Cruising the Blue Hill Bay

When visiting Acadia, there is so much to see and do if you stay on the land, but if you want a different perspective – and it is an island after all – then you have to get out onto the water. We considered trekking across the island to brave the throngs of tourists in Bar Harbor to take a cruise on the Margaret Todd, but in keeping with the quiet theme of this vacation, we instead decided to stay closer to home and made reservations to tour the Blue Hill Bay with Island Cruises out of Bass Harbor. As we left the calm waters of Bass Harbor, it was pretty cool to get a view of the famous Bass Harbor Lighthouse from the ocean.

Our captain was a great storyteller, so despite the amazing scenery all around us, we often found ourselves captivated by the history (and tales) he was sharing as we motored toward Great Gott Island. We learned the history of many of the island settlements, and about what life was like back in the day when these islands were once thriving communities. Our captain was a fountain of knowledge, and he gladly shared not only the history of the region, but also what it is like to be a modern-day lobster fisherman. He gave us a working demonstration of how to pull and bait a lobster trap, and he also explained the process by which lobstermen determine whether or not their catch can be kept and brought to market. As you can see, it isn’t just lobster that he catches!

The boat was rocking and the surf was up as we ventured beyond Great Gott, Little Gott, and Placentia Islands and then outside of the Blue Hill Bay. There was something about being “on the ocean” and outside the protection of the islands that made this trip pretty special, and as we cruised around and between some smaller islands, we were treated to some close-up views of all sorts of wildlife. On what was a two-hour voyage, we saw harbor and grey seals sunning themselves on rocky ledges, a bald eagle soaring high above, and all sorts of other sea birds nesting and feeding.

As we returned to the calmer waters of Bass Harbor around 5:00 p.m., we all agreed that this was probably the best Acadia boat trip that any of us had taken. Seeing things from off shore gave us a cool perspective, hearing about and being near the islands that we see from the mainland was exciting, and enjoying the wildlife was an added bonus, but I think what what truly made this trip was wonderful storytelling of our captain. Highly recommended!

Smelling the roses…

The morning fog was rolling in from the ocean at Bracy Cove and Little Long Pond, and although I visited this location to see how the pond lillies were, I noticed this scene along the path and grabbed this shot. The overhanging trees created a nice window, and the soft, diffused light and fog in the distance caught my eye. This might be one of those photographs that means more to me than the casual viewer, because I was actually there and able to literally smell the beach roses that surrounded me.

When it all comes together II…

So… I wasn’t expecting the conditions to be particularly special on this morning, but as the light slowly climbed from the east up and over my shoulder toward the lighthouse, I started to wonder if I might actually be in for a show? There were some soft, wispy clouds behind the lighthouse, and as the day began to brighten, my jaw literally dropped as I marveled at how the high clouds were being illuminated with a phenomenal pinkish hue.

Knowing that the light probably wouldn’t last long, and with a big grin on my face, I worked quickly to try to combine all of the elements within the frame into something I liked. I couldn’t have ordered better weather conditions, and the impressive lighthouse that welcomes returning mariners to Bass Harbor certainly did its part. Below is a photograph that I am particularly pleased with… and well worth the feast I provided for the many mosquitoes!

When it all comes together I…

Sunrise was scheduled for 4:56 a.m., and since we were staying literally half a mile from this location, I didn’t have to set the alarm clock for too early like I normally would. In fact – as usually happens – I stirred before the alarm even went off, and as also usually happens, I lay there contemplating whether or not to roll over and go back to sleep. The weather forecast had called for crystal clear skies at sunrise, and even though I knew the scene would probably still be impressive, I have been here many times in similar conditions and wasn’t sure if it would be worth my while to follow through with the plan… I’m glad I did!

When I first arrived, the rising tide was still low enough to reveal a small ledge that offers a cool tidepool reflection of the lighthouse. Scampering over some jagged rocks and always aware of what the rising tide was doing behind me, I quickly set up my gear in a spot where I could take advantage of the unique view. Based on my experience from the previous evening when we wandered down to check out the lighthouse, I was pretty sure I would encounter some blood-sucking mosquitoes eager to snack on me for breakfast… and boy was I right! Despite wearing long pants and a hooded sweatshirt, my thirsty little friends were determined to get a taste, and they even managed to bite through my clothes!

As the pre-dawn light started to paint the landscape, I was very aware of the sounds around me. Despite the constant buzzing in my ears, I was able to enjoy the incoming waves breaking peacefully over the rocky headland and the off-shore buoy clanking musically in the swells of the bay. As the morning light grew, I wondered if those pretty high clouds behind the lighthouse would offer any color? Boy did they ever..!

