12th Annual Nature Photo Contest Winners

Julie Schueck

A Family of Canada Geese
Native Creatures Category

I have lived here full-time since 2015. Last year I participated in the Annual Christmas Bird Count and found my identification skills lacking! To educate myself, I started photographing as many shore birds, ducks, etc. that I could see from my deck. I had my camera always at the ready and took photos when the birds got close enough. This way, I could look up the birds in my bird book, labelling my photos correctly for future reminders. I know they are abundant and that some don’t like them at all, but I found this Canada Goose family to be utterly charming. The way that the parent geese protect their goslings tugs at my heart every time. 

My favourite things about nature here include the diversity of flora and fauna and all those wonderful moments that occur, like Arbutus berries lit up by sunlight, the cacophony of bird song, an eagle soaring overhead, an osprey flying off with a fish, mushrooms growing on an old stump, the surprise find of native orchids on a trail, etc. 

Lisa Siddons

Sprout on an Arubuts Tree
Native Plants Category

I’ve lived on the island weekends starting in 2018, and full time since 2021. I love the arbutus trees at the end of St. John Point, and while taking a walk there, I noticed the lighting was perfect to show off this sprout on one of a tree’s lower branches.

Mayne has a lot of natural areas, being well forested and not too heavily developed, so I love being surrounded by it. I also appreciate how many fellow nature-lovers are on the island! I think that’s reflected in the wide variety of events presented by the Conservancy and others. 

Donna Wood

Western Tanager
Native Creatures Category

I’m very fortunate to have a family member with a cottage on Mayne Island, which I visit every August for summer holidays.   This year was extra special as I captured my first photo of a Western Tanager!  I heard birds calling from the trees off the deck, and the Merlin Bird ID app identified the sound.  I immediately got excited and stayed alert, hoping for a glimpse.  Then, as if on cue, the shy bird flew out and landed on an ornamental branch, one that eagles usually perch on! This  was a definite highlight of this summer’s visit.  Another unforgettable moment was watching Common Nighthawks flying in circles over Navy Channel at dusk on a different day.  I wasn’t familiar this bird before, and seeing them in motion was amazing. 

Carolyn Sullivan

Sandstone Beach
Ocean/Beach Scene Category

About four years ago, I purchased fractional ownership at the Mayne Island Resort and have been enjoying my weekly getaways ever since. The more I go, the more I love what the island has to offer — the welcoming community, the vibrant art scene, and the beauty of its natural surroundings.

From my very first visit, I was fascinated by the Tafoni rock formations that line parts of the coastline. Tafoni is the geological term for the intricate honeycomb patterns that form naturally in sandstone over time through wind and water erosion. Their textures, patterns, and sculptural shapes completely captivated me, inspiring me to start photographing them.

As a city girl, I’ve had to learn a lot — about tides, timing, and even how to safely climb down the slippery coastal rocks. I often return to the same spots several times, waiting for the tide to shift just right to capture the perfect moment.

Cairo Haq

Reflection at St. John Point – People in Nature Category
A bright afternoon at St. John Point with panoramic views towards Lyall Harbour and Pender Island is the perfect moment for reflection. In the colourful embrace of the arbutus trees, I hoped to capture and share this feeling of warmth.

A Gently Winding Path – Landscape Category
I see this gently winding path at Mount Parke Park as a way forward, in any sense: for a specific occasion, for life as a whole, or for the world. The onlooking cedar branch reminds me of the everlasting role of nature; water droplets holding on and falling back to the Earth in a nourishing cycle.

As a privileged visitor to SḴŦAḴ since early childhood,  I have gained a heartfelt appreciation for the island through many formative experiences and memories. I am grateful to have learned to slow down here and immerse myself in a different pace of life outside of my busy home in Victoria. The island has shown me the value in community-oriented work and most importantly, in connecting with nature.

I have spent long summer days harvesting blackberries at Miners Bay and nettles in the spring, and witnessed the beauty of standing atop Mount Parke in the middle of a misty cloud. I’ve also found delight in counting different species of mosses growing on the side of a trail and in the return of familiar scents and sounds that accompany the shifting seasons. Nature on SḴŦAḴ is such an important part of my life because of both the obvious and the smaller experiences, which together make it uniquely wonderful. Thanks to the generosity of the Earth and to the historical and continuing care by the W̱SÁNEĆ peoples through sustainable and relational practices, the natural world on SḴŦAḴ holds a special place in my heart.

Ron Erdman

Oyster Bay
Ocean/Beach Scene Category

I’ve had a place on Mayne Island since 1989. The photo is of Oyster Bay (just off Bayview Drive).  There are wonderful views here as the changing tide dramatically affects the scene looking back towards to Vancouver.

I like the way scenes change as tide and season make each view unique.

Danika Henry

Scaly Vase Mushroom
Native Plant Category

John Leighton

Edith Point – Landscape Category
This photo is of one of our favourite walks to the tip of Edith Pt. So glad it is now conserved!

Kayaking – People in Nature Category
This photo reflects one of our favourite kayaking destinations through GINP, and the outer coastline of Samuel Island.

My wife, Teri, has been spending summers at a family cabin for 60 years. When we met, I became acquainted with Mayne and we now have our own seasonal home on the island. As most of my nature photography has been in mountain ranges, I really appreciate getting familiar with the coastal environment and ecosystems. Such richness and diversity within a small footprint.

Jesika Rose

Visiting the Beaches
Ocean/Beach Scene Category

My connection to SḴŦAḴ | Mayne Island started about 8 years ago visiting family on the island. I fell in love with the beauty and peacefulness. This led me to move here in 2020 with my son and we have been enjoying the small island life ever since.

My favorite things about nature on SḴŦAḴ | Mayne Island is the sounds. The quiet of the forests. The sounds of the rain on the leaves. Ravens talking and telling their stories in the canopy above. The song birds waking you in the mornings.

We take nature for granted too often, but if you take the time to stop and listen it reminds you just how lucky we are to call SḴŦAḴ | Mayne Island home.

The story behind the photo is nothing more than an adventure day with my son Lincoln visiting the beaches and exploring the forests around the island, our favorite thing to do.

Lee Beavington

A Myriad of Green
People in Nature Category

Our family is blessed to call this place home. As an ecologist this is a tremendous island to live on. Just down the road from our house you’ll find a forest of deer fern, magnificent maples, and seals hanging out at Oyster Bay. Perhaps my favourite thing is being able to hear the downstroke of the raven that patrols our road daily. 

In the photo you can see my daughter Samara and our dog Hope heading into myriad layers of green. We love to hike this trail to Frog Pond 1 (as the kids call it), where the ferns sometimes tower above us. The official name is Doreen McLeod Beach Access Trail.

Jackie Peterson

A Variety of Lichen
Native Plants Category

I’ve lived full-time on Mayne Island for almost six years, and before that my family spent weekends and holidays here starting in 2017. Mayne Island is a special place. Love the quiet trails, wildlife, and the changing seasons. There’s always something new to appreciate every time you step outside. I’m grateful to witness it all here where we live. 

These mushrooms were growing near the flat mossy area at the tip of St. John Point, which we call the fairy garden. The moss here is thick, soft, and a beautiful bright green. I love teeny mushrooms and was drawn to the delicate gills on this cute little cluster – a type I don’t usually come across. I discovered later this is technically a variety of lichen (heath navels), which grow in a symbiotic relationship between fungus and algae. St John point has a huge variety of mushrooms to discover!