There are several interesting stories of how Ship Harbor came by its name; but what is not contested in the least is that the 1.3 mile, figure-eight loop nature trail that skirts the edge of the harbor before cutting back into a lovely maritime forest of conifers and blueberry bushes is one of the most beautiful strolls on Mount Desert Island. Out where the trail cuts along the rocky, pink granite coastline of the open Atlantic, the dense blueberry barrens and intermixing spruce and pine grow right up against the bare lithic shelf along the water. Leading lines of fall-turned crimson color carry the eye back into the deeper woods.
A focal length of 46mm, very normal indeed, gave me a sufficiently wide angle-of-view to show the scene in my mind. An aperture of f/16 provided depth-of-field, and at ISO 800 gave me a shutter speed of 0.5 second, which was just fast enough to stop the slight motion of the leaves from a wafting breeze. It also gave me a very slightly darker-than-medium exposure.
It is true that most visitors spend most of their time along the more mountainous Park Loop Road, where the icons are; and there is great beauty to be found there to be sure. The soul of Acadia, however, is found in places like Ship Harbor and along its wonderful Nature Trail.
I so look forward to your photos. Especially in this time. I really like the river of red in this little landscape.
This has everything for a leading lines connoisseur with a combination of straight (diagonal) and “S” curves. Each section of color creates it’s own lines. I always thought that in order to get the wide angle effect you wanted to be 24 mm or below. I learned today you can do it effectively at a wider angle. Thanks for sharing.
Beautiful. Just like a painting. It comes at a good time to help people feel better. Love the scene and the colors! Enjoy all your pictures.
A fine image to post on Easter Sunday! For me, the Christian theology of the Resurrection carries the power of waves crashing against boulders. But your image conveys the joy of Easter eggs beautifully. Thank you.
A stained glass church panel illuminating empty pews on Easter morning. Lovely!
Don, you’ve added to my list of places to which I must return in Acadia. Thanks for an uplifting image on this special morning! Ray
Thank you for sharing the grace, peace joy and hope that Nature offers all of us who choose to observe and accept it. It is the proper day, in these tough times to be reminded to just stop, look, accept and relax.
Ships Harbor is one of my favorite trails. I have many favorites from there from my adventures there. Kermit rock and the alien skeleton is just two of them. Is the weeping mushroom still there?
This image looks like the red carpet has been rolled out. It is winding back to the horizon until it disappears. I can imagine if you follow it, you will find a candy castle. The image is enchanting, full of textures, and contrasting colors; Just a fun place to be to forget all the drama in our world right now.
Unbelievable beauty. Micki
Wow! What a huge surprise, Don. Just what we need,nature making us laugh.
Good morning Everyone. I hope you all are continuing to fare well in these times of uncertainty and challenge. Bonnie and I are working to keep up the conscientiousness with which we wash hands and use masks and gloves when appropriate. Thank you all very much for continuing to support the posting of the weekly Image and for all of your thoughtful and insightful responses. I think for me the hardest part of this time has been in watching the spring blooms wax and wane and not being able to be creative among them in the outdoor world. Of course, having a foot that continues to heal, but remains limiting does not help out a great deal. Don’t get me wrong, I am grateful that the healing proceeds and am looking forward to summer and fall.
Hey Linda. I am always glad to have you with us. I’m guessing that spring has begun to arrive in Ashfield, and I hope you are enjoying it very much. Thanks for your kind words; that river of red was exactly what drew me into this little intimate landscape. What remained was the placement of elements around it.
Hi Kev. Thank you, as always, for the insights you share. Yes, even though there are shapes and forms everywhere you look, the element that holds this image together is “line.” And what you have gleaned here is that line can be used to create the illusion of deeper and wider spaces than a selected focal length would indicate. Intimate landscapes are very adaptable to this “reality.”
Hi Sandy. Thank you very much for your kind words and for taking the time to share them with us. What a wonderful point you make of the great gift that all photography, and especially nature photography, can offer us in these times. Mount Desert Island in autumn is certainly a visual feast that delights the eye and gladdens the heart; but the world is filled with this beauty right now, as well. Walk in Beauty.
Howdy Donald. It’s great to hear from you! Let me know when you’re headed back to the Windy City. I hope your winter in the desert has been excellent. Aren’t both of the metaphors you have offered us appropriate to that occasion? Sound and color (light) combined to speak to the longings of the human heart. Be well, my friend.
Ah, my dear Mr. Ronovirus; it is, indeed, an honor for you to join us. You have been so instrumental in my quest to “see” and to have your kind words is a deep pleasure to be sure. I hope you will soon enter a healing process that will have you back among us quite soon. Be well, my dear friend; and Walk in Beauty.
Hey Ray, I always look forward to having you with us for your thoughts and your insights. It seems that your visits to MDI have perhaps been bound by the more iconic locations. There is a single place in the Acadia Fall Adventure that you would be quite welcome to take. Barring that, we’ll just have to talk about all these alternatives. Thanks for your kind words, my friend; have an excellent week.
Hello Brother Dave. Your presence among this group lightens my heart. I do appreciate your kind and thoughtful comments. We are so looking forward to being with you and everyone at Seawall in October. I realized that it’s been way too long since I’ve been to MDI in October, and I’m really looking forward to it. Take good care, my friend. Autumn will be here before we know it, and we are excited about stopping, looking, accepting, and relaxing in the beauty of Downeast Maine.
Hey Nancy T. What wonderful memories you evoke. I’m sure Kermit Rock and Weeping Mushroom are there, and I’ll be looking for Alien Skeleton. I do so wish that you could join us because I have shared it with you and I know of your connection to it. The pictures are in my head, and you are so right, it is the perfect antidote to these times. Be well, Dear One.
Hi Micki. It’s always great to have you with us! I hope all is well in your part of Buncombe County. Your kind comment brings a smile to my face and joy to my heart. Please take good care and stay well. We look forward to seeing you on the other side of this.
Hey Michelle. It’s always good to hear from you. Seems like by now that it’s summer in central Florida and your garden must be a delight to the eye. The capacity of Nature to evoke smiles and laughter is something I think we too often overlook. Thank you for reminding us to look beneath the surface to find the humor.
What a wonderful assortment of thoughts and expressions. May we never forget the beauty of our natural world and its ability to lift us over and beyond the cares of any moment or difficulty. Walk in Beauty Everyone.
Don, I DO so want to join one of your trips, and this fall’s MDI is so tempting. The happy reason preventing me is our daughter’s wedding at exactly that time. But, I am going to continue tracking your offerings and find one that works with my calendar. In the meantime, I will continue to be enriched by your images and our dialogue.
Ray