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 the environmental promise of oyster farming at Glidden Point, each encounter reveals a different expression of Maine’s enduring connection to nature.

Kiliii’s journey also takes him to a historic tool shop in Liberty that has served Maine’s shipbuilders and craftspeople for generations, and to Belfast, where he tastes lobster fresh from the coast. Along the way, he gains a deeper appreciation for the passion, resourcefulness, and sense of community that define the state—and sees firsthand 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.