I've finished packing so now I'm settling down to get some rest before the six or so hours I have to travel tomorrow. I've adjusted by prepared list marginally -- dropping the battery charger since I'll have enough AAAs and can buy some if needed -- and added a monopod. So with all that gear just what am I hoping to accomplish in a week?

Wildlife
Hornby may get a bit crazy with tourist traffic in the summer but it still is enough out of the way that it is home to a number of animals that so far are ambivalent to human presence. You can't exactly walk up to them but in general the deer, otters, bald eagles and seals are not super skittish. If are careful with your approach, you can get pretty close. That said, I'm glad to bring along my 100-400. Let's see how I do this year.

Special assignments
1. Kayak out to a seal lion rookery
2. Try and get close to an otter family
3. Spent a day capturing bald eagles
4. Get up early in the morning with the deer

Landscapes
Hornby is really a beautiful little gem. It's not a huge island but it has awesome sunsets, has some very interesting coastal terrain and a great view of Vancouver Island. There are pretty wide beaches, a mix of evergreen and willow, and a unique species of gnarled oak called the Garry Oak.

Special assignments
1. Get up with the sunset and head out to Whaling Station
2. Get down in the water and do something from the kayak with the fisheye
3. Sunset shot
4. Explore intertidal region at Heron Rocks

Stars, flowers, insects
Although Hornby is still within sight of Vancouver Island, it is also far enough away from most settlements that light pollution is very low. That means, star shots are possible. Last year I tried a long exposure and got this:

This year I aim to improve on this by choosing a truly cloudless day.

Special assignments
1. Long exposure 'star trail' shot
2. Use the telephoto and try and capture stars up close
3. Light painting
4. Macro shots of flowers, insects
5. Texture shots

That's plenty for a week and I'll be happy if I get half of these.

Internet access is going to be limited in the next few days so I may not post again until I return. Have a great week everyone!