Nowadays, virtually everyone has a cell phone in hand, and it is incredibly easy to snap photos at a moment’s notice. For those of us who spend time near the water in the summertime, there are typically many photo opportunities that present themselves. But once we have them, many are left wondering what we can do to make the most of our great photographic moments. The Portland Water District offers a unique opportunity for photographers of all skill levels to compete for selection in their yearly calendar, the Sebago Lake to Casco Bay calendar.
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| A view of the water looking toward The Notch is an example of a Portland Water District calendar photo submission. PHOTO BY KENDRA RAYMOND |
Carina Brown, PWD Water Resources Specialist, says that the calendar originally started as an outreach project to highlight appreciation of the lake.
“Sebago Lake is the source of drinking water (that) Portland Water District provides to over 200,000 people in the Greater Portland area. After water is distributed and used by our customers, we collect, treat, and return clean water into the Presumpscot River or Casco Bay,” said Brown. “In an effort to develop an awareness, understanding, and appreciation for all the vital services we provide and all the waterways that we’re stewards of, we expanded the scope of the calendar to reflect that.”
This is good news for residents and visitors of several other bodies of water. With the addition of a broader scope of potential areas, photo buffs can get creative nabbing that perfect shot.
“Photos selected have typically been landscapes,” Brown said. “They need to include Sebago Lake or one of its tributaries, the Presumpscot River, or Casco Bay in the photograph. Of course, wildlife and people use these waterways too, so we have, from time to time included photos showcasing that as long as it exemplifies stewardship. “
A selection committee consisting of PWD staff will choose scenic calendar photos based on several considerations. This year the photos will be judged by the Watershed Protection staff.
The calendar has increased in popularity over the years, and Brown says that there is a lot of anticipation for its release late each year, usually by mid-December.
“It’s quite popular. I know at both the Sebago Lake Protection Office and the PWD office in Portland, folks often stop in hoping to get a copy leading up to its publication,” Brown said.
Calendars can be obtained at an outdoor receptacle at the Sebago Lake Protection Office (1 White Rock Road in Standish) and in the customer service lobby at the PWD Douglass Street location in Portland (during business hours). The limit is one per family and once they’re gone…they’re gone.
Chad Thompson, Source Protection Coordinator at PWD is also involved in the calendar project. He said that there was a larger number of calendars left this year, and several copies of the 2024 edition are still available if anyone is interested in obtaining one.
Submitting photos for the calendar is easy. Photos must be taken horizontally to fit the calendar format and must be uncropped. Photographers are invited to submit up to five photos. They should be high-resolution (at least 1 MB). Photos should be in their original state, meaning no filters or color enhancements.
Once submitted, you are giving PWD permission to use your photo in future publications such as newsletters or on social media. If your photo is selected, you will receive a complimentary calendar in the mail. The anticipation can be nerve-wracking. Brown says it is a bit of a “surprise reveal” to find out if your photo made it.
“The calendar is an effective outreach tool to inspire appreciation for vital water and wastewater services and a shared responsibility for valuable water resources,” Brown said.
As PWD has frequently reminded us over the years in their annual request for photos, “keep those cameras handy.”
To send photos for consideration, it is best to send one photo at a time. Email entries to: sebagolake@pwd.org. Include your name, email address, age (if under 21), time of year taken, and location of the photo. <
The deadline to submit photos for the 2025 calendar is Aug. 31.
For more information, visit: https://pwd.org/publications/sebago-lake-calendar <
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