Pandemic Gallery XI: Grounding in our natural environment during troubling times
 (Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
 
(Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
 Picture of a monarch butterfly on mechanic Street in Rockport. (Photo courtesy James Car)
 
Picture of a monarch butterfly on mechanic Street in Rockport. (Photo courtesy James Car)
 Praying Mantis Special. Sunday brunch buffet of locally-grown free range ants.
Photo:  Maggie Trout.  Rockland, Maine.  September 25, 2022.
 
 Praying Mantis Special. Sunday brunch buffet of locally-grown free range ants.
Photo:  Maggie Trout.  Rockland, Maine.  September 25, 2022.  
 Gilbert and Adams Park. (Photo by Carolyn Kanicki)
 
Gilbert and Adams Park. (Photo by Carolyn Kanicki)
 (Photo by Deb Shepard)
 
(Photo by Deb Shepard)
 Lupine. (Photo by Carolyn Kanicki)
 
Lupine. (Photo by Carolyn Kanicki)
 Bleeding heart. Southend Rockland. (Photo by Dru Woodman)
 
Bleeding heart. Southend Rockland. (Photo by Dru Woodman)
 Britt Lundgren had the luck to see a small group of river otters playing in the rocks on the side of Penobscot Bay this past week. She was on her paddle board July 13, just south of Saturday Cove in Northport. “There seemed to be 4 or 5 of them but I never managed to get more than one in a photo at a time,” she said.
 
Britt Lundgren had the luck to see a small group of river otters playing in the rocks on the side of Penobscot Bay this past week. She was on her paddle board July 13, just south of Saturday Cove in Northport. “There seemed to be 4 or 5 of them but I never managed to get more than one in a photo at a time,” she said. 
 Tis the Season. (Photo by Carolyn Kanicki)
 
Tis the Season. (Photo by Carolyn Kanicki)
 Spring…at last!! (Photo by Carolyn Kanicki)
 
Spring…at last!! (Photo by Carolyn Kanicki)
 Bird on Elm Street. (Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
 
Bird on Elm Street. (Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
 Penelope Olson, of Appleton, writes: The large old ornamental crabapple in my yard is putting on quite a show this spring. Wish I could record the sound of the bazilion bees in her branches. There is one at the bottom of the third photo.
 
Penelope Olson, of Appleton, writes: The large old ornamental crabapple in my yard is putting on quite a show this spring. Wish I could record the sound of the bazilion bees in her branches. There is one at the bottom of the third photo.
 
 
 
 
 (Photo by Sarah Shepherd)
 
(Photo by Sarah Shepherd)
 (Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
 
(Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
 (Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
 
(Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
 (Photo by Deb Shepard)
 
(Photo by Deb Shepard)
 (Photo by Deb Shepard)
 
(Photo by Deb Shepard)
 (Photo by Deb Shepard)
 
(Photo by Deb Shepard)
 (Photo by Deb Shepard)
 
(Photo by Deb Shepard)
 (Photo by Deb Shepard)
 
(Photo by Deb Shepard)
 (Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
 
(Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
 (Photo by Carolyn Kanicki)
 
(Photo by Carolyn Kanicki)
 (Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
 
(Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
 (Photo by Brenda Sullivan)
 
(Photo by Brenda Sullivan)
 Low tide at Drift In Beach. (Photo by Carolyn Kanicki)
 
Low tide at Drift In Beach. (Photo by Carolyn Kanicki)
 (Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
 
(Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
 (Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
 
(Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
 Photo by Peter van der Kieft
 
Photo by Peter van der Kieft
 Photo by Peter van der Kieft
 
Photo by Peter van der Kieft
 Photo by Peter van der Kieft
 
Photo by Peter van der Kieft
 (Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
 
(Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
 Summer in Maine! (Photo by Carolyn Kanicki)
 
Summer in Maine! (Photo by Carolyn Kanicki)
 (Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
 
(Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
 (Photo by George Hardt)
 
(Photo by George Hardt)
 (Photo by George Hardt)
 
(Photo by George Hardt)
 (Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
 
(Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
 (Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
 
(Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
 (Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
 
(Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
 Summer afternoon in Port Clyde. (Photo by Carolyn Kanicki)
 
Summer afternoon in Port Clyde. (Photo by Carolyn Kanicki)
 Summer afternoon in Port Clyde. (Photo by Carolyn Kanicki)
 
Summer afternoon in Port Clyde. (Photo by Carolyn Kanicki)
 (Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
 
(Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
 First loon baby of the summer on Megunticook. (Photo by Roger Wickenden)
 
First loon baby of the summer on Megunticook. (Photo by Roger Wickenden)
 First loon baby of the summer on Megunticook. (Photo by Roger Wickenden)
 
First loon baby of the summer on Megunticook. (Photo by Roger Wickenden)
 (Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
 
(Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
 (Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
 
(Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
 (Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
 
(Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
 Summertime. (Photo by Carolyn Kanicki)
 
Summertime. (Photo by Carolyn Kanicki)
 (Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
 
(Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
 River otters at play near Saturday Cove in Northport. (Photo courtesy Britt Lundgren)
 
River otters at play near Saturday Cove in Northport. (Photo courtesy Britt Lundgren)
 Friendship Harbor (Photo courtesy Carolyn Kanicki)
 
Friendship Harbor (Photo courtesy Carolyn Kanicki)
 Children’s Chapel, Rockport. (Photo courtesy James Car)
 
Children’s Chapel, Rockport. (Photo courtesy James Car)
 Monarch seeking succor in Rockland, Maine. July 2022. Photo by Maggie Trout)
 
Monarch seeking succor in Rockland, Maine. July 2022. Photo by Maggie Trout)
 (Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
 
(Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
 (Photo by Deb Shepard)
 
(Photo by Deb Shepard)
 (Photo by Deb Shepard)
 
(Photo by Deb Shepard)
 (Photo by Deb Shepard)
 
(Photo by Deb Shepard)
 (Photo by Deb Shepard)
 
(Photo by Deb Shepard)
 (Photo by Deb Shepard)
 
(Photo by Deb Shepard)
 Sunflower. (Photo by Carolyn Kanicki)
 
Sunflower. (Photo by Carolyn Kanicki)
 A home on Hyler St. in Thomaston by Alan LaVallee.
 
A home on Hyler St. in Thomaston by Alan LaVallee.
 (Photo by George Hardt)
 
(Photo by George Hardt)
 (Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
 
(Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
 Self-seeded Black-eyed Susan, (Rudbeckia hirta)' Queen Anne's Lace, (Daucus carota); and the intensely-perfumed Common Milkweed, (Asclepias syriaca). Surviving the drought without watering. Rockland, Maine. July 26, 2022. (Photo by Maggie Trout)
 
Self-seeded Black-eyed Susan, (Rudbeckia hirta)' Queen Anne's Lace, (Daucus carota); and the intensely-perfumed Common Milkweed, (Asclepias syriaca). Surviving the drought without watering. Rockland, Maine. July 26, 2022. (Photo by Maggie Trout)
 Beauty is all around us. (Photo by Carolyn Kanicki)
 
Beauty is all around us. (Photo by Carolyn Kanicki)
 (Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
 
(Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
 Rhododendrons on Clark Island Road. Spruce Head. (Photo by Alan LaVallee)
 
Rhododendrons on Clark Island Road. Spruce Head. (Photo by Alan LaVallee)
 (Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
 
(Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
 The flowers of Summer. (Photo by Carolyn Kanicki)
 
The flowers of Summer. (Photo by Carolyn Kanicki)
 The flowers of Summer. (Photo by Carolyn Kanicki)
 
The flowers of Summer. (Photo by Carolyn Kanicki)
 The flowers of Summer. (Photo by Carolyn Kanicki)
 
The flowers of Summer. (Photo by Carolyn Kanicki)
 (Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
 
(Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
 (Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
 
(Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
 Gone by but not forgotten blooms. (Photo by George Hardt)
 
Gone by but not forgotten blooms. (Photo by George Hardt)
 (Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
 
(Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
 (Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
 
(Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
 (Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
 
(Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
 (Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
 
(Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
 This heirloom tomato beauty will be savored with gratitude for the gardener who made the plant available at the Thomaston Public Library, with seeds full of hope to be saved and sown. (Photo by
Maggie Trout. Rockland, Maine, September 14, 2022)
 
