Southern Maine Photography Guide Part 2

Continuing my Guide to Photographing the Maine Coast

Thank you for reading the first installment of the Guide to Photographing the Maine Coast that was released May 30. If you haven’t read that post, I’d recommend checking it out so that you can orient yourself with the structure of the guide.

Without further ado, here’s Part 2 of Southern Maine:

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5. Cape Porpoise - 

Seemingly just in the last few years, Cape Porpoise has been discovered by photographers. I’m not surprised. It’s an authentic working fishing harbor tucked neatly away from the glitz and commercialism of Kennebunkport. From the Cape Porpoise Pier, you can see Goat Island Lighthouse, lobster boats and dinghies, and often, piles of lobster traps stacked around you. The village itself is charming, too. There are many classic New England delights such as the red barn that currently houses Harbor Table, the interesting architecture of Atlantic Hall, a picturesque white church, and more.

The big photographic attraction these days, though, is across the harbor at the brand-new, made-to-look-historic, fishing shed on stilts near Langsford Road Lobster & Fish, seen above. There has been a steady stream of New England photographers all getting their take on this subject, and it’s easy to see why. The best time to capture this is at high tide in the winter, when the sun rises behind it, hopefully with still water so you can get a great reflection. To get the vantage point, you usually need to walk out onto the dock that wraps around Langsford Road Lobster.

One of the first people that brought my attention to the area was resident photographer Bob Dennis. Bob lives right here, and has photographed Cape Porpoise and Kennebunkport beautifully in all seasons. You can find all kinds of inspiration for photographing Cape Porpoise and Kennebunkport at www.kportimages.com. 

Another spot here that gets a lot of attention is the view of two boathouses across the water with a red house behind. These are best photographed in winter, when they have Christmas decorations inside the boathouse on the left all lit up and on display. I’ve managed to miss that somehow over years, but have photographed it without the decorations.

Finally, you might be looking for this oft-captured little shack. It’s tucked away neatly at the start of Paddy Creek Road, just outside of the main village.

I think this area has a lot to offer the photographer looking for great scenery in Southern Maine. 

Gear Tips: I use the full range of lenses in Cape Porpoise, a wide-angle to capture the sunrise behind the shack, a medium lens to juxtapose boats in the harbor with distinctive buildings, and a long lens to pull in Goat Island Lighthouse.

Best Times of Day: Sunrise

Best Times of Year: Fall and Winter

Tides: High

Access: There is limited parking on both sides of the harbor. The largest parking area is on the Cape Porpoise Pier side, but this fills up quickly during the afternoon and there is a fee to park here during the day. It’s usually quiet and free at sunrise. There are spots for just a few cars on the Langsford Road side in front of Langsford Road Lobster. Please be mindful of both private property and folks trying to live and work. Help us keep everyone here happy so we don’t lose access to this wonderful place. 

Directions: The main viewing area for Goat Island Lighthouse and the busy pier are at the end of Pier Rd. in Cape Porpoise. The fishing shack is viewed from Langsford Road Lobster and Fish House on Langsford Rd.

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6. Biddeford Pool -

I love visiting Biddeford Pool and especially the East Point Sanctuary. To get to the sanctuary, just look for the well marked path on the left before you get to the end of Lester B. Orcutt Boulevard. Here you’ll find walking paths that bring you to rocky beaches with great views out to sea and an amazing view of the Wood Island Lighthouse. There are vantages out to sea at many points here, and you’ll see an interesting nautical marker on Stage Island. Heading back to Lester B. Orcutt Boulevard, there’s a wonderful rocky beach at the end of this road that is very photogenic, with a lot of exposure to the elements. If the waves are high at all, this is a great place to capture them washing over .