Otter Cliffs, Acadia National Park

Back to school is just around the corner, so before things start getting too hectic around here, we grabbed the chance to spend a couple of family days in Acadia National Park. We booked two nights in a hotel along the Bar Harbor Road, and took full advantage of being able to stay late – and wake up – right in the park. Hiking the Great Head Trail, swimming in the hotel saltwater pool, building castles (and napping) on Sand Beach, gazing at the stars over Otter Cliffs, wandering the South Ridge Trail of Cadillac, dinners at Miguel’s and Rosalie’s in Bar Harbor, and of course ice cream at Ben and Bills… not a bad weekend!

These images are from the first morning we spent in the park. I set my alarm for early o’clock and used my stealth training to sneak out before dawn without waking anyone. One of these days someone will see the value of getting up to see the sun rise over Acadia and accompany me, but until then, I get it all to myself. I have photographed this scene numerous times, though I keep returning with hopes to capture all of the elements coming together for a truly special photograph. The scene itself with Otter Cliffs towering over the Atlantic Ocean and the round boulders on the beach is a magnificent one, and first light on this morning was particularly nice.

The first image in this post with pink and purple hues was actually made right before dawn, and the second is just as the sun crested the horizon to bathe the scene in warm, soft light. I love being here alone before dawn, and on many occasions like this I have been treated to sweet, subdued light. In the second image, the color reflecting off the round granite rocks was quite intense, so I actually dialed the saturation back just a little in post-processing. Some wispy high clouds and big surf might have been nice additions to the scene, but I guess if I want things to line up perfectly I will just have to keep coming back 🙂