Maine Lighthouses Workshop 2024
In August 2024, Lerro Photography sponsored a Maine Lighthouse and Harbors photo workshop that emphasized the coastlines of the Rockland region of Maine. Our photo workshop started with a chartered boat ride out of Camden. We departed at dawn and set up for sunrise at Curtis Island Lighthouse. We then proceeded south to Indian Island Light, Rockland Breakwater Light. Rockland Breakwater sustained much damage to the ocean side during the historic January 2024 storms. There is ongoing fundraising to help restore the lighthouse.
We then proceeded further southwest to photograph Owls Head, Whitehead Island, and Tenants Harbor Light. The bell tower at Tenants Harbor was also badly damaged in the winter storm. The furthest southwest light we then hit was Marshall Point, which is made famous in the movie Forrest Gump.
From there we started heading northeast to photograph Two Bush Island Light, Heron Neck Light, and Saddleback Ledge Light, a favorite of the group due to its unique and rugged look. We then proceeded north to photograph the Isle au Haut light and then turned west towards the Goose Rocks light. Our final lighthouse on the boat ride was Browns Head Light. In all, we photographed 13 lighthouses during our 8-hour boat ride.
Once back on land, we took an afternoon break and then met back up at Owls Head Lighthouse. Owls Head is run by the US Lighthouse Foundation and they were generous to allow us to do a night photo shoot. One of their volunteers dressed up as a lighthouse keeper and posed on the staircase as well as at the top of the lighthouse with the Fresnel lens. Our final shot that night was with the lighthouse keeper standing next to the lighthouse as the moon rose above the ocean.
On day two, we shot sunrise photos at the Five Island Harbor, which is home to the famous Five Island Lobster Co. The abundance of working lobstermen and lobster boats makes for great photo opportunities. There is also the harbor dog “Fathom” that proles around and greets all the lobstermen. After a midday break, we met back up at Marshal Point Lighthouse for sunset and night photos. Clouds and a mist/light rain moved in which blocked the stars but did allow for us to capture great photos of the beams of the lighthouse from the lighthouse.
On day three, we took sunrise photos at Owls Head Harbor. This harbor is bigger than Five Island so we have more opportunities to walk around and find different subjects to photograph. That afternoon, we all met up for an early dinner at Shaw’s which is in New Harbor. New Harbor sustained massive damage during the winter storm and several historic wharves and docks were washed away.
In the evening, we set up at the world-famous Pemaquid Point Lighthouse so we could take sunset and night shots. After sunset, the photographers gathered their night gear so we could wait for the moonrise to happen. About 30 minutes before moonrise, the Milky Way became visible so we moved around so we could capture a few quick photos before the sky started to brighten due to the moon. Once the moon did rise, we were able to capture images with it next to the lighthouse.
On day four, we came back to Pemaquid Point Light and photographed the sunrise. During sunrise, a lobster boat was circling around collecting its traps, which just happened to be in the sunrise reflection. After sunrise, we had breakfast and then did a hike to Squirrel Point Lighthouse which is just south of Bath, Me along the Kennebec River. Its unique mind-mill appearance makes for great pictures along the short cliffs of the river.
Because of our close location to Wiscasset, we decided to make a short drive to the WW&F Railway so the photographers to capture a few images of Maine’s unique 2-foot gauge railroads. Once we finished up, the workshop was over and we all said our goodbyes.
Our Maine photo workshops have always been popular so we plan on running another one in the near future.
