Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge
Left: The entrance to Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge. Right: The trailer is adjacent to the refuge office and visitor center. Every day or so I fill up the holdng tank, empty the gray water, etc. I do have electricity, even polarized plugs to plug in my chargers, etc. It has been very windy and rainy -- a good thing the trailer is anchored.
For the month of May I will be the photographer in residence at Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge. I'm excited to able to spend so much time in the mountains. I will be giving programs, having a solo exhibit and doing activities for the refuge.
Canaan Valley is located at 3,400-4,400 feet in the Allegheny Mountains. It is the largest high-elevation valley east of the Mississippi River and contains a variety of fauna and flora usually found much farther north.
I hope to photograph bear, fox, deer and native brook trout as well as beautiful spring wildflowers. (All photography taken during this month will remain in my copyright, but rights for use will be given to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.)
I will be staying in a full-service trailer and surviving without television, internet and phone. My cell phone will keep me in touch with my husband and others. There are a few WiFi locations in the valley, so you may find me in a gas station parking lot writing more posts. I think I can live without television. I'm looking forward to the cool mountain breezes too. The valley and surrounding areas will be part of an annual wildflower pilgrimage that draws hundreds to enjoy an Appalachian spring.
My programs will be hands-on digital photography on a refuge boardwalk (weather permitting), a travel photography program and introduction to digital photography session.
Photographer Laura Moul is a Tamarack artist. Click here for links and more on her work.