On Location
Coast of Maine

Maine Lighthouses and Autumn Landscapes

with Rick Berk

Online registration for this program has closed. To check availability, find out about future dates, or if you would like further information, please call 505-983-1400 ext. 111. Also, get the SFW E-Newsletter for updates!

Sign-up for the Newsletter:

Course Description

Autumn in Maine is a magical time when the leaves change, the air becomes cool and crisp, and the light bathes the landscape in soft, warm tones. The end of September and early October is the perfect time to visit Maine and explore the rugged coastline with its historic lighthouses, colorful landscapes, sand beaches, and working fishing harbors. It’s still warm enough to be comfortable outdoors as well as catch some early fall foliage. The unique beauty of Maine’s mid-coast has inspired artists for generations to capture the beauty that characterizes this region. 

Fine-art landscape photographer, experienced teacher, and Maine resident Rick Berk leads this four-and-a-half-day workshop. The journey begins on Sunday afternoon with introductions, a review of the week’s itinerary, and two inspirational presentations before a kickoff group dinner. The week is highlighted by numerous sunrise and sunset photo sessions, daily image reviews, plus presentations and demonstrations from Rick that are designed to improve your technical skills and elevate your landscape photography, while immersing you in the unique character of coastal Maine. 

As we explore the dramatic coastline from Portland to Pemaquid, we discuss technical aspects of landscape photography and expand our creativity and understanding of how to see the scene before us, allowing you to create photographs that not only capture the scene before you but communicate the emotion within the scene.  

Homebase for this workshop week is the shipbuilding town of Bath. Only forty minutes north from Portland’s Jetport, Bath sits on the banks of the Kennebec River and offers a perfect mid-point location to explore the numerous peninsulas and islands along the coastline. Our classroom is at The Chocolate Church Arts Center in downtown Bath. 

Join Rick and benefit from his technical expertise and a long history of photographing along the storied coast of Maine for a colorful autumn week. 

Additional Information

WHO SHOULD ATTEND:
Amateurs, Advanced Amateurs
What You Should Know:

Working knowledge of digital workflow and manual mode on your digital SLR or mirrorless camera.

Activity Level:
Participants should be able to engage in moderate outdoor exercise for up to an hour or more at a time including off-trail walking on uneven terrain including sand, dirt, and loose rock. Location work is likely to include early morning and/or late evening shoots.
Policies:
Categories
Nature & Landscape, Pop-Ups
about
Rick Berk

Rick Berk is a fine-art nature and landscape photographer based on Maine’s midcoast. After beginning college as a graphic design major, he took photography as a requirement and was immediately enamored with the photographic process.

Rick has spent nearly 30 years in photography, beginning as a sports photographer covering professional sports, before transitioning to working as a technical specialist for camera companies. His responsibilities included training photographers, consumers, and photo specialty retail staff on photographic technology and its real-world application. In the past several years Rick has transitioned back to being behind the camera full-time, traveling extensively to produce eye-catching landscapes.

Website: rickberk.com

Instagram: @rickberkphoto

Gorman on Gorman: Five Decades

November 17 - 19, 2020

Finding Your Voice

December 15 – 17, 2020

Wild Stories: The Perilous Art of Adventure Writing

December 1 – 4, 2020

Color, Light, and Design

January 4 - 21, 2021

You May Also Like

Expressive Black-and-White Landscapes

with Carlan Tapp

January 3 – 21, 2026

Vietnam: Land of the Blue Dragons

with Jennifer Spelman

September 8 – 20, 2026

The Black-and-White Image

with Carlan Tapp

March 7 – 25, 2026
– Summer Season

Land as Collaborator: Remixing Digital Prints in the Landscape

with Anna Rotty

June 22 – 26, 2026

The Western Balkans: A Crossroads of Civilizations

with Arthur Meyerson

April 15 – 25, 2026

South Africa

with Jennifer Spelman

May 18 – 29, 2027

Bhutan: Land of the Thunder Dragon

with Jennifer Spelman

April 23 – May 3, 2026

Slovenia: A Food and Photography Retreat

with Niall and Charlotte Benvie

November 10 – 17, 2026

O’Keeffe Country through the Expressive Lens

with Renee Lynn

May 1 – 4, 2026

Umbria Through the Expressive Lens

with Renee Lynn

September 25 – October 2, 2026

Capture to Print: Spring in the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument

with Christina Selby

April 6 – 10, 2026

The Personal Landscape

with Tsar Fedorsky

February 10 – March 10, 2026

Street Stories: Developing Your Individual Voice

with Ismail Ferdous

May 1 – 3, 2026
– Summer Season

Capturing Ephemeral Moments with Nature’s Toolkit

with Xuan-Hui Ng

July 27 – 31, 2026

Thin Places: Photography and the Sacred in Nature

with Lev L. Spiro

April 16 – May 21, 2026