Beauty comes in many forms. A diver suspended in midair. A flock of pigeons rising in the snow. The stillness of a lobster boat and a man and dog on a paddleboard in calm ocean waters at sunset. Portland Press Herald photographers uncover unexpected beauty every day. They show us the profound beauty of connection. The tenderness of a loving husband and his wife, who is in hospice, celebrating their anniversary. The resilience of families who have traveled from a world away trying to make a new home in a strange land together. The collective grief of a community experiencing enormous loss after an act of previously unimaginable violence. It is a great privilege to photograph the people and stories of Maine. Here is some of our best work from 2023.
As the sun neared the horizon on the longest day of the year, a lovely ruckus unfolded at Range Pond State Park in Poland. The event, Vigorous Tenderness, was a museum-like aural experience set in the great outdoors to mark Wednesday’s summer solstice. Story and photos by Staff Photographer Ben McCanna.