Willard Beach
Frozen Hope
South Portland, ME
Image by Rick Berk @ www.rickberk.com
Willard Beach is a beach and neighborhood located in South Portland, Maine. It has become popular with photographers due to the fishing shacks located on what is known as Fisherman's Point, on the south end of the beach.
The beach also features a view of Portland Head Lighthouse from Fisherman's Point, and Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse can be seen from the beach, and a short walk over the beach to the north leads to Fort Preble, an old fort which was built in 1808, and Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse, on the campus of Southern Maine Community College. From the north end of the beach, facing south, Portland Head Lighthouse is visible behind the fishing shacks.
Photos and location summary by Rick Berk
IMPORTANT NOTE: the Willard Beach fishing stacks were destroyed in a storm in the winter of 2023. The city is planning to rebuild them. However, not time frame is set.
Trail Difficulty - EASY
It's a short walk from the parking area to the beach, transitioning from pavement to soft sand. Once on the beach, the shacks at Fisherman's point lay to the right (south), and Spring Point Ledge and Fort Preble are to the left (north).
GPS Coordinates & Elevation
Sea Level Ft. Elevation
View In Google earth
Directions
CLICK HERE to get driving directions to Willard Beach
From the Willard Beach parking it is an easy 1/4 mile walk to Willard Beach (transitioning from pavement to soft sand). Once on the beach, the shacks at Fisherman's point lay to the right (southeast), and Spring Point Ledge and Fort Preble are to the left (north).
Photography Tips
For the sea smoke shot, simply walk out onto the beach and choose a composition you like. Both the images of Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse and the sea smoke image of the shacks were taken along the beach. The red sunrise image was captured by walking along the beach to the north end, and climbing steps up to the Southern Maine Community College campus to get the proper angle for stacking Portland Head Light behind the fishing shacks.
Other Images From This Location
Best Time of Day to Shoot
The beach is good to photograph at any time of day, but sunrise and sunset offer the most dramatic light. Both times are equally good, but for different subjects and compositions available at the beach. The image of the fishing shacks and the red image of Fisherman's Point and Portland Head Lighthouse were taken at sunrise. The image of Spring Point Ledge lighthouse and the dory was taken at sunset.
At low tide, you can walk further out and often, the wet sand will create reflections of the shacks if the light is hitting them right. At high tide, you'll have more water in the composition, and need to photograph from further away.
Best Time of Year
This location is great year round. During spring, summer, and early fall, there are several boats moored in Simonton Cove, just off the beach, making for some nice subjects. In the winter, Willard Beach can be magical, if you're brave enough. Catch this location on the coldest of days, in single digits, or negative temperatures (Fahrenheit), and there is a good chance at photographing what the locals refer to as "sea smoke", a fog that rises off of the water due to the water being warmer than the air temperature. The main shot in this summary shows an example of the phenomenon.
The above shot was taken on January 11th.
Lens(es) Needed
Standard length zoom such as a 24-70 and telephoto zooms such as a 100mm-400mm or even a 150mm-600mm will be useful here. A longer focal length is particularly useful for the compressed perspective of Portland Head Lighthouse behind the fishing shacks, as seen in the red sunrise image.
The above image was taken at 143mm focal length.
Birds-Eye View
Permits
There are no permits required in the area.
Direction of the Shot
The direction of your shot is mainly southeast around 105°.
Equipment Needed
All you need is a sturdy tripod.
Number of Other Photographers to Expect
You can expect good coverage both in the parking area and at the beach.
Weather
Weather can be very pleasant to cool in Fall and Spring. Hot in Summer but generally perfect sunset weather. Winter can be extremely cold and bring snow and ice. The ocean water even in the summer is very cold in Maine. Take extra care in dress and safety precautions if going in the winter.
Cell Service
Cell service is strong
Lodging & Camping
The lighthouse is close to downtown Portland and lodging of all kinds is abundant.
Nearby Restaurants
Portland has a nice downtown with a strong foodie and beer brewing culture so there is no shortage of great places to enjoy a nice meal or refreshment while in the area.
Nearby Restaurants - click on the restaurant below for yelp review
Eventide Oyster Company
(207) 774-8538
86 Middle St, Portland
Shipyard Brewing Company
(207) 761-0807
86 Newbury St, Portland
Street & Co.
(207) 775-0887
33 Wharf St, Portland
Area Guides and Workshops
Rick Berk (25 years as a landscape photographer) - offers private group, 1 on 1 and group workshops (BlueHour Photo Ventures) for the Maine and other northeast US area. Rick lives Freeport, Maine and has traveled and photographed the NE for most of his adult life. His outstanding work can be found at www.rickberk.com