George.Rodgers

Good suggestions. Especially the lobster rolls.

bobmcculloch Loc: NYC, NY

Did several Light houses while based in Boothbay Harbor last June, without checking I's say at least five within an easy days drive and back to great food, a ferry picked us up at the motel dock to take us past the lighthouse at the mouth of the harbor, and we got a discount because of the motel we were staying in over going to the ferry dock, great food in the area too, Bob.

SteveLew Loc: Sugar Land, TX

I shot lighthouses several years ago in Maine. Make sure that you have plenty of mosquito repellant available since the mosquitos in summer Maine are even larger than in Houston, TX>
I know since I was almost literally eaten alive. Have a great time Maine is beautiful and its citizens are no nonsense which I appreciate.

steveg48

Actually, Google Earth is much more powerful. It does all that lighting stuff plus much more. http://www.my-photo-school.com/2012/11/19/holiday-city-breaks-using-google-earth-to-plan-your-photography-trips/

Check it out

sr71 Loc: In Col. Juan Seguin Land

Here is one for ya to visit....

www.pbase.com%2Fmuriah%2Fimage%2F133840242&type=&no=5&tt=120&oid=b2131ce3974116c996471bbbc82ddd1e&tit=Muriah+|+all+galleries+%26gt%3B%26gt%3B+2011+%26gt%3B+St+George+Reef+Lighthouse&sigr=11bf75nao&sigi=12ou0ec47&sign=11qt865d3&sigt=103vg5ole&sigb=135h5tt5s&hspart=mozilla&hsimp=yhs-001" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.pbase.com%2Fmuriah%2Fimage%2F133840242&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pbase.com%2Fmuriah%2Fimage%2F133840242&type=&no=5&tt=120&oid=b2131ce3974116c996471bbbc82ddd1e&tit=Muriah+|+all+galleries+%26gt%3B%26gt%3B+2011+%26gt%3B+St+George+Reef+Lighthouse&sigr=11bf75nao&sigi=12ou0ec47&sign=11qt865d3&sigt=103vg5ole&sigb=135h5tt5s&hspart=mozilla&hsimp=yhs-001" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://images.search.yahoo.com/images/view;_ylt=A0LEV7v_aypVFhYAdIcnnIlQ;_ylu=X3oDMTBsa3ZzMnBvBHNlYwNzYwRjb2xvA2JmMQR2dGlkAw--?p=st+george+reef+lighthouse&back=https%3A%2F%2Fsearch.yahoo.com%2Fyhs%2Fsearch%3Fp%3Dst%2Bgeorge%2Breef%2Blighthouse%26ei%3DUTF-8%26hsimp%3Dyhs-001%26hspart%3Dmozilla&w=342&h=432&imgurl=m2.i.pbase.com%2Fo3%2F30%2F476430%2F1%2F133840242.BbPNtM8C.DSC_0070himw6StGeorgeReefLighthouse.jpg&size=117KB&name=133840242.BbPNtM8C.DSC_0070himw6StGeorgeReefLighthouse.jpg&rcurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pbase.com%2Fmuriah%2Fimage%2F133840242&type=&no=5&tt=120&oid=b2131ce3974116c996471bbbc82ddd1e&tit=Muriah+|+all+galleries+%26gt%3B%26gt%3B+2011+%26gt%3B+St+George+Reef+Lighthouse&sigr=11bf75nao&sigi=12ou0ec47&sign=11qt865d3&sigt=103vg5ole&sigb=135h5tt5s&hspart=mozilla&hsimp=yhs-001" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.pbase.com%2Fmuriah%2Fimage%2F133840242&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pbase.com%2Fmuriah%2Fimage%2F133840242&type=&no=5&tt=120&oid=b2131ce3974116c996471bbbc82ddd1e&tit=Muriah+|+all+galleries+%26gt%3B%26gt%3B+2011+%26gt%3B+St+George+Reef+Lighthouse&sigr=11bf75nao&sigi=12ou0ec47&sign=11qt865d3&sigt=103vg5ole&sigb=135h5tt5s&hspart=mozilla&hsimp=yhs-001

davidrb Loc: Half way there on the 45th Parallel

Lobsters do not roll, they crawl! And they are fast! And, they are odorless, unless you count the dog in the pincher. :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

mborn Loc: Massachusetts

Starting in Portland with Portland head light there are many lighthouse both op and down the coast including West Quoddy Light in Lubec

JCam Loc: MD Eastern Shore

George, Since you are staying in the Portland Area, Google Casco Bay area lighthouses and you'll get quite a list. A few are on islands too far out to photograph from the mainland, but you will be able to get to the others with relative ease although they may be a couple of hours drive or a ferry ride.

