In September 2026 I traveled up the coast of Maine for 2 weeks and enjoyed photography different from the West where I have spent more time. I drove to Portland, bringing my film cameras along. With no particular goal in mind - see and photograph some lighthouses, have a few lobster rolls, and get a sense of the Maine east coastal vibe. I weaved my way from Portland to Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park on Mt Desert Island. As is typical when you finish a trip you realize it was just a primer of sorts - and now armed with more knowledge I would focus my energy and photography somewhat differently on the next visit.
I learned much about lobster fishing thanks to people in the business who welcomed me to their docks during peak activity. It is hard work. In all kinds of weather. I learned that the industry over many years has figured out sustainability and put in place rules to assure the future of lobster fishing.
The distance from Portland to Acadia NP is about 156 miles. But looking at the diagram you can see all the nooks and crannies that can be explored - and I tucked into many of them. That made the trip much more enjoyable and provided a better understanding of the Maine coast, its people and businesses.
My experience in visiting National Parks over the years was reinforced on this trip - the need to get going early. I usually scout potential photo sites the day before. On the initial scouting trip on Acadias Park Loop road I wanted to stop at a couple spots and walk - it was around 9:45. No go. No parking. Arriving before 9am is best. Most of my film photos of the coast were made before 7:30am. Even if you're not a photographer and just want to try the best breakfast places - roust early. The masses once out will prevent you from even finding parking. Not a positive start to the day.
Classic coastline in Acadia NP on Mount Desert Island. Film images just south of Thunder Hole at dawn.
6×17 camera in position
Artist using her medium of image capture
Maine currently has 65 lighthouses spread out along 5,000 miles of coastline, islands, and inlets. Bass Harbor Lighthouse on the southwest portion of Mt. Desert Island is a working lighthouse operated by the NP Service - automated.
I was able to photograph this lighthouse from both land and water!
Pemaquid Point Lighthouse on the midcoast in the town of Bristol. It is a working LH operated by the Coast Guard.
Setup my 4×5 camera down on the rocks toward the ocean. A beautiful location.
Marshall Point LH in Port Clyde was automated in 1980.
The lighthouse appeared in the 1994 film Forest Gump.
Spring Point Ledge Light on the grounds of Fort Preble on the campus of Southern Maine Community College.
Bug Light Park LH at South Portland on Casco Bay.
The iconic Portland Head Light on Cape Elizabeth. The oldest lighthouse in Maine - 1791, The stations beacon and foghorn are automated.
Medium format and 35mm film
Owls Head LH an active aid to navigation located at the entrance of Rockland Harbor on Western Penobscot Bay.
Grindle Point LH in Islesboro, Maine
From the land and the water!
Wharf walkabout
Lobster rolls are served in a variety of ways. I preferred the warm version with butter and mayo. “market” price for a roll was roughly $32.
Lobstering
An interesting business…Fortunate to find some great folks to explain it to me. Shout out to Terry, Alex, Phil, and Chris for all the intellectual capital on lobstering.
Typical lobsterman/woman sets 800 baited traps at varying depths and distance from the coast. Often based on time of year as the crustaceans move…..Then after about 3 days they haul the traps - maybe 400 in a day (wow) then 400 the next day. More likely divided up so they are hauling/re-setting on a continuous basis. Each lobster is measured to determine if it can be kept. Females with eggs cannot be kept and a notch in a portion of the tail is cut so the next time she is caught - even without eggs - the fisherman will know she is an egg layer and returns her to the water, preserving the future.
Some of the boats go out pretty far and I asked about the current diesel fuel expense. Chris said they really don’t use that much fuel. As the fish bait for the traps was flowing down the ramp into his boat he pointed and said - that's the biggest expense.
The unloading goes smoothly - a practiced art. Then the trap bait is loaded - fisherman choice.
Each gray bin is packed and weighed for 90lbs - used to determine the catch/payment and for shipping.
Live lobsters in 90lb containers iced and loaded onto refrigerated truck.