In Maine: Forged by Nature, National Geographic Explorer and photographer Kiliii Yüyan journeys across the state’s lakes, mountains, rivers, and coastlines, meeting the artists, makers, and community members whose lives are shaped by the land and water around them.

From learning to fly-fish in Rangeley and exploring generations of Wabanaki canoe-making knowledge in Newry, to discovering wood fired pottery and regenerative oyster farming at Glidden Point, each encounter reveals a different expression of Maine’s enduring connection to nature. Kiliii’s journey takes him to historic Liberty Tool that has served Maine’s shipbuilders and craftspeople for generations, and to Belfast, where he tastes lobster and mussels fresh from the ocean. Along the way, he gains a deeper appreciation for the passion, resourcefulness, and sense of community across the state and learns how Maine is truly forged by nature.

For director Kalim Armstrong and our team at Vacationland Films, this project fulfills a lifelong dream: producing a film for National Geographic for the state that is our company’s namesake.