On this photo tour we'll start in mid-coast Maine for 2 nights (July 11 and 12) photographing the iconic Pemaquid Point Lighthouse. While there we can explore other area sites like the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, as well as quaint towns and harbors. We'll be staying at a hotel (about 2 hour drive from Bangor Airport) within easy walking distance of the lighthouse making it convenient to photograph the lighthouse for early morning and/or late night shots.
On Day 3 we drive 4 hours north to Lubec, Maine on the Canadian border for the next 2 nights (July 13 and 14). We'll be staying in a vacation rental home with enough room for everyone to have their own bedroom (we will share the 2.5 bathrooms), bonus - it has a pool! Here we will be able to photograph the famous red and white striped West Quoddy Lighthouse. Then on July 14th we have a very special boat excursion to photograph the Atlantic puffin colony off the coast of Maine on Machias Seal Island. From Lubec we drive 30 minutes south where we board our charter boat to the island. Our boat trip adventure takes us to a 20 acres island located between the Gulf of Maine and the Bay of Fundy. On the island is a large bird colony that is home to thousands of sea birds during the nesting season from May - August. Among them are Atlantic Puffins, Guillemots, Razorbills, and Arctic Terns. At this time of year we should see adult puffins, their beaks filled with fish they've brought to their burrows to feed their chicks. Our chartered boat company is the only one in the US with permission to land on the island. Once on the island, we'll split up between two viewing blinds (4 people per blind). From the blinds we have the amazing opportunity to photograph the birds from just a few feet away, you don't need a very long lens, but a zoom lens like 100 - 400mm would enable you to get closeups of a single bird. (the puffin photo above was 325mm on a full frame camera). Access to the island is highly regulated and visits are limited to around 1 hour in length. Still in that time you can expect to come home with hundreds of bird images.
On Day 5 we drive from Lubec 2 hours south to Bar Harbor, ME for the final leg of our journey where we'll stay for 3 nights (July 15, 16 and 17). Here we'll stay in a motel in the Eden neighborhood on the north side of Mt Desert Island. From our motel we'll have good access to photograph several sites in Acadia National Park, and have the option to get there using a route with less traffic.
On our last day, July 18, depending on your mode of travel you may be able to get in a morning photo shoot before starting your journey home. Bar Harbor is about an hour drive from Bangor Airport.
This trip is designed to be a photo tour rather than a photo workshop. On a photo tour there aren't formal class sessions. I can provide coaching for those that need help, but my purpose is to get you to the right location at the right time for the best photography opportunities. When I'm not providing coaching assistance I will be photographing as well. As a result this trip is best for a fairly self sufficient photographer who is mostly comfortable with their photography skills for example: advanced beginner, intermediate or advanced photographer.
The fee includes:
Not included:
Group Size limited to only 4 participants!
Contact Mary Louise if you have questions.
A moderate fitness level is required for the photo tour. There will be some walking / hiking involved, under 1 mile and none of it is overly strenuous. Many of the trails are unpaved and therefore uneven, rocky, and may have protruding roots that could be a tripping hazard. Some photographic vantage points require venturing down on the rocks which are uneven and could be slippery if wet. If you are not comfortable with those conditions, there are alternative spots to take photographs.
For the Puffin boat trip: We will be using the only company authorized to land on the bird colony island. They describe the journey as follows:
"Island landings involve participants transferring from the tour vessel into a large outboard-powered skiff which is navigated to a designated landing area on the rocky shoreline. Depending on the sea conditions, there is a possibility of wet feet, although most days we manage to keep everyone completely dry. While assistance is provided at every stage of the landing, conditions are slippery, and a degree of physical mobility and surefootedness is required."
Departures to the island and landings on the island are subject to tide and weather conditions and cannot be guaranteed. Safety of the passengers is paramount. If a landing is not possible, we may still be able to cruise around the island where we have the chance to photograph puffins, flying, swimming and perhaps see seals resting on the rocks.
The journey to / from the island takes 45 min to 1 hour depending on conditions. Time on the island is regulated and typically ranges from 1 to 2 hours.
There are no refunds in the event of non-landings, but if the charter company needs to cancel the tour you will receive a refund equivalent to the individual ticket price of the boat charter.
We require a minimum number of participants to be able to offer this retreat. In case you need to withdraw from the retreat, please notify us by email and phone as soon as possible so we can try to fill your spot and minimize your cancellation fees.
Cancelled Events: We reserve the right to cancel an event if it is under-subscribed, a group leader is incapacitated, or there is a serious unforeseen circumstance making it extremely undesirable or impossible to photograph at the destination. Workshop cancellations for these reasons are rare. In this case, we will issue you a full refund minus any expenses we incur, please allow up to 30 days for processing.
Travel Insurance: We are not responsible for any travel or other costs you may incur in the event that the event needs to be cancelled, or you need to withdraw. Therefore, we recommend you hold off making non-refundable flight arrangements until we notify you that minimum event enrollment has been met. While we don't require you purchase travel insurance, it is strongly encouraged.
July 11- 18, 2026
Lodging is included in the workshop fee. Your room type will be based on availability.
Breakfast not included. Bathroom includes bathtub.
Breakfast not included. Large, airy rooms beautifully decorated with king bed, full private baths, and large deck.
For our accommodations in Lubec we'll be using a 5 bedroom / 2.5 bathroom home as our home base. We can purchase breakfast foods locally and prepare breakfast in the kitchen, as well as prepare a packed lunch for our excursion to photograph the puffins.
Breakfast not included. En-suite bathroom.Couples get first priority for this room. Additional $100 fee applies.
Breakfast not included.
Take and go Breakfast included.
Yes, it's okay to send me text messages including order confirmations, updates, event reminders, and event information. Message frequency varies. Message and data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help, STOP to cancel. View our terms of service & privacy policy.
Photographers with different experience levels are welcome to attend both workshops. However, for the puffin photo shoot in particular, for best results it will be important to be familiar with camera settings and technique for action photography. If I understand your current level of experience I can better help you to prepare for both workshops. If necessary you can arrange a private lesson with me either in-person or over zoom to teach you the essentials.
Either you have no experience with your camera or can photograph, but only in auto modes.
You are familiar with basic camera settings like aperture, shutter speed and ISO and can photograph in Aperture Priority or Shutter Priority modes.
You are comfortable with choosing camera settings and photograph in Manual mode.
You have previous experience and are comfortable photographing action / wildlife
You have no or limited experience editing your images on the computer
You have some familiarity with image editing software like Adobe Lightroom / Lightroom Classic / Photoshop
Very familiar with image editing software like Adobe Lightroom / Lightroom Classic / Photoshop. May also have experience in using third party plug ins like Topaz and Nik.
If you'd like to avoid a platform fee, pay by check.
Add Purchase Protection for a small fee and get a 100% refund of your event purchase if you're prevented from attending due to a qualifying unforeseen circumstance. See all that's covered.
Purchase Protection will give you a 100% refund should you encounter:
Get a 100% refund of your original event purchase, including taxes and fees, if a qualifying unforeseen circumstance prevents you from attending. Certain exclusions apply. Not valid for events, attendees, or travel outside the USA. Purchase Protection is not insurance and is charged separately. Read full terms and conditions.
.jpg?1709410566555)
