Photography at Acadia National Park has become a combat sport. With the popularity of photo workshops you have to get up early and claim your spot. Ed and I finished up shooting at Otter Cliffs and headed to the Tarn to get there before everyone else. We staked our position here which we knew would be the best spot. We set up our tripods and within minutes Tony Sweet, Kurt Budliger, Joe Rossbach and two other photographers arrived with their groups and we were literally surrounded.
You have to have the right conditions to shoot here. You have to arrive between 8 and 9 on a October morning, while the adlacent mountain is in sunlight and the glacial pond is still in shade to catch the reflected trees. And you also need a slight breeze to smooth out the colors.
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This is really gorgeous, Michael. The colors and reflections, the stillness in the scene, it sure doesnât feel as chaotic as described. Well done.
Michael, the reflected colors from the sunlit mountain stand out well here. I like this a lot as presented, but do find myself wondering how it would look with a bit more mid-tone brightness in the grasses.
Hey! I donât have much to add in terms of critique since Iâm at work on a horrible monitor. But I can tell you that the other two photographers that showed up to the tarn were Jeff Bazinet and I! We were also at boulder beach, first ones there. We arrived at 4am and counted 35 photographers on the rocks by the time the sun rose.
This area is essentially my back yard so I have shot Acadia a lot. I havenât ever seen that many photographers in one place. I prefer the winter for that reason, though it was nice seeing that many people out enjoying ânatureâ.
Hey Colin. Did you happen to catch the waves after the norâeaster moved through? We got some good shots, but it was very hard to compose without at least ten other photogs in the shot.
Unfortunately the day of that nice sunrise was my last day in Acadia. I would have loved to photograph the surf in Acadia! Instead I took a boat out to Cushings Island (in the Portland Harbor) during peak swell and photographed the surf hitting Ram Island Ledge Light.
Winter is the season for big wave photography on the island. The big winter storms bring 20-25 foot surf and snow. The park usually closes the road so you end up with the entire park to yourself. I will hopefully be back for that this winter.
Absolutely gorgeous, and I remember a similar one from last fall. Thanks for the tips on getting to the Tarn early; it does look like itâs worth competing for a spot! This is the advantage of going to a place over and over, knowing just where to go and when.
Michael, This image is really nice. I also was at Acadia and the Tarn last week before the masses arrived a few minutes later. We shot at Thuderhole at 7:15 am on the morning of the storm just before the Ranger closed it. Could not use a tripod in the wind but it was wicked fun shooting hand held at high ISOâs in the wind and driving rain. The shots were not great but the roaring ocean was a sight I will not soon forget.
You really captured what I feel when I stand by the Tarn. I think I was there that morning too as I saw the other workshops also. I was in Acadia the 12th til the 19th. I thought the waves from the first norâeaster were better on the 12th than after the stronger one on the 16th. That storm closed park loop road for a day with down trees and power lines.
I think you got one of the best days as it was fairly windy after that and calm is important for the Tarn. Interesting how many of us were there in Acadia.
Michael,
Somewhere I think I have seen this before - canât recall though⌠
And no matter how many times, this is such a gorgeous setup and youâve captured and processed beautifully. No nits or suggestions. Just enjoyment.
Lon
Thanks @Lon_Overacker, @Alan_Kreyger, @Craig_Marvil, @Shirley_Freeman, @Kathy_Barnhart, @Mark_Seaver. Kathy and Lon, my brother and I both posted some images from the tarn last year. I much prefer this yearâs images because of the slight wind we had which produced more pleasing color swathes.
Absolutely gorgeous. The colours, textures and light are so delicate. An absolute feast for the eye. Beautifully done.
