Photography of Maine Birds and Landscapes
May 25 – May 30, 2025
Registration is open now for the 2025 Camp season! All campers must agree to the Camper Guidelines and Cancellation Policy. Please read this policy before registering.
Find answers to frequently asked questions about lodging, transportation, schedules, packing lists, meals, and more here. For technical support with CampDoc, please visit their help page or contact support@campdoc.com.
Hog Island Audubon Camp is an ideal setting for exploring the photography of birds and nature. This camp brings together people of all photography skill levels who are enthusiastic about learning more about bird and nature photography. This experience invites you to learn, explore, and grow creative photography skills in a fun and supportive atmosphere.
Your days will be spent on photography field trips around coastal Maine and in engaging skills-based workshops. This program is timed during spring migration in coastal Maine. You will venture to a variety of habitats on the coast to capture the birds passing through. Campers will explore the island’s spruce forest, tide pools, and striking dawns and sunsets. One highlight of the week is an excursion to Eastern Egg Rock to photograph Atlantic Puffins and terns returning to their nesting grounds.
Pricing: $1625
The base registration fee includes meals, housing, instruction, and all field trips. This price is based on a standard shared room (with 2 twin beds) a shared bathroom. A limited number of upgraded accommodations are available for an additional cost. Two upgrade options are a single room for solo travelers or a room with a private bath for two people traveling together. There are no single rooms with private bathrooms available. Please see our lodging page for more information.
Participants must arrange their own transportation to and from the Audubon dock in Bremen at the start and end of the session. Please see our transportation page for more information.
There are several different scholarship opportunities available to help participants attend Hog Island sessions! Please see our scholarships page for more information about Hog Island Scholarships. You should also check with your local Audubon chapter or bird club for additional opportunities.
Requirements: Photographers of all skill levels are welcome! You will need to bring your own camera, and you should be comfortable with your equipment before coming to camp.
Director
Tristan Spinski is a photographer and writer living in Maine. He studied literature at the University of Delaware and earned his master's degree in journalism from UC Berkeley. Much of his work examines the intersections of culture, economy and landscape, with a focus on ecological systems. Tristan's editorial clients include National Geographic, The New York Times, Audubon, and The Guardian.
Instructors
Loren Merrill is a wildlife and science photographer and writer with a doctorate in wildlife ecology and animal behavior. Loren’s approach to photography is heavily influenced by his background in natural history, ecology, and animal behavior, and his goal is to capture images that help communicate stories of the natural world to others. While he has conducted research and pursued photography on four continents, Loren’s ties to Maine run deep: his first field job was for Project Puffin in 1995. Loren is a dedicated instructor and leads wildlife photography workshops for Down East Magazine's Adventures program. Decades spent in the presence of wild animals have provided Loren with unique insights into their behavior, and he is able to parlay that knowledge into being better prepared to understand and anticipate his subjects’ action. To paraphrase Louis Pasteur, wildlife photography favors the prepared mind.
Photographer Carla Rhodes tells visual tales of the natural world, focusing on the overlooked and misunderstood. From endangered storks to everyday moths, her work is a testament to the beauty found in the unexpected.
Her journey, once rooted in the realms of comedic ventriloquism, now flourishes in the wild, making images that inspire and educate. Skillfully morphing her narrative craft from the stages’ spotlight to the boundless theater of the wilderness, she is truly a wild storyteller, unveiling the hidden narratives of the unsung heroes of the wild.
Published in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Guardian and more, Carla's images challenge perspective while encouraging a deep appreciation of our shared environment.
NOTE: Audubon reserves the right to alter itineraries, instructors and particular arrangements, or to substitute similar itineraries or arrangements, at no penalty. If Audubon cancels a session, it will issue full refunds of all deposits or payments to the paid participants.
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