New England

The Quiet Beauty of Acadia National Park in Winter

When snow and ice arrive, tourists depart, and one of the most visited national parks becomes a place of wonder and beauty for photographers.

Coffee By Design | Portland, Maine

Photo Credit : Katherine Keenan

This is what separates the die-hard landscape photographer from the rest of us: It is six below zero. Armed with cameras and a battery of lenses, the 10 participants in a weekend photo workshop in and around Maine’s Acadia National Park are focused not on the bitter cold, but on the way sea smoke rises from the water, or how the waves at Thunder Cove seem to explode against the shore.

They will notice the intricate patterns formed by water trickling over rock, and the exquisitely delicate coating of ice on a small plant. They will seek out snow-covered paths and frozen lakes to walk on, the park’s famous cliffs all around. They will be excited to see fog draping Bass Harbor’s working waterfront as boats vanish into the mist. 

Acadia National Park is considered among the most beautiful in the country. More than 3 million visitors arrive each year to see its iconic views of ocean and lakes meeting boulders and cliffs. But come deep winter, it quiets, the solitude welcomed.

At daybreak, when the photographers catch first light, their breath freezes in an instant. No matter how many layers they wear, the windswept cold reminds them that this still beauty comes at a price. But they already accepted that when they signed up for the “Winter in Acadia” workshop led by Benjamin Williamson and John K. Putnam, notable Maine photographers who have shot here in all seasons and who serve on these annual expeditions as guides, teachers, and fellow image hunters.

“We encourage them to find something unique, not just the iconic images,” Williamson says. “We tell them, ‘Go for whatever catches your eye.’” He adds that he and Putnam always see with new eyes each time they lead a winter weekend in Acadia. And this also remains true: No matter how cold it gets, the hunger for the perfect image burns strong, and the reward for everyone comes when they gather back inside to see what they have found.

To learn more about the “Winter in Acadia” photo workshops, go to jkputnam.com/winter-in-acadia.

Scenes of Acadia National Park in Winter

Using a pier piled with gear and slung with ropes to “anchor” the scene, workshop participant Mark Teitelbaum caught this ghostly image of a fishing boat on the waterfront in Bernard, one of the coastal villages that fringe Acadia National Park.
Photo Credit : Mark Teitelbaum
Using the belly of a cloud to frame a lone tree on a clifftop, this Hunters Beach photo by Kevin Armstrong speaks to the creativity that bubbles up during the “Winter in Acadia” weekends, says co-leader Benjamin Williamson. “Kevin is an extremely talented photographer who has been to almost every workshop John and I offer, but he keeps doing them in part because the other students spur him to see things in new ways.”
Photo Credit : Kevin Armstrong
As a full-time nature and landscape photographer based on Mount Desert Island, workshop co-leader John K. Putnam gets to show participants the stunning place he calls home. Putnam also collects a few new images of his own along the way, like this shot of a loon in winter plumage stretching its wings in Bass Harbor.
Photo Credit : John K. Putnam
Crashing water at Hunters Beach in Acadia National Park caught the eye of Maria Cruz, a photographer originally from Cuba who “loves exploring the world with a camera,” Williamson says. “She’s currently in love with the landscape of Iceland and is planning on making more trips there. I think it’s fitting that she would love both Iceland and ‘Winter in Acadia.’”
Photo Credit : Maria Cruz
A spectral abstract from Hunters Beach.
Photo Credit : Joel Dube
A trio of weathered boats in Bass Harbor.
Photo Credit : Dana Humphrey
“A monster sunset at one of the most iconic locations in Acadia” made shooting at Jordan Pond the highlight of the trip for many, says Benjamin Williamson, who found inspiration for this dramatic composition in one little heart-shaped chunk of ice.
Photo Credit : Benjamin Williamson

Mel Allen

More by Mel Allen

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Login to post a comment