after numerous reputable sites led me to the same conclusion, I was satisfied it was a sweat bee. After all, it said there are over 1,000 different species of the bee, so I felt confident I had the correct ID.
"Monday morning I got a reply from one of my sources confirming I was correct. There is nothing worse than getting a good photo, but having the caption information wrong."