Mary
Hollinger began working for NOAA's National Oceanographic
Data Center in 1971, after receiving a BS degree in Biology
from St. Mary's College of MD. She received her first camera
from her grandparents on her 7th birthday, and has been clicking
merrily away since. Growing up in the Chesapeake Bay area,
there was a natural tendency towards pictures of the water
and marine life. Only pictures of her two daughters might
compete in shear numbers!
Shortly
after joining NODC, co-worker Darrel Knoll resurrected some
plans for building a sea kayak. With that a new passion was
born. She has paddled the entire Patuxent River from Queen
Anne's Bridge to the mouth of the river several times, and
especially loves going out at night. Of course it helps to
have neighbors and friends who share the same delights and
don't mind staying up half the night - or all night - to enjoy
them. Kayaking and volunteer activities with the Chesapeake
Bay Foundation and the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, etc.
have afforded some wonderful opportunities to visit places
one might not otherwise see, and her camera is rarely left
behind. She finds it a privilege to have her pictures showcased
in the NOAA Photo Library and an absolute delight to have
them used and enjoyed.