This heirloom tomato beauty will be savored with gratitude for the gardener who made the plant available at the Thomaston Public Library, with seeds full of hope to be saved and sown. (Photo by
Maggie Trout. Rockland, Maine, September 14, 2022)
 (Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
(Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
 Picture of a monarch butterfly on mechanic Street in Rockport. (Photo courtesy James Car)
Picture of a monarch butterfly on mechanic Street in Rockport. (Photo courtesy James Car)
 Praying Mantis Special. Sunday brunch buffet of locally-grown free range ants.
Photo:  Maggie Trout.  Rockland, Maine.  September 25, 2022.
 Praying Mantis Special. Sunday brunch buffet of locally-grown free range ants.
Photo:  Maggie Trout.  Rockland, Maine.  September 25, 2022.  
 Gilbert and Adams Park. (Photo by Carolyn Kanicki)
Gilbert and Adams Park. (Photo by Carolyn Kanicki)
 (Photo by Deb Shepard)
(Photo by Deb Shepard)
 Lupine. (Photo by Carolyn Kanicki)
Lupine. (Photo by Carolyn Kanicki)
 Bleeding heart. Southend Rockland. (Photo by Dru Woodman)
Bleeding heart. Southend Rockland. (Photo by Dru Woodman)
 Britt Lundgren had the luck to see a small group of river otters playing in the rocks on the side of Penobscot Bay this past week. She was on her paddle board July 13, just south of Saturday Cove in Northport. “There seemed to be 4 or 5 of them but I never managed to get more than one in a photo at a time,” she said.
Britt Lundgren had the luck to see a small group of river otters playing in the rocks on the side of Penobscot Bay this past week. She was on her paddle board July 13, just south of Saturday Cove in Northport. “There seemed to be 4 or 5 of them but I never managed to get more than one in a photo at a time,” she said. 
 Tis the Season. (Photo by Carolyn Kanicki)
Tis the Season. (Photo by Carolyn Kanicki)
 Spring…at last!! (Photo by Carolyn Kanicki)
Spring…at last!! (Photo by Carolyn Kanicki)
 Bird on Elm Street. (Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
Bird on Elm Street. (Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
 Penelope Olson, of Appleton, writes: The large old ornamental crabapple in my yard is putting on quite a show this spring. Wish I could record the sound of the bazilion bees in her branches. There is one at the bottom of the third photo.
Penelope Olson, of Appleton, writes: The large old ornamental crabapple in my yard is putting on quite a show this spring. Wish I could record the sound of the bazilion bees in her branches. There is one at the bottom of the third photo.
 