Bass Harbor Light

The cottage we are renting is about half a mile from the famous and iconic Bass Harbor Lighthouse, and although we have been here for over a week already, I had yet to pay it a visit with my camera. This image is from a leisurely walk we made on a lazy summer evening, and I don’t think I have ever seen so many skeeters in my life! I have plans to get out in the kayak onto the less familiar side of the point so that I can check out the possibilities for something new compositionally from late in the afternoon, and I do have photographs to share from what are likely the MOST spectacular morning conditions I have ever experienced there… so stay tuned… that’s in a few days 😉

Acadia Mountain Trail

Every time I drive out toward Southwest Harbor, the small parking lot at the trailhead for Acadia Mountain is brimming over with parked cars. It always seemed as though I was passing this spot on my way to somewhere else, so until yesterday, this is one trail that I had never actually been on.

We underestimated the Acadia Mountain Trail. We underestimated how long it would take, we underestimated how strenuous it would be, and we underestimated how beautiful it was. The work done by those responsible for maintaining this trail was spectacular… I know I have said it before after exploring a new trail, but I’ll say it again anyway… this is now one of my favorite trails!

It has it all… lush green canopy providing shade, rocky ledges to climb up and over, killer views of Somes Sound and the islands, and a really nice variety in terrain. Lori, Jack and I were pleasantly surprised by our time spent exploring this trail, and we all agreed that it won’t be long before we come back to explore it more fully.

Soaring high above Acadia

Last summer Jack and I went up for what was a spectacular aerial tour of Mount Desert Island in an Acadia Air Tours biplane, and we enjoyed it so much that we decided a gift certificate would be the perfect present for Grandpa. The weather on our vacation has been amazing so far, and as you can see from the the photographs in this post, we had perfect conditions to enjoy the flight. I think it’s safe to say that Grandpa got a kick out of this adventure, and oh yeah… the “official” family photographer just had to go along for the ride too 🙂

A sight to behold

Following on after my early morning spent along the Loop Road, this photograph shows how impressive the colors can be when first light strikes the granite shores of Acadia National Park. I sat back and relaxed as the light climbed over Great Head and slowly painted the scene before me. Nice, eh?

The way to start the day

I spent an immensely peaceful early morning perched on a ledge overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, and I couldn’t help marvel at how this is a very cool way to start the day. The sun is still rising before 5:00 a.m. at this time of year here in Maine, and as you can see from the photograph above, the pre-dawnlight was pretty special. When the sun eventually crested over Great Head behind me, it bathed the scene in amazing warm light, with the granite absolutely lighting up with color. This view is looking south along the rugged Acadia coast toward Otter Cliffs, and other than a couple of seagulls who kept me company on the ledge, I was here all by myself.

Bass Harbor Marsh, Acadia

Every single time I pass over the bridge that spans Marshall Brook I find myself staring at what I consider to be a breathtaking scene. There is something about the view laid out before you that catches my eye every time… no matter what the time of day or the prevailing weather conditions, I find myself always having to pull over.

Looking north across the Bass Harbor Marsh toward Bernard (left) and Mansell Mountains (right), the eyes are treated to a snaking river that gently winds its way off into the distance. Just outside Bass Harbor, this scene is one of those places that just begs to be enjoyed, and since I have yet to make a photograph that I believe truly does it justice, I will just have to keep on stopping every time I pass this way!

A postcard from Acadia

Anyone who has visited Acadia National Park will have seen this charming scene… either in person in Somesville, or on a picture postcard in one of the many souvenir shops on Mount Desert Island. We have been spending some quality family time on the island this summer, but when I had to head back home one morning to pick up some things for work, I couldn’t resist stopping to grab a quick photograph.

Somesville is nestled in the heart of Mount Desert Island along the northwestern shore of Somes Sound, the only fjord on the east coast of the United States. This little bridge – along with the Somesville Historical Society Museum and Gardens – is located along Route 102 overlooking the Sound, and it is for good reason that many visitors to the area stop to photograph this scene.

Secrets revealed

As the sun got lower in the sky, I wandered down onto the rocky beach below our rental cottage where low tide had revealed all sorts of interesting shapes and textures.  The ocean was calm and quiet tonight, softly lapping the shore with a rhythmic and gentle beat, and in amongst the periwinkle and barnacle covered-rocks scattered along the shoreline, I found little pockets of color which were being illuminated by the soft, late light.

