A photographer's journey into the quiet soul of Maine's hidden landscapes
Last summer, I set out on a search for the perfect kayaking and photography location. What I’m looking for is specific to my needs and wants. Of course, I need to be able to drive there, but it also needs to feel truly wild. I’m looking for a place with very few boats and even fewer people—somewhere off the radar, a place most locals don’t even know exists. When I go into the wild, I’m not just looking for photo opportunities. I’m seeking a place where I can form a spiritual connection with the land and the animals that live there. As an animist, I believe every place has its own spirit and energy, and that’s what I aim to connect with.
With all that in mind, I set out one day in search of a new location for autumn landscape photography. If I happened upon wildlife, all the better. I arrived in the early afternoon on a crisp, mostly sunny day at the end of summer. A gentle, cool breeze danced across the air. You could call it perfect Maine weather. I rolled down a lonely dirt road that dead-ended at a quiet boat launch, unloaded all my gear, and pushed off into the stillness, looking for serenity.
It didn’t take long to realize I’d found exactly what I was looking for: calm waters, striking landscapes, and incredible wildlife. One of the best signs of a healthy lake or pond in Maine is the presence of loons. These birds require clean, clear water to dive and fish effectively. Not long into my paddle, I came across a loon family—a mother feeding her loonlet fresh-caught fish from the lake bottom. It was tender and raw. A glimpse into the cycle of life, where death nourishes life. I cherished the moment and knew this place would become my home base as summer melted into apple cider donut season here in New England.
As I paddled back toward the boat launch at the end of the dusty country road, I passed a father and son pulling their small fishing boat from the water. I called out, “Howdy,” and the father smiled and said, “Isn’tthis place just so special?”
I nodded. “I’ve not found many to match it,” I said. “I even spotted a beautiful loon family and got some great photos.”
The father looked genuinely surprised. “Loons? I’ve never seen any loons here—and we come regularly. I’ll have keep an eye out.”
We wrapped up our chat and went our separate ways.
Now, I don’t share this story to speak ill of the father and son. It simply made me reflect. He said they visit often and have never seen loons. This was my first time there, and I spotted three. I was in a kayak, silent and slow. They were in a small motorized fishing boat. Two vessels, two different intentions. I wasn’t there to take from the pond. I was there to honor it and connect with the life within it. This is the animist’s perspective: nature isn’t a resource, it’s a sacred space. My holy place. My church.
Of course, the father and son were having a special bonding experience, something precious between parent and child. But the mindset with which we enter these spaces matters. My goal isn’t to take from the water—heck, I’m a vegetarian. My goal is to share the raw, unfiltered beauty of these places to inspire a desire to protect them. To help people see the delicate balance at work. I believe the reverence I bring allows nature to reveal itself to me in ways it doesn’t for everyone. The spirits of the land come forward, and that is incredibly special to me.
This is why photography, for me, is about connection—not extraction or exploitation. It’s about peace, presence, and relationship. And it’s this connection that I portray in my art. I hope you enjoy it as much as I love creating it.
P.S.
Protecting wild places through photography helps raise awareness about nature’s fragile ecosystems—a delicate ballet of life unfolding all around us. Down to a blade of grass swaying gracefully in the wind, perfectly timed and deeply interconnected. Whether you are a kayaker, a wildlife enthusiast, or an aspiring nature photographer, I hope that my experiences inspire you to seek out and safeguard these sacred spaces. Please, join me in celebrating the beauty of the wilderness and the incredible connection we can forge with the land and its creatures through mindful exploration and reverence.
Written by Corey T. Kinnan
Photography by Corey T. Kinnan