Adirondack Park
Morning at Connery Pond, Adirondacks
Capturing this image was a game of patience. I've set up my camera on a boggy shore of the pond, framed the composition, replaced the ground glass with the film back, and prepared the lens. Then it came the waiting part. Moving clouds shuffled shadows across the scene, changing its appearance and mood. A few minutes later, a lonely paddler slowly moved into my composition. He was kind enough to make gentle strokes and not disturb the water too much. When I tripped the shutter, he was just at the right spot, adding an element of serenity and peacefulness of that moment.
When the Seasons Collide
Is there anything special about this picture? No. Or may be there is something… It is an episode in the infinite verity of life. Noticing little things that others pass by makes my experience deeper and somewhat unique. The ascent to Mount Jo did not bring me any inspiring images from the summit, but way down rewarded me with this find. Views will wait for another time. This one, on other hand, will be never the same.
Giant's Washbowl
I photographed many scenes on that autumn trip to Adirondacks, but this one is a little special. I planned to get to this location long before the trip and hoped for the right weather. The hike was hard. I hit the trail in complete darkness, under stars, and quickly started to gain elevation. Walking in the dim light of my head torch, guided by the bright spots of trail blazes, I felt being in another universe. It was a little bit uncomfortable, but somehow, relaxing at the same time. The world around me shrunk to the size of just a few yards, not farther than my light could penetrate through the fog of the forest. I lost the trail several times and stopped twice to catch the breath after steep ascends. I've reached the destination with the first light but found no views, other than fog. I spent almost an hour, hoping that it would dissipate, but nothing changed. Only on my way back, the weather finally decided to show some mercy and let me enjoy the scenery I wanted to see. The light was not ideal, and the location was a bit off from where I initially planned to be, but I'm grateful for what I've got anyway. My effort paid off. I photographed this lake with my digital camera, on slide film, and negatives. Of all the captures, this frame, exposed to Kodak Ektar 100, is my favorite one.
Birches by Lower Cascade Lake
When I planned my fall trip to the Adirondack Mountains Park, one item on the list was to see golden foliage of birches along a body of water. The online research indicated that I should try my luck by the Upper Cascade Lake. I spent the day hiking and discovering the beauty of the Keene Valley and got to the lake with the last light of the day. I had a few minutes before the nightfall, but my subject revealed itself promptly, giving me enough time to portray its charm.
Keene Valley
I was very excited to see my first roll of Fuji Velvia 100. I've got used to overexposure tolerance of negatives and was very anxious about getting the right exposure for this slide film. A few frames came out perfect, but this one was obviously underexposed. I probably was too conservative with metering. Nevertheless, the colors of the foliage and sky are just adorable to my eye.
Trail to The Giant's Nubble
My first real experience with the Adirondack Mountains started with a hike through a dark, misty, and foggy forest. The place I was heading to was called the Giant's Nubble, and I hoped to catch the first light atop of these rocks. But thick clouds shrouded the mountain, and I spent more than an hour, waiting for them to dissipate. Finally, I lost my patience and turned back, but upon entering the wooded trail, I discovered this magical light, softened by the fog and tinted by evergreen trees and mosses.
Across West Branch Ausable River
It is not that often when I remember the moment a new place pops up on my radar, and I start researching more about it. My interest in the Adirondack Mountains Park sparked when I saw a photograph of the Ausable River by David Muench, adoring a back cover of a book I bought in a local used books shop. It was natural that my plan included a visit to this stream. The river has two branches: West and East, that join at Au Sable Forks. The drive along the West branch is very scenic, with many pull-outs and parking areas. Every time I stopped, the river appeared in a new way. I saw it rushing over boulders, cascading into a little waterfall, quietly flowing among low banks, and gushing in a narrow gorge of vertical cliffs.
Wilmington and Whiteface Memorial Parkway
I like to study panoramic views through a telephoto lens and pick out details and subjects form these open scenes. While being a seemingly trivial task, there is often a delicate balance between truly significant elements and those that would clutter the composition. I think that this view to the Town of Wilmington and Whiteface Memorial Parkway turned out the way I envisioned the final image. At first, I noticed a band of smoke flowing over the town from some residential house or business - a sign that daily life has begun. Then the road attracted my eye, and I liked how it winds to the town. The glowing haze and silhouettes of the mountains far away created a sense of scale and depth, completing this morning scene from my morning hike to Cobble Lookout.
Giant Mountain
I did not have big hopes for any dramatic scenes. The weather forecast indicated clear skies, but I wanted to see the Lake Champlain Valley in the morning light. The view was marvelous. Although the blue sky did not offer any photographic opportunities, the illuminated carpet of the forest and the mountain ranges in the distance created beautiful layers of colors, shadows, and shapes. One high mountain attracted my attention. A small cloud rested by its summit, adding even more interest to my composition. A few days later, upon coming back home, I learned that the peak is, actually, one of the popular hiking destinations in the region - The Giant Mountain.
Autumn by the Chapel Pond
The peak of the fall season at Keene Valley usually happens on the first and second weeks of October. I planned my first visit to the Adirondack Mountains around this time in the hope of catching vibrant colors of birches and maples. The evening I arrived was rainy and windy, but the colors were surely there. I stopped by the Chapel Pond before the light of the day completely faded and spent a few minutes under the rain on the shore. The scene in front of me was so pretty that I decided to pull out my camera and capture a photograph or two. Wind gusts blurred a few branches in my image, but I do not mind that at all.
Red Carpet along Copperas Pond
This photograph, with its seemingly ubiquitous subject, represents one of those unique moments that I experienced during my autumn trip to Adirondacks. A short hike to Copperas Pond brought me to a peaceful mountain lake, where the trail splits. One branch meandered through woods along the shore and seemed to be even less traveled. It was a short walkway that ended not far away from where I started, but the sense of isolation and peace was sensational. Red leaves carpeted the trail beneath my feet, and I tried to step carefully, to not ruing this fragile beauty.
Autumn Palette of Adirondacks
I photographed this scene during my autumn trip to Adirondacks back in 2019. I exposed two frames that day: one on Fuji Velvia 100 and another on Kodak Ektar 100. While I like the color palette and physical qualities of the slide film, the negative captured more subtle color tones that please my eye to this day.
Rays Over High Peaks
Cobble Lookout trail offers a spectacular view of Lake Champlain Valley and several prominent peaks of the northeastern Adirondacks. The evening I came there offered mostly cloudy skies, with just a few breaks that let the light pass through and hit distant mountains.