atlantic ocean

Costa de Caparica, Portugal

Costa da Caparica, Portugal Photography

First things first on our Portugal trip: Costa da Caparica, the little beach town we stayed in south of Lisbon.

For our 10-year wedding anniversary, we rented an Airbnb condo where, when you stepped outside the building, you were right on the beach. And believe me: coming from the chilly Midwest, we appreciated having easy access to the warm oceanside. 

All of it – the seaside restaurants, the surfers, the golden light at sunset – reminded me of California. The weather was great too, full of sunshine and an ocean breeze.

The bright sun and saltwater haze lent a summer vibe to these photos that I appreciated, especially when visiting in the middle of October. 

We loved the constant waves, too, and even kept our patio door open at night. Think of it as an ocean-sized sound machine. 

I grabbed my Canon EOS M6 and took advantage of the sunshine and summer vibes to capture some photos along the beach walkway.

Whether we were eating lunch at a seaside restaurant or walking through a Portuguese flea market, it was the perfect place to capture the local people and places.

And the light? To die for, especially approaching golden hour.

Just like California, ocean sunsets hit differently.

Caparica was a great launching point into the wider Lisbon area. We were 30-50 minutes (depending on traffic) to Lisbon, and from there we wandered up and down the coast for the few days we were in Portugal.

All photos shot with the Canon EOS M6 and a select few EF-M lenses. 

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Foggy Maine

2025 Vacation: Foggy Maine Coast

This is almost like cheat-code photography.

Much like we saw at Peggy’s Cove, sometimes the fog would roll in off the Atlantic Ocean and flood our little corner of Maine in a dense haze. 

After the first time the fog rolled in, I made a point to check each morning to see if it was foggy out. I had this spot in mind up the peninsula, where boats were gathered by the shore, and I thought, “This would be an amazing foggy spot for pictures.”

One misty morning, the fog made an appearance, and I seized my chance to head up the coast and grab pictures at that boat landing. But then something funny happened: the further North I drove, the less foggy it was. When I landed at that spot, there was no fog at all.

Bummer.

Luckily, it was foggy enough during our week there that getting out and taking photos was not a problem. 

It was so fun to wander around Flye Point and see the entire landscape reimagined.

Shot on the Canon EOS M6 and EF-M 22mm f/2 and 32mm f/1.4.

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2025 Vacation: First Day in Maine

After leaving Canada by way of New Brunswich and the border, we landed in Brooklin, Maine, our home for the next week.

We arrived at nightfall, so we had no glimpse of the peninsula where we sat.

Not until I got up early the first day and went to the beach.

This was the Maine I remember. And for that first morning, I had it all to myself.

I did what I always tend to do and went exploring – up and down the coastline, through the set of cabins on this part of the shore, taking advantage of the early morning light.

Lookout Inn - Brooklin, Maine

Then the family woke up, and we explored the jagged, rocky beach together.

The tide was a new thing for us Michiganders. Here on the peninsula, we had to pay attention: there were several islands you could walk out to at low tide. But come high tide, you might get stranded.

And the bay’s ocean water, just like in Nova Scotia, was freezing. So we mainly played on the rocks.

Later that night, after dinner, we took a stroll back down to the coast to watch blue hour come in at high tide.

Maine was different. More rugged. A little more wild. And there was lots more to see.

Shot on the Canon EOS M6 and several EF-M lenses.

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Rushtons Beach, Nova Scotia

2025 Vacation: Rushtons Beach

Swimming in the Atlantic Ocean was new enough for our kids. But swimming in the northern Atlantic? 

That water is cold.

The frigid ocean didn’t stop us, though, at Rushtons Beach, a scenic, sandy beach on the north side of Nova Scotia. 

We spent half of the day relaxing on the beach. For the other half, we explored one of the rivers flowing into the Atlantic. The kids discovered you could tiptoe across the water to the near shore. 

I took the boardwalk and went to explore around the provincial park a bit. 

After brushing the sand off, we went into Pictou for dinner and ice cream.

Not a bad first day exploring the Maritimes. 

Shot on the Canon EOS M6 and EF-M 22mm f/2 and 32mm f/1.4. 

 

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