The journey took two flights, a two-and-a-half-hour drive, and a one-mile hike, and it was all worth it for the image Joe Subolefsky captured of the Milky Way and the Northern Gannett bird colony at Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve near Branch, Newfoundland. The image was a winner in the Birds in Landscapes category of the 2025 Audubon Photography Awards for U.S. and Canada.

Equipment: He used a Canon EOS R5 with a Canon RF 15-35mm F2.8L IS USM lens. “The wide aperture was essential for low-light conditions,” he explains, “and the 15mm focal length allowed me to capture the full scene.” He used a Gitzo tripod and cable release to ensure the camera’s stability and prevent camera shake during the long exposure, which was 20 seconds at f/2.8, ISO 6400.

Planning: Subolefsky studied star positions, moon phases, and Milky Way visibility to time his three-day trip to Branch. He decided on the moon’s dark phase for optimal visibility of the Milky Way. The area is a certified dark sky location, and Subolefsky chose not to use additive light. Instead, he relied on a lighthouse three-fourths of a mile from the site to illuminate the bird colony he was photographing. “I timed the exposure to coincide with the lighthouse beam lighting the birds,” he says. “I manually set the lens to the hyperfocal distance—calculated using the PhotoPills apps—to ensure sharp focus throughout,” he adds, which allowed him to capture both the birds and the Milky Way beautifully.

The challenges: Timing the lighthouse’s rotating beam with the camera shutter wasn’t easy. And the weather played a critical role. “Out of a three-day window, I had only a 40-minute break when the rain stopped and the clouds cleared enough to capture the shot.” But, as Subolefsky notes, “I enjoy a challenge.”  

Amanda Arnold is a senior editor.