As the sun slowly dipped below the horizon, I had a grand time using my camera to try to both isolate and connect various elements of the landscape – all the while remembering to soak in the surroundings and smell the clean, fresh sea air. Just around the furthest corner in the last photograph is the famous Bass Harbor Lighthouse… perhaps I should pay it another visit when the light is good?

The island life…

…on Mount Desert Island that is. When Granny and Grandpa generously offered to rent a house in Maine for two weeks this summer, the search was on for the right place. We’ve never really done a big family get together, so we had to find a house with enough space for all of the kids (Jack and his cousins Chloe and Isaiah) to play, and one that satisfied the adults’ desire for a relaxing getaway.

We looked at some properties down toward the Georgetown area, and even further south below Portland, but as the search progressed, we kept coming back to the spectacular Mount Desert Island and Acadia National Park. We settled on a beautiful cottage right on the ocean just outside Bass Harbor on the quiet side of the island. We are literally about half a mile from the famous Bass Harbor Lighthouse, so if the conditions look right, I might just have to pay it another visit.

As you can see… the views from the deck of the house across Bass Harbor toward Lopaus Point are remarkable. As I sat out on the deck late into the night watching the Milky Way glow overhead in the dark sky, I couldn’t help thinking that these next two weeks are going to be quite something… thanks to Granny and Grandpa 🙂

When the light hits Acadia

I made plans for an early morning run down to Acadia this week, but when a warning light appeared on my Jetta’s dashboard signaling a burned out headlight, that put an end to that idea. I don’t do well with being out of compliance, and the thought of being stopped at 3:00 a.m. didn’t really excite me. I’m the guy who obeys the signs that say “don’t walk on the grass” or “no turn on red” – so I have an appointment in the morning to replace the headlight bulb.

As we prepare for an extended family vacation – two weeks in Acadia of course – I figured I would share this image of the rocks below Otter Cliffs. Most people have seen photographs of Otter Cliffs with the remarkable round rocks of Boulder Beach included in the foreground, but on this early May morning I wanted something different, so I wandered over to the foot of the cliffs and photographed the scene looking along the shore and out to sea. As you can see, I once again got the perfectly cloudless skies that I have become accustomed to when visiting here, but despite the lack of drama, the first light that hits the Acadia granite makes for a view that has to be seen to be appreciated.

Camping in Acadia

Water sites at the beautiful Mount Desert Campground in Acadia National Park are not easy to come by. When you see how gorgeous the views are, it isn’t hard to see why. For this reason, and in order to make sure we got a good site this year, we decided to make our reservation as early as we could. As you can see from the above photograph from this time last year when we had Sam with us, we were lucky to have absolutely spectacular weather, but this year… not so good 😦

The afternoon and evening weren’t so bad… cool and damp but definitely doable. On Friday we enjoyed a nice late afternoon hike on Beech Mountain before heading into Bar Harbor for the obligatory Rosalie’s Pizza and Ben and Bill’s ice cream… seriously good. The forecast had called for some steady rain and possibly thunderstorms through the night and into the morning though, so we were prepared for the worst. We did get a nice roaring camp fire going as the light faded, and when we tucked into the tent to read a little more Harry Potter by lantern, we were all quite cozy.

There is something soothing about the pitter-patter of raindrops on a tent, and it wasn’t long after nightfall that we were treated to the rhythmic song of gentle rain on the fly sheet and light wind swaying the tall pines. Thanks to Lori’s superior tent-staking skills, the new tent stood up admirably, and despite the rolling thunder and heavier rains that arrived with the dawn (along with a brisk 50 degrees), we made it through the night dry and rested, ready to tackle the remainder of the weekend.

Beech Mountain, Acadia

Our rainy camping weekend saw us exploring a couple of new trails – at least new for us – when we left our centrally located Mount Desert Campground and headed south through Somesville before making a right turn toward the Beech Hill Road. High above Echo Lake, Beech Mountain provides spectacular views toward the ocean and islands, and also back north across Echo Lake and Somes Sound.

Leaving the Beech Hill parking lot, we started out on the very gentle Valley Trail before joining the Canada Cliff Trail as we made our way through a nice variety of terrain. We climbed over large and small boulders, balanced along narrow wooden bogwalks, and maneuvered exposed tree roots as we meandered around the southern side of the mountain. The views were spectacular, and since we were on the quiet side of the island, we pretty much had the place all to ourselves.

Dodging raindrops all the way, the forest was lush and green. The whole hike took – with some stops to enjoy the view – about an hour, and seven year-old Jack had no trouble with the route we took. The combination of Valley Trail, Canada Cliff Trail, and Beech Cliff Trail made for a pretty cool afternoon, and as I soaked in the view below, I couldn’t help wondering how spectacular it might be at first light when the fall foliage is changing color.

