Winter Views in Maine

Nikon 1 J2
East Machias, Maine
2024

I took these photos in East Machias, located in the downeast region of Maine. It is a small town, a village really, near the eastern most point of the United States, and only an hour from the New Brunswick Canadian boarder. The Sunrise Trail, a multi-use trail that is wide enough for ATVs, runs through the town alongside the Machias river. This trail connects eastern Maine to the East Coast Greenway; a 3,000 mile pedestrian and biking trail that stretches from Canada to Florida.

I took these photographs from the Sunrise trail on a winter’s day in late January.

A winter photograph of a white church steeple rising above Maine conifers and winter bare deciduous trees. Heavy snow covers the ground and the fast moving Machias river cuts between trees and bushes. — First Congregational Church of East Machias

On Cutler Road, a street above the hill runs perpendicular to the river. This is where you can find the First Congregational Church of East Machias built in 1837. As you cross a stone bridge that leads you toward the Machias river and the Sunrise trail, you can see the white steeple of the church rising above the trees. The few colonial style homes on the street were built between 1760 and 1880 when it was a a small thriving mill town. The school, where my husband works, Washington Academy was established in 1792, and some of the original school buildings remain, along with a newer facility that was built some time in the late 90s and early 2000s.

A photograph of an olive green New England house in Maine reflecting in a river with snow all around. — East Machias home on the river

With a population of 1,266, East Machias is a small community. There is no “downtown” aside from a small gas station and mini-mart, a post office and a lobster shack that is shuttered during the winter.

A photograph of a white New England house In Maine reflecting in a river with snow all around. Ducks wade in the ice topped water. — White House on the river

As you walk along the trail, winter mallards, lapping water, and the crunch of snow under your feet are the only sounds you hear. Maine’s rural towns can be a place of meditation. The Sunrise trail passes through many small towns in downeast Maine. There is depth of solitude and welcomed isolation that you can’t find in an urban setting. It is only you and nature. It is a great place to calm and clear your mind.

A white New England colonial style home on a snow covered bank in East Machias, Maine. The smooth Machias river reflects trees on the edge of the bank. — Colonial Style Home on the Machias River

It is also an excellent place for photography. These photographs were taken midday on a relatively cloudy day, so I wasn’t able to capture the contrast between the evergreens and the snow as well as I would have liked. Better light equals better photos. I know this conceptually, but often fail in actuality. Understanding lighting doesn’t come easy to me.