Notes from the Field: Mid-Coast Maine, February 2026
Last weekend, a group joined me along mid-coast Maine for a photo adventure featuring Pemaquid Point Lighthouse, a few fishing harbors, local scenes, and the Wiscasett, Waterville, and Farmington Steam Railroad. We had a weekend full of color, tones, meaningful conversations, and great image-making. Our home for the weekend was the elegant Bradley Inn, where the hosts, Laura and Tony, ensured we were welcomed, comfortable, and well-fed. More French Toast with wild Maine blueberries, Cuban Picadillo, and Lemon Posset, please!
Using the elegant, relaxing Inn as inspiration, my encouragement to the group for the weekend was to slow down, spend more time on a chosen subject with less running around, and find detailed, storytelling scenes.
For every photography adventure, I am a firm believer that everyone needs a creative “warm-up”. Some may not have picked up a camera for a while, or weary from travel, or nervous in a group so, to start, I like to find small locations that force attendees to work harder at finding compositions while re-associating themselves with their camera and their intent.
- We started in South Bristol Harbor, which is a small but busy fishing harbor
- Roaming the docks and area, I encouraged everyone to narrow down their vision and look for captivating detail
- This exercise always generates good questions and conversations, which blossomed over a fantastic salmon dinner at the Inn
Friday morning sunrise was at Pemaquid Point Lighthouse
- First light was “okay” but nothing spectacular due to a clear sky
- Given the lack of drama, we all focused on smaller details which were fruitful
Friday afternoon, we explored Shaw’s Wharf and Back Cove in New Harbor, Maine. Both areas are small, but they typically produce good creative opportunities
- Again, we sought smaller details
- Lots of fishing harbor details such as ropes, bouys, boats, textures, and more
- A casual walk to Back Cove let us talk and seek good light and shadows
Friday night dinner was at an all-time favorite restaurant in Wiscasset. Montweag never disappoints!
Saturday morning, we left for Friendship Harbor early. We watched sunrise while driving, but no photographs. Once in the Harbor, we ensured it was okay to walk the docks and photograph with some local dock workers. A local lobsterman, the husband of one of our Hunt’s Photo Education community, let us onto a “closed” pier. Then one of our group got talking to 4 other lobsterman and suddenly we were taking portraits and being let into a closed off dock warehouse. Thank you, Deb!
- Once again, the emphasis was on details
- We walked the docks slowly and worked on many different small scenes
- For me, getting into places I/we had not been before was great – and going about it the right way, permission, was even greater
- the portraits were essential as the docks mean nothing without the lobstermen
A nice ride back to the Inn for a fantastic breakfast, a short break, and then off to the WW & F railroad in Wiscasset. At the railroad, one of the volunteers who is always good to my classes, led us around, explained many things, and opened up all the buildings for us to photograph details of the trains, the cars, all the tools, and all the hard work. Thanks, Ed!
- Every operation consists of many moving parts. Being able to take our time and photograph smaller details was challenging and rewarding
- People really invested time in finding details they liked
- Even though we did not photograph the train running, we created some great behind the scenes images
- We spent almost three, slow hours roaming the railway with everyone getting a great feel for all that goes on there
Superb Saturday night dinner at the Inn with some great conversations. Everyone really appreciated the quiet, calm setting with ample down-time to not only enjoy the space, but also give thought to what our intent was for the weekend.
All in all, it was a great weekend of photography, camaraderie, comfort, and using a slower, less hurried approach to our creative goals. We will be back again!
