The area around Acadia National Park in Maine is a special place to be as the leaves change and autumn sets in. In October 2017, as the Alpha Imaging Collective embarked on a photo adventure on Mt. Desert Island they were greeted by challenging conditions, but adhering to the maxim that true travelers are never deterred by the weather, the group took advantage of their time and explored, capturing stunning images everywhere they went. Great pictures can be made in bad weather when you have the right gear and the right attitude...and when you're traveling with a group of companions with a sense of adventure.

Bass Harbor Lighthouse

Perhaps the most iconic view in all of Acadia National Park is that of Bass Harbor Lighthouse, sitting atop a rocky coastline bordered by pine trees. The misty fog and muted sunset made for some epic blue-hour images of the most photographed landmark in the park.

Photo by Braedin Toth (@Braedin). Sony α7S II. Sony 16-35mm f/2.8 G Master lens. 1/125-sec., f/2.8, ISO 6400

Andrew Eggers (@andreweggers). Sony α7 II. Sony 16-35mm f/2.8 G Master lens.15-sec., f/4, ISO 100

Cadillac Mountain

Cadillac Mountain towers over all of Acadia at an elevation of 1527 feet, and during the fall and winter seasons, it's the first place in the nation to see the sunrise south of due east. The king summit of Mount Desert Island, Cadillac offers photographers an almost 270° unobstructed view of the Atlantic coastline and surrounding islands. 

Photo by Tony Bennett (@tony.bennett). Sony α9. Sony 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 G Master lens. 1/500-sec., f/9, ISO 1000

Photo by Juan Flores (@johnny.flowers). Sony α9. Sony 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 G Master lens. 1/25-sec., f/6.3, ISO 1000

Photo by Andrew Eggers (@andreweggers). Sony α7 II. Sony 16-35mm f/2.8 G Master lens. 1/200-sec., f/8, ISO 320

Upper and Lower Hadlock Ponds

Upper and Lower Hadlock Pond, connected by trail and stream, are picturesque in their own right, surrounded by a thick forest and rimmed with a healthy layer of reeds. However, the trails that connect them offer a stunning, hidden, photography paradise. Subtle glassy streams, paths of wooden planks and tree trunks, and mossy rocks scattered across the wet slate make this a rainy-day wonderland with dramatic lighting and a myriad of textures.

Photo by Minh T (@thismintymoment). Sony α7R II. Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master lens. 1/125-sec., f/2.8, ISO 250 

Photo by Max Bocina (@max.bon). Sony α7R II. Sony 16-35mm f/2.8 G Master lens. 1/500-sec., f/2.8, ISO 100

Otter Point 

On the southeast edge of Acadia, Otter Point juts out. It's a sprawling, rocky, coastal playground with tide pools galore, tree-lined ocean trails and many a crashing wave. Rain or shine, this area of the park provides a range of perches to photograph the shore while also inviting the more adventurous to create their own daring, but rewarding vantage points.

Photo by Lisa Bao (@lisabao). Sony α9. Sony 16-35mm f/2.8 G Master lens. 1/500-sec., f/5.6, ISO 1250

Photo by Kenneth Hines (@professorhines). Sony α9, Zeiss 85mm f/1.8 Batis lens. 1.6-sec., f/22, ISO 50

Railroad

Drive just a little ways inland from Mount Desert Island and you'll discover an unbelievably photogenic railroad crossing over the Union River and bending back through the forest in Ellsworth, Maine. Exploding with foliage both on the trees and scattered like confetti over the railroad tracks, this spot is an easily accessible pull-off from Bangor Road, but looks as if it's far off in rustic New England.

Photo by Jess Dales (@Jess.Wandering). Sony α7R II. Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master lens. 1/2500-sec., f/2.8, ISO 1000

Photo by Kenneth Hines (@professorhines). Sony α9. Zeiss 85mm f/1.8 Batis lens. 1/200-sec., f/5.6, ISO 1000

Carriage Roads

John D. Rockefeller, Jr. financaed the building of Acadia's fairytale-esque carraige roads and bridges between 1913 and 1940. They remain a subtle, elegant addition to the diverse Maine landscape and offer a period look to a timeless destination. Portrait, landscape, and abstract photographers alike find these roads and bridges to be creatively stimulating sets.

Photo by Anthony Castro (@theanthonycastro). Sony α7R II, Sony 16-35mm f/2.8 G Master lens. 1/30-sec., f/2.8, ISO 50

Photo by Max Bocina (@max.bon). Sony α7R II, Sony 16-35mm f/2.8 G Master lens. 1/50-sec., f/2.8, ISO 500