RTY Photography Blog

Last year on a hike on the Jesup Trail, we spotted a barred owl. Of course, at that time I had no telephoto lens with me. This year we decided to take a look again. Well, no owl on the Jesup, but on the way back on the Hemlock Trail, we got lucky. One of the owlets was sitting on a branch directly over the trail. The little guy didn’t seem to mind. After some time it actually flew down just to our side. A few days later we went back to try again. This time we found “mommy”. I walked right past, but Sharon spotted her. They blend in with the trees so well. The Park Ranger said there were four owlets, we only saw the one. It was 2-3 months old.

Mommy

The owlet sitting directly over the path.

They blend in so well.

A few miscellaneous (in between) shots over several days at Acadia National Park.

Upper Hadlock Pond

Witch Hole Trail

Fog off the Loop Road.

Boulder Beach

Witch Hole Trail

Blue Moon off Acadia.

Took advantage of the dark moon and headed to Sand Beach in Acadia Park to shoot the Milky Way. It was a beautiful clear, still night. Lots of people star gazing on the beach. I shot the stars with New Jersey friend, Joe Gilozzo.

Cadillac Mountain is always a great place for sunsets. Sharon and I spent the night with friend and photographer, Joe Gilozzo and his family.

Fog rolls in below the summit.

Somesville Bridge

Bass Lighthouse on a previous day.

While Island hopping the Porcupines in our kayaks, we met these characters on the Frenchman Bay off Bar Harbor.

This loon really put on a show.

Cormorants checking us out as we paddle by.

The “Maestro”.

The Maasdam in the harbor.

It was such a beautiful night, I headed out to Thunder Hole and Cadillac Mountain for a few shots.

Looking south towards Otter Cliffs.

The end of the platform at Thunder Hole.

A Star Trail over Cadillac Mountain.

The Loop Road.

Looking back towards Sand Beach.

Sunrise at Boulder Beach and sunset at Seal Harbor in Acadia National Park.

I was very excited when I received a text alert about possible Northern Lights activity later that evening. The projection was for moderate levels, which can be hit or miss in this area. The plan was to set up at the foot of Jordan Pond in Acadia, which faces directly north, and to shoot continuous all night long. I was set to go at about 9 PM. Around 11 PM, I could see a very slight glow over the horizon. But the LCD on the camera was picking up strong purple colors. The strongest activity lasted about 15 minutes, although a weaker aurora lasted most of the night. Once the clouds rolled in around midnight, I headed to Cadillac Mountain, but the light pollution and cloud cover facing north was too strong. So back to Jordan Pond I went. The clouds cleared and I stayed till around 3 AM. The loon calls were echoing all through the night, which was pretty cool. The star trails were from the last hour at Jordan Pond.

The clouds rolling in around midnight.

This was Thunder Hole on a previous night.

Moonrise at Thunder Hole.

I spent a couple of hours climbing around on the rocks off the loop road near Otter Cliffs in Acadia National Park. My wife was safe and comfortable in her chair on the rocks with her wine enjoying the last hours of daylight.

A wedding couple were taking “selfies” on the rocks.

Just a fun afternoon shooting some new friends I made at Little Long Pond in Acadia National Park in Maine. No one has more fun than a Golden Retriever in water.

This was his buddy.