 
 (Photo by Sarah Shepherd)
(Photo by Sarah Shepherd)
 (Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
(Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
 (Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
(Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
 (Photo by Deb Shepard)
(Photo by Deb Shepard)
 (Photo by Deb Shepard)
(Photo by Deb Shepard)
 (Photo by Deb Shepard)
(Photo by Deb Shepard)
 (Photo by Deb Shepard)
(Photo by Deb Shepard)
 (Photo by Deb Shepard)
(Photo by Deb Shepard)
 (Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
(Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
 (Photo by Carolyn Kanicki)
(Photo by Carolyn Kanicki)
 (Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
(Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
 (Photo by Brenda Sullivan)
(Photo by Brenda Sullivan)
 Low tide at Drift In Beach. (Photo by Carolyn Kanicki)
Low tide at Drift In Beach. (Photo by Carolyn Kanicki)
 (Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
(Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
 (Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
(Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
 Photo by Peter van der Kieft
Photo by Peter van der Kieft
 Photo by Peter van der Kieft
Photo by Peter van der Kieft
 Photo by Peter van der Kieft
Photo by Peter van der Kieft
 (Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
(Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
 Summer in Maine! (Photo by Carolyn Kanicki)
Summer in Maine! (Photo by Carolyn Kanicki)
 (Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
(Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
 (Photo by George Hardt)
(Photo by George Hardt)
 (Photo by George Hardt)
(Photo by George Hardt)
 (Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
(Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
 (Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
(Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
 (Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
(Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
 Summer afternoon in Port Clyde. (Photo by Carolyn Kanicki)
Summer afternoon in Port Clyde. (Photo by Carolyn Kanicki)
 Summer afternoon in Port Clyde. (Photo by Carolyn Kanicki)
Summer afternoon in Port Clyde. (Photo by Carolyn Kanicki)
 (Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
(Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
 First loon baby of the summer on Megunticook. (Photo by Roger Wickenden)
First loon baby of the summer on Megunticook. (Photo by Roger Wickenden)
 First loon baby of the summer on Megunticook. (Photo by Roger Wickenden)
First loon baby of the summer on Megunticook. (Photo by Roger Wickenden)
 (Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
(Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
 (Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
(Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
 (Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
(Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
 Summertime. (Photo by Carolyn Kanicki)
Summertime. (Photo by Carolyn Kanicki)
 (Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
(Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
 River otters at play near Saturday Cove in Northport. (Photo courtesy Britt Lundgren)
River otters at play near Saturday Cove in Northport. (Photo courtesy Britt Lundgren)
 Friendship Harbor (Photo courtesy Carolyn Kanicki)
Friendship Harbor (Photo courtesy Carolyn Kanicki)
 Children’s Chapel, Rockport. (Photo courtesy James Car)
Children’s Chapel, Rockport. (Photo courtesy James Car)
 Monarch seeking succor in Rockland, Maine. July 2022. Photo by Maggie Trout)
Monarch seeking succor in Rockland, Maine. July 2022. Photo by Maggie Trout)
 (Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
(Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
 (Photo by Deb Shepard)
(Photo by Deb Shepard)
 (Photo by Deb Shepard)
(Photo by Deb Shepard)
 (Photo by Deb Shepard)
(Photo by Deb Shepard)
 (Photo by Deb Shepard)
(Photo by Deb Shepard)
 (Photo by Deb Shepard)
(Photo by Deb Shepard)
 Sunflower. (Photo by Carolyn Kanicki)
Sunflower. (Photo by Carolyn Kanicki)
 A home on Hyler St. in Thomaston by Alan LaVallee.
A home on Hyler St. in Thomaston by Alan LaVallee.
 (Photo by George Hardt)
(Photo by George Hardt)
 (Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
(Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
 Self-seeded Black-eyed Susan, (Rudbeckia hirta)' Queen Anne's Lace, (Daucus carota); and the intensely-perfumed Common Milkweed, (Asclepias syriaca). Surviving the drought without watering. Rockland, Maine. July 26, 2022. (Photo by Maggie Trout)
Self-seeded Black-eyed Susan, (Rudbeckia hirta)' Queen Anne's Lace, (Daucus carota); and the intensely-perfumed Common Milkweed, (Asclepias syriaca). Surviving the drought without watering. Rockland, Maine. July 26, 2022. (Photo by Maggie Trout)
 Beauty is all around us. (Photo by Carolyn Kanicki)
Beauty is all around us. (Photo by Carolyn Kanicki)
 (Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
(Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
 Rhododendrons on Clark Island Road. Spruce Head. (Photo by Alan LaVallee)
Rhododendrons on Clark Island Road. Spruce Head. (Photo by Alan LaVallee)
 (Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
(Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
 The flowers of Summer. (Photo by Carolyn Kanicki)
The flowers of Summer. (Photo by Carolyn Kanicki)
 The flowers of Summer. (Photo by Carolyn Kanicki)
The flowers of Summer. (Photo by Carolyn Kanicki)
 The flowers of Summer. (Photo by Carolyn Kanicki)
The flowers of Summer. (Photo by Carolyn Kanicki)
 (Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
(Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
 (Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
(Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
 Gone by but not forgotten blooms. (Photo by George Hardt)
Gone by but not forgotten blooms. (Photo by George Hardt)
 (Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
(Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
 (Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
(Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
 (Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
(Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
 (Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
(Photo by Susan Kanellakis)
 This heirloom tomato beauty will be savored with gratitude for the gardener who made the plant available at the Thomaston Public Library, with seeds full of hope to be saved and sown. (Photo by
Maggie Trout. Rockland, Maine, September 14, 2022)
This heirloom tomato beauty will be savored with gratitude for the gardener who made the plant available at the Thomaston Public Library, with seeds full of hope to be saved and sown. (Photo by
Maggie Trout. Rockland, Maine, September 14, 2022)
Last fall, we created the 10th pandemic gallery of reader submitted photos, helping us chronicle the months of when waves of COVID-19 pressed against our communities. We are learning to cope with the virus, but the strain on our world remains, and now it’s not just COVID that creates uncertainty: A war on Ukraine, high prices in the grocery store and ever-increasing electricity charges, plus mass shootings and always an eye toward the weather – humans have stressed themselves.
How do we find solace?
It is in the outdoors, the walks, the ocean, our gardens, and a semblance of connectedness to the natural world that calms our nerves, and creates a grounded sense of normalcy. Our pets and domesticated animals, and no doubt, wildlife, depends on routine and continuity for feeling safe.
Your photos reflect that common theme, and we love to see them arrive in the inbox, so that we can share them with the rest of the our readership.
We had hoped last spring that the time had come to retire this collective project of chronicling a weird period in human history with photos, but we won’t because the pandemic rages on.
At the 2021 the annual Maine Press Association Better Newspaper Contest, and in a first-ever win, it was PenBayPilot.com readers who brought home an award for Picture Story, for your submitted photographs to the Pilot’s Pandemic Galleries. It was an unorthodox contest submission, but we believed that our Pilot community photographers deserved recognition.
“I love this idea and engagement, and clearly so did your readers,” wrote the South Dakota Newspaper Association judges, who were taking on the task of reviewing and naming winners of Maine’s annual competition. “Well done. Not sure how to judge this in a competition of professional photogs, but if Maine had some sort of engagement or innovative category, this would be stronger.”
The first volume of pandemic photos initiated in March 2020, and since then, you, the photographers, have steadily taken your cameras to the Midcoast, capturing how we perceive living through a deadly pandemic. Your photos have been remarkably expressive, and beautiful.
This collection of submitted photos taken by residents and visitors to the state will join A Wellspring of Hope, Tipping toward Winter, Maine establishes new normal with a sense of grace and Maine weathers a pandemic, Maine springs through a pandemic, Summering on through uncharted times, the Leaves of Change, Finding our Footing, a Hopeful new year, and A Wellspring of Hope.
All these galleries have been built on the love people have for the Midcoast and the natural beauty of their state. The photographers are observant, creative and astute. They help capture our current days.
Generations from now, historians will be looking at your photos for glimpses of how humans coped during a pandemic.
Send your contributions to news@penbaypilot.com, and we will continue this team project! The Pilot thanks you.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
