Mike Hoefgen Named Eastside Audubon Photo of the Month Winner for May

Mike Hoefgen has earned the Eastside Audubon Photo of the Month honor for May for his image of a mother Rufous Hummingbird feeding her young at Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge. This is Mike’s second time winning the award.

“I waited with three other photographers for about 30 minutes until she arrived—briefly, for less than 20 seconds,” Mike said. “The nest was tiny and well camouflaged, but we could just see the twin beaks peeking over the crest.”

Photo Details
**Aperture:** f/5.6 **| Shutter Speed**: 1/800 sec | **ISO:** 16,000

Mike used an OM Systems OM-1 Mark II camera with a 150–400 mm lens and the built-in 1.25x teleconverter, giving him a 500 mm focal length. The photo was taken at 1/800 sec, f/5.6, and ISO 16000. He processed the image with Topaz Photo AI to reduce noise, sharpen, and upscale, and then used Lightroom to refine the tonal qualities.

The photo was taken from the boardwalk near the refuge’s main building, where Mike spotted a group of photographers who helped him locate the well-hidden nest.

To See More of Mike Hoefgen’s Work

For those interested in exploring more of Mike Hoefgen’s photography, visit his Facebook page, Instagram @mikehoefgen, or his website at michaelhoefgenphoto.com.

About the Eastside Audubon Photograph of the Month Award

The Photo of the Month award was instituted to recognize the work of the Photo Group Members. The group members meet monthly to show their latest photos and videos as well as share their knowledge of photography and wildlife. To attend the meetings, please join the group’s announcement list.