In this workshop we'll spend roughly 3 days exploring photo spot highlights of Acadia National Park in it's spring glory before heading to Lubec on the northern most coast of Maine for 2 nights. While in Lubec we'll photograph the quintessential red and white stripped West Quoddy lighthouse. A special highlight of our time in Lubec is that on June 10th we'll take a special boat trip to photograph puffins up close. 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. 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 several 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).
The workshop fee includes:
Not included:
Group Size limited to 6 participants
Contact Mary Louise if you have questions.
In this workshop we'll explore highlights of Mid-coast Maine including iconic lighthouses, fields of lupine wildflowers, the spectacular Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens and quintessential fishing harbors and picturesque coves.
Our comfortable and convenient home base for this workshop
Group Size limited to 6 participants.
A moderate fitness level is required for both workshops. 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 Bold Coast Charter Company, 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 Bold Coast Charter 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 workshop. In case you need to withdraw from the workshop, 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 Workshops: We reserve the right to cancel a workshop if it is under-subscribed, an instructor 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 workshop 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 workshop enrollment has been met. While we don't require you purchase travel insurance, it is strongly encouraged.
Photographing landscapes in Acadia National Park and Puffins up close.
Photographing Mid-Coast Maine: Iconic lighthouses, harbors and wildflowers
If attending both workshops there is a $150 discount
Lodging is included in the workshop fee. Your room type will be based on availability.
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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 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.
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Purchase Protection covers many common unforeseen circumstances, but exclusions apply. View full List of qualifying circumstances and exclusions.
* Terms, conditions and exclusions apply. Not available for or applicable to events, attendees, or travel outside of the USA. Purchase Protection is a service offered by Purchase Protection LLC. Purchase Protection is not an insurance policy. It is a service that will refund you 100% of your event fees, taxes and dues should you be prevented by unforeseen circumstances from attending the event. Purchase Protection does not apply to, and will not reimburse, merchandise purchases and charitable donations. Purchase Protection fees will be charged as a separate transaction. Any changes made to your purchase will not change the amount covered in this agreement.
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