The so-so weather didn’t do anything to dampen our spirits, especially since we knew that next up was some well-earned Rosalies Pizza and delicious ice cream from Ben and Bill’s in Bar Harbor. As always… neither disappointed 🙂

Duck Brook Bridge, Acadia

Tucked in behind Bar Harbor, Duck Brook Bridge is a place that most visitors to Acadia don’t get to see. Despite its proximity to town, the somewhat secluded bridge and brook are usually passed up in favor of more popular spots like Sand Beach, Otter Point and The Beehive. Built in 1929, the 200 ft wide three-arched bridge spans a relatively deep chasm through which the Duck Brook runs.

This is a beautiful spot in the fall when the leaves start to change color, but on this early summer morning the greens were intense and the brook was moving fast. In the photograph below I found a little “crack” through which just about all of the power of the brook was being funneled… cool spot.

Still water on Bubble Pond

This little pond has become one of my favorite places to visit, and after spending the pre-dawn at Otter Cliffs, I shared it with my photographer friend Josh. Nestled between Pemetic Mountain (1,248 feet), and Cadillac Mountain (1,532 feet), Bubble Pond is a glaciated valley that is now home to a beautiful and pristine pond. Using a circular polarizer, I was able to eliminate some – but not all – of the reflections from the crystal clear pond water allowing views of the rocky bottom. The polarizer also removed the glare of the early-morning light from the trees hugging the rugged shoreline, and it enhanced the definition in the clouds. The intermittent sunshine breaking through the clouds made the scene come alive, and I was really attracted to how still the water was. Isn’t this place gorgeous?

A summer morning in Acadia

I have visited Otter Cliffs and Boulder Beach in Acadia National Park often, always hoping to photograph an awesome sunrise partnered with some dramatic clouds and pounding surf. I have certainly been lucky at times with spectacular light, sometimes with ominous clouds, and at other times with pounding surf. Heck… I have even had two out of three on the rare occasion, but never has everything come together where the angels sing and I make the photograph I have been dreaming of. All of the forecasted conditions seemed to be happening as advertised this morning though, and as some warm pink hues peeked over the horizon I was beginning to get excited. Maybe this was the morning when everything would come together?

This was ten days before the summer solstice, with sunrise scheduled for a very early 4:48am and high tide supposed to hit at 7:05am. As my friend Josh and I cruised along the Loop Road toward the ocean, the adrenalin that was pumping masked the effects of the 2:30am start to the morning. Arriving at our destination with plenty of time to spare, we were welcomed by some of the most beautiful pre-dawn light I have ever seen. I made a couple of photographs looking back toward Great Head and Schoodic, but all the while I couldn’t help wondering just how good Otter Cliffs was going to look when this light hit them.

I even took my socks and shoes off and rolled my jeans up so that I could get closer to the breaking waves and round rocks. I learned that the Atlantic Ocean is quite chilly at this time of year, but that didn’t phase me one bit as I soaked in the incredible scene and waited for the moment. With my camera aimed at what I thought was a decent composition, all I needed was the bank of thick grey clouds that were gathering near the horizon to stay high enough to let the sun streak across the sky and light up the granite cliffs. As my toes started to get numb from the cold, and right about when the sun was supposed to make it’s appearance, like a curtain being drawn, the good light faded and the photograph below shows what the scene looked like. Oh well… still one of the most amazing places to let the senses soak in the experience at dawn, and all the more reason to return and try again 🙂

A new view of Acadia…

…for me that is.

I have been meaning to explore the granite ledges along the Loop Road more fully for a while now. When in this area, I usually spend time closer to where Monument Cove and Otter Cliffs dominate the scenery, but on my most recent visit I wandered off the main path and I think I found a new spot. Actually this is so close to the road that I am almost embarrassed to say that I haven’t been here before :}

The Loop Road from Sand Beach to Otter Cliffs pretty much runs north/south, so when the sun first crests over the eastern horizon in the morning, it hits the rugged granite coastline and lights it up like you wouldn’t believe. The high ledge I was standing on to make these photographs was quite intimidating, but the impressive view looking south toward Otter Cliffs was what really caught my attention.

Depending on how close you want to get to the edge, this new spot (new for me at least) offers many compositional possibilities, and while these images were made in the late afternoon with rather unflattering light, I couldn’t help but get excited about returning here sometime soon to catch early light on what is a truly remarkable stretch of coastline… preferably on a morning when there are some interesting clouds and big, dramatic surf 🙂