Character of Place: The Coast of Maine

Capturing the character of the dramatic rock-bound coast of Maine is the dynamic subject of this new workshop. Led by esteemed photographer and teacher Sam Abell, a select group of photographers spend five days and nights intensely photographing the character—and the characters—of this famed coastline.

The emphasis throughout the week is on generating new work then building that work into meaningful photographic essays. This is accomplished by a vigorous agenda of guided field trips to locations rich in landscape values and human history.

Between outings, Sam conducts group and one-on-one sessions devoted to closely analyzing each participant’s work. The result will be individually honed bodies of work that make the statement, ‘This is the essential character of the coast of Maine.’

In addition to field work and critiques, Sam presents an overview of the Maine coast as seen by American artists, including excerpts and outtakes from his acclaimed National Geographic article on the life and work of Winslow Homer.

Home for this workshop week is the gracious and spacious Sebasco Harbor Resort (www.sebasco.com) on the Phippsburg peninsula jutting into Casco Bay. Only one hour north from Portland’s Jetport, Sebasco offers breathtaking water views on 550 acres. This stately resort offers newly renovated accommodations, two waterside restaurants, a comfortable classroom, an Olympic-sized saltwater pool, golf, tennis, and water sports activities, plus the Fairwinds Spa.

A stellar team supports Sam during this five-day immersive workshop experience, enabling him to focus solely on teaching. Reid Callanan, Santa Fe Workshops founder and Director, is onsite this week overseeing the support team and hosting a group dinner on Thursday evening at his family’s home overlooking Popham Beach. Photographer Kari Herer, Sam’s longtime teaching assistant and year-round Maine resident, supports Sam and the workshop participants. And Rick Berk, a photographer and resident of nearby Bath, is in charge of operational logistics and provides technical support for all hardware and software concerns.

This autumn, join Sam and his team at Sebasco for a memorable week exploring and discovering the character of the coast of Maine.