Photo Exhibit Enhances This Year’s ‘Celebrate Our Waters,’ Sponsored By Orleans Pond Coalition

Ever wondered what inspires so many photographers to shoot scenes of Cape Cod? 

A curated photography exhibition at Snows Library during the month of September has an answer, according to John Dugan, a director of the Orleans Pond Coalition (OPC). "Our Waters As Artistic Inspiration" is the theme of the organization’s 2026 "Celebrate Our Waters" event. The month-long photo exhibition showcases 42 framed pictures from 28 local photographers as part of the celebration.

 Artists and photographers "benefit from the beauty of our waters but they may not be aware how at risk the waters are if we don't protect them," he said. 

 Eighty-one photos were submitted to a panel of three master artists from the Cape Cod Art Center in Brewster, according to Dugan. The works were evaluated based on technical quality, artistic impact and alignment with the theme. 

Selected photos range in size from 12-by-16 to 18-by-24 inches. A wide range of subjects were submitted, he added, "and we got what we expected, but we also got a lot of beautiful shots of whales, sea creatures and people interacting in the local waters."

 "The photographs celebrate the stunning beauty of Cape Cod's waterscapes," said Dugan, "including amazing shots of the creatures who live in and rely on our waters." Many of the displayed photographs are being offered for sale by the photographer. 

 The photo exhibition, which is free and open to the public, can be seen at the Craine Gallery at Snow Library through Sept. 30. OPC was inspired by suggestions to incorporate more arts-related events into Celebrate Our Waters, so this exhibit is a first for them, Dugan added.

 Other OPC "Celebrate Our Waters," events are running from Friday, Sept. 18 through Sunday, Sept. 20. On Sept. 19, also at Snow Library, there will be poetry readings with Christine Jones from 11 a.m. to 12:30 pm; a presentation by naturalist Peter Trull entitled "The Splendor and Biological Diversity of Our Coastal Plain Ponds," from 1 to 2 p.m.; and a family sing-along with songwriter Paul Kehoe from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. 

Other Celebrate Our Waters events include a sunset SUP paddle, a morning dip at Skaket Beach, sailing on Pleasant Bay, bird watching at Nauset Marsh, yoga on the Beach, a hike to Pochet Island and a kayak trip to Sipson Island. For more information and the full list of activities, visit to www.orleanspondcoalition.org/posts/2026-celebrate-our-waters. All are free and open to the public.

 This is the 16th year that OPC has held events to "Celebrate Our Waters," Dugan said. "Life is very fragile on this little peninsula," he added, and for 23 years OPC has had a mission to protect and enhance the fresh and salt waters of Orleans. The goal of the event, according to organizers, is "to raise public awareness about the importance of protecting this precious resource through a line-up of fun and engaging activities."