When a Penticton photographer snapped a shot of a bird common enough to be seen in his own back yard, he wasn't expecting it to receive national recognition.
Adam Benn's photo of a Cedar Waxwing — which he sees around his home regularly during their annual migrations — taken at Vaseaux Lake was selected as one of eight winners from over 450 submissions from across Canada in the Lake Biodiversity Photo Challenge.
"I've never really entered a photo contest before and there was a guy of mine at work I was showing the pictures from the week," said Benn. "He came across this photo contest and said I should put it in there. It was nerve-wracking, like I never really put myself out there like that and I wasn't sure what would happen."
The contest, in its fourth year, is put on by Living Lakes Canada, an award-winning water science and stewardship non-profit.
In partnership with the Canadian Conservation Photographers Collective, the challenge encouraged participants to follow ethical nature photography practices, to ensure the well-being and respect for the environment and wildlife.
Two winners were selected as winners in four categories — one chosen by the public and the other by the judges.
The photo Benn took isn't in his usual wheelhouse, but after acquiring a new long-lense camera, he has been dabbling in bird-focused photography over the past year.
"I wouldn't call myself a birder specifically. I just appreciate the nature and wildlife," said Benn. "I love just any nature stuff. I really love capturing the sort of beauty of things that you often don't see unless you can kind of get close to them."
The shot that earned Benn his award was not a close shot, but from about 50 feet away. It was taken as he walked around the northwest side of Vaseaux Lake, a little ways from the main bird observatory.
"I'd come down the trail and got some great shots of a muskrat, beaver, some other birds, even a rattlesnake although that was kind of in the brambles," said Benn. "I'd taken pictures of [Cedar Waxwings] before, so when I saw it down there, I know how beautiful they are if you can get a clear, close photo.
"So sitting on the bench, just handheld, quickly snapped a bunch of shots."
Coming across the Cedar Waxwing was a surprise to Benn that day, not because of any rarity, but because of the time of year. When he snapped the shot, it was near the end of June, when he typically sees them pass through in spring and fall.
As one of the winners, Benn will receive the grand prize of an online photography workshop with professional photographer Viktoria Haak, Nikon Canada Ambassador and Kase Filter Global Ambassador, as well as generous prize packages with items from Kicking Horse Coffee, Lush, and Laykhaus.
The entire 2024 online gallery can be viewed at livinglakescanada.ca/lbpc2024