In Portland check in at the ferry terminal and ask which (if any) routes go by the lighthouses, close enough to photograph them. There are many different ferry routes and they are all relatively inexpensive and nice rides. A shot of lighthouse from the sea is generally better--more of the light is visible--than from the back land side. Consider adding the Boothbay area to your itinerary; Boothbay has it's own lighthouse, and the town of Boothbay Harbor is a nice visit. Cuckolds light (don't ask about the name--nobody seems to know the real story) is out near the tip of the next peninsula to the west; I'm not sure how close you can get to it, but check.

Have a great trip and remember for planning it is High Tourist Season, and there will be morning fog near the coast most days.

I'm looking forward to seeing your pictures; we sailed Casco Bay and further "Down East" for 20 years before retiring here.

minniev Loc: MIssissippi

Some of my favorites:
*Portland Head Light at sunset, esp from the right of the light to get reflections in the water
*Nubble at sunset or in twilight (afterwards, eat at the little seafood house across the street)
*Rockland Harbor Light, from several angles, including close up when you walk the long approach
*Bass Harbor on Mt Desert, Winter Harbor light on Schoodic
*West Quoddy is my very favorite, has been completely refurbished this year, can't wait to see it again in the fall. I like to stay at the old Quoddy light station inn, which has a ton of photo ops itself.
*East Quoddy
*Port Clyde

Consider a car ferry from Blacks Harbor for a day on Grand Manan, Swallowtail is a very classic and photogenic light and there are several other lights over there that are plainer but still fun to photograph because of the surroundings, and all can be easily driven to except the one on one of the out islands.

There are boat tours of lighthouses as well, so you can photograph them from the water.

daddybear Loc: Brunswick, NY

My wife and I are in our late 60's and have the same issue. In Portland you have the Bug Light and " the sparkplug" . across the bridge is Portland Head light. Beautiful lighthouse. South is Nubble Light. North of Portland
is a light house, Goat Island Light off Cape Porpoise. All these lights can be seen from shore and have parking area.

After Bath there are some very nice lights but they are a drive to and back from the Portland area.

Nice lights down in the Portsmouth, NH area. We will be there in September. Planning on staying further for lighthouses and moose.

Camera wise my wife keeps a 17-50 and I keep a 11-16 on mine. Carry a 50-200, a 50, in my vest. The rest stay in the car.

Enjoy your trip.

daddybear

Portland Head

(Download)

Tools Loc: Eastern Nebraska

Depending upon what time your flight arrives in PWM, you could visit Cape Elizabeth/Twin Lights. Both are located just outside Portland and are an easy ride from the airport. Cape Elizabeth, like Nubble Light in York, is one of the most photographed lighthouses that I know of.
Enjoy the trip!

Bmarsh Loc: Bellaire, MI

I think Schoodic Park has it over Acadia and you might be able to get to both in the same day. The drive around Scoodic has much more scenery in my opinion and the Park is less crowded.

http://www.nps.gov/acad/planyourvisit/upload/schoodic.pdf

BTW, my avatar at the moment is Stonington Harbor, one of our favorite visits and is what a "Maine fishing village" should look like. Have the twin lobster special at the Harbor Cafe.

Tools: Your picture looks like Maine as well.. Is it?

Tom Ford

Portland Head Light. One of the nicest. Several good shooting locations. Either a morning or evening shot. I think evening is better.

Martys Loc: Lubec, Maine

West Quoddy Head Lighthouse here in Lubec is well worth the trip to visit,....really beautiful in foggy conditions as well as at sunrise.
You won't be disappointed.

Cibafan Loc: Virginia

Check out this website for a list. The advice for sunrise and sunset is good advice, also be there if there is a strong breeze or storm that is when you see the breaking waves. Have a good trip.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lighthouses_in_Maine