Notes From the Field: Portland, Maine

Located in Southern Maine, Portland is a thriving city with a rich fishing history, fantastic eateries, cobblestone streets, a hint of grunge, and an eclectic energy.  All these elements provide an exciting mix of challenging and rewarding photo opportunities.  Nearby are historic lighthouses, harbors, and a beautiful coast that are also fantastic locations for photography.  All of this in a relatively small, easily navigated area is why I bring a group for a Photo Adventure every other year.

This year, things started off a bit soggy.  Heavy rains moved in shortly after we began on Thursday and continued through the night and most of Friday.  The rain was so heavy that it was prohibitive to be outdoors pursuing subjects I knew well, so I had to pivot and find things for us to enjoy indoors while also being productive.  On Friday, we visited Victoria Mansion, an elegant and well-maintained summer home that dates back to the 19th century.  The tour kept us busy with the challenges of photographing indoors without tripods while also providing a fascinating glimpse into Portland’s history.  After the mansion, we toured the Portland Museum of Art, where we enjoyed a spectacular photography exhibit by Ming Smith.  Ming’s images, mostly black and white, give an intimate view into the world of Jazz during the 1970’s and 80’s.  Her work is superb.  Viewing the images as a group provided us with great conversations concerning purpose, projects, and the beauty of imperfections.  This was my favorite part of the workshop.

Later, with the storm clearing, we made our way to Portland Head Lighthouse for what was the most beautiful evening I have ever spent there.  The light and conditions were superb.  The next morning, with the forecast looking quite favorable, we came back for sunrise.  We were treated to a stunning morning of photography.  The rest of our day was spent making use of the good light in and around the Old Port.  We focused on the details of the busy fishing culture, street photography, reflections, and more.  At dinner that night, when our server saw all the camera gear we were lugging, he stated that his father was a busy photographer in Portland in the 1970’s and had created a book.  The server, Leo, later brought the book over to us to look through as we ate.  It was an amazing, personal, intimate collection of images and words captured by his Dad.  Just as viewing the images in the museum did, the book stirred great conversations about photography, creativity, and our personal goals, which I dearly love.  Our time in Portland concluded Sunday at sunrise at Bug Light, a small lighthouse along Portland’s busy harbor.

I look forward to our next adventure in Portland!