White Mountain National Forest
Spirit of White Mountain
When somebody mentions New Hampshire, the first thing that comes to my mind is the White Mountain National Forest. It is an incredible place of wild beauty with countless streams, spectacular mountains, and hardwood forests. On my second trip there I decided to drive Kancamagus Highway and find a location for an evening landscape photograph. After some time on the road, I noticed a pond on the side of the road and decided to stop and take a closer look. I went down to the edge of the water and suddenly noticed a baby moose grazing on another side of the pond. I quickly retreated to my car, grabbed the camera, and rushed back. The moose was still there and even moved a bit more out from the woods, toward the light. I sat low to the ground and composed the frame to capture this peaceful scene. The last piece of the puzzle was the pose of the animal. Five minutes later, the calf interrupted its meal, looked around, and paused for a fraction of a second, looking directly at me. I pressed the shutter. Later that evening, while driving to my overnight camp, I contemplated this moment as magic, when White Mountain revealed its wild spirit to me.
Artist's Bluff, Franconia Notch, New Hampshire
The light was quickly fading, and numerous people started their descent to the trailhead, vacating spaces closer to the edge of the cliff. I had a few frames left on the roll and decided to spend them on this view. I had no big expectations regarding the result. After all, the view photographed so many times, and there would be nothing unique in my capture. Although maybe it is just a memory of that evening that I've attached to this scene, so this image is special to me.
Rocks and Pine Needles, Near Peabody River, White Mountains
I came across these rocks and pine needles on the bank of the Peabody River in the White Mountains. The sun was low, and from time to time thin clouds blocked its direct light. I had to wait for the perfect moment when the light got a bit diffused, yet not completely blocked by the next cloud. But the wait paid off!
I-93 from Artist's Bluff Lookout
Artist's Bluff Lookout is a tourists hotspot. It seems that people come there in buses. At least those who were coming down the trail could fill a couple of double-deckers. The lookout was as busy as the trail, and there is no question why: the view is pretty. But I saw it online before and did not want to repeat the already over-photographed scene. Seeing many photographers pointing their cameras in the same direction discourages me even more. And I did what I often do: look behind me. There I found this simple view of I-93 cutting through the mountain forest. Everything I wanted was there: autumn colors, mountains, soft evening light, and a road that I drove just an hour earlier.
Lost Pond and Mount Washington
This image is one of only three color 4x5 images I made during my autumn trip of 2021. This format seems to be as rewarding as it is merciless. And here is the fine example of that: the film was not aligned in the holder and image slipped on the border with the Kodak marking, and I underexposed it a bit. And yes, this is not the best angle and time of the day.
Still, I like this image: it is a memory of a hike to a quiet mountain lake along Appalachian Trail, with the a view to the highest peak in the region.
Rocks Near Peabody River, White Mountains, New Hampshire
I've asked myself many times why do I like scenes like this. Trivial yet unique, they probably remind me a feeling of looking in a kaleidoscope. Shapes, colors, and light create random and beautiful arrangement. Only with my camera I have an opportunity to look for some most pleasing arrangements and not entirely rely on chance.
New Hampshire
Fall colors of New Hampshire. I was overwhelmed by them. To the extent, that I do not even remember exactly where I captured this image, which is a very unusual thing for me. On other hand, there is nothing special about this scene, just a magic of colors. So I do not mind it to be an undefined location.
At Lower Falls Scenic Area, Kancamagus Parkway
On the fourth day of my fall trip to the American Northeast, I drove from New Hampshire to Vermont. A few minutes after turning to the Kancamagus Highway, I approached a large parking area by pretty cascades of the Swift River. The spot was called the Lower Falls, as I learned from the information kiosk nearby. My image is not original at all, although I spend about 30 minutes to find the spot and angle I wanted. I know that because this location is easily accessible and hard to miss, and because as soon as I left the spot, another photographer took it, setting his tripod where mine was just a minute earlier.
Nineteen Brook
I discovered this spot almost by accident. In the morning I left Acadia National Park and spent most of the day on the road, hoping that I'll be in time to get on top of Mount Washington. While driving there on a highway through the White Mountain National Forest, I noticed a man with a camera and a rather happy face, walking toward his parked car. I thought that if a photographer appears from woods with such satisfaction, then there must be something quite exciting out there. I quickly dropped a pin in my GeoRecorder app and continued my journey. A few hours later, when I descended from the highest mountain in New Hampshire, I came back to the marked location and discovered this beauty.
Crystal Cascade
This waterfall is, perhaps, one of the most beautiful in the region. The only problem is that I came there not at the best time. The light was quite harsh and contrast too high. Nevertheless, I tried my best.
Ellis River, Below Upper Falls
Glen Ellis Falls had two cascades: upper and lower. The short section or rapids between them caught my attention. There was something simple and pleasing to my eye: cracks in rocks, fast-flowing water, and two logs, left behind by a flood. And colors: a wonderful combination of yellows and reds from the fallen leaves and blue light from the open sky above.