Joey Priola Wilderness Photography

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Appalachia 28 images Created 29 Apr 2018

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  • Warm morning light filters through the autumn forest and reflects on a cascading creek in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
    Light Tunnel
  • Beautiful fall foliage served as the perfect backdrop to a bull elk and doe  on this misty morning in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
    Fall Fling
  • An incredible early autumn sunrise from one of my favorite spots in West Virginia. One of the many reasons that I love backcountry camping so much is that it allows me to roll out of my tent and walk just a few feet to witness and photograph scenes like this.
    Autumn in Appalachia
  • A beautiful autumn sunrise at one of my all-time favorite campsites,  located in West Virginia's Roaring Plains West Wilderness. Some of the best backpacking, views, and campsites in the East can be found here.
    The One That Started it All
  • Viewing wildlife in their natural habitat is one of the most thrilling outdoor experiences imaginable. Heading into my first trip to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, I knew that seeing wildlife such as black bears was a possibility, but I tried to rein in my expectations of seeing one of these majestic creatures. In an incredible stroke of luck, we would end up seeing not one but five black bears during our week in the Smokies! We came across the one in this photo just in time to see it awake from its evening snooze to stretch out against a tree trunk before ambling off into the autumn forest, truly a moment that we'll never forget.
    Just in Time
  • Mountain ridges with fall colors rise above the valley fog at sunrise on a perfect fall morning. This was taken from the deck of a cabin we stayed at in Townsend, Tennessee, and right after taking this shot we hopped into the hot tub and watched as the fog enveloped the mountains. Not a bad way to spend a fine autumn morning!
    Soaking it All in
  • There are moments in life when time seems to stand still. When all the outside noise slips away and the mind, body, and spirit are focused entirely on the moment at hand. For me, the wilderness is where I go to seek these moments. Whether it's been a stunning sunset along the ocean, a rewarding winter view after a punishing climb, or hearing the haunting call of a loon echo across a foggy lake, I've been fortunate to experience countless moments where nature has taken my breath away and made time stand still. Out of all these moments, there's one that stands out from the rest. On a trip to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, we were dying to see black bears in the wild. After a couple days of exploration with no sightings, we were rewarded with what likely was the greatest experience we've ever had in the wilds. A mama bear and her three cubs were hanging out at the base of a walnut tree, which itself was exhilarating to see. But then the cubs got restless, and began to climb the walnut tree. We stood awestruck as they deftly scaled the thin branches that swayed in the evening breeze, and I could feel my heart pounding so much with excitement that it felt like it would burst. This was one of those rare moments that cause you to ask aloud "is this real?" because it's unlike anything that your eyes have seen before. This was indeed real, and was a moment we'll never forget.
    Time Stood Still
  • Morning fog and beautiful fall foliage added an extra special touch to our morning spent watching elk roam the meadows of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Do you notice the white mark on the face of this bull elk? That's a battle scar from fighting for its harem.
    Purely Carnal
  • Beams of light break through dramatic clouds shortly before sunset, as a lone hiker takes in the view from a rocky perch high above Red Creek. Dolly Sods Wilderness, West Virginia.
    Perspective
  • Vibrant greenery and blooming mountain laurel adorn striking white sandstone boulders that can be found throughout West Virginia's Dolly Sods Wilderness.
    Pleasant Surprise
  • Even before my first ever trip to Great Smoky Mountains National Park came to a close, it already had become one of my favorite places. While the mountains and wild rivers were especially beautiful, it was the wildlife viewing opportunities that took the experience to another level. Wild elk used to roam these lands years ago, but before being reintroduced to the park in 2001, eastern elk had been sadly wiped out long ago. Nowadays an early morning visit to Cataloochee Valley feels like stepping back to a time when these beautiful creatures roamed freely in the Appalachian Mountains, and on this misty morning we were delighted to find the herd roaming meadows ringed with beautiful fall foliage. The massive bull elk seen in this photo was the leader of the herd, and we gazed in awe and wonder as he wandered the meadows keeping watch over his harem.
    Return to Glory
  • An interesting cloud formation complements a maple tree showing off its autumn colors on a beautiful October day in West Virginia's Canaan Valley State Park. While not nearly as well known or talked about as places like New England when it comes to fall colors, I think that the West Virginia Highlands put on a fall foliage display that's just as good as what can be seen in other parts of the country, and typically with a fraction of the crowds!
    Homestead
  • Douglas Falls, of West Virginia's Blackwater River, resembles a scene more likely to be found in Utah's red rock country than in Appalachia. The rocks in this section of the river have been stained red due to the past use of coke ovens on the bank of the river. Autumn foliage contrasting against the red rocks makes for a striking photo. Monongahela National Forest, West Virginia.
    Beauty Scars
  • Since I’ve had some extra time on my hands lately, it’s given me a chance to dig through the archives and revisit some photos that I had long forgotten about, including a number of shots from trips to West Virginia while I was in grad school at Johns Hopkins. The Monongahela National Forest epitomizes the West Virginia state slogan of Wild and Wonderful, and my journeys to the incredible wilderness areas of the Mon always left me feeling rejuvenated and inspired, and were a welcome respite from the general chaos that is grad school. On a spring camping trip to Spruce Knob Lake, I came across a ghostly old tree stump and roots at sunset that were just barely poking up above the surface of the lake. A tuft of grass was somehow sprouting up out of the old stump, which seems like the perfect metaphor for hope and rebirth in these crazy, scary times amidst the coronavirus pandemic.
    Rebirth
  • An ephemeral rainbow touches down on a mountain ridge covered in beautiful fall foliage. Blackwater Falls State Park, West Virginia.
    Autumn Bow
  • The Roaring Plains Wilderness is the epitome of West Virginia's state slogan: Wild and Wonderful.  Located on the rim of Long Run Canyon, far from any official trail,  the depressions in the rock in this photo gather spruce needles and fallen leaves, staining the rock and water red as they decay. The challenging terrain, remoteness, and beauty of the Roaring Plains made it my favorite backpacking destination in West Virginia, where I would often escape while living in Baltimore for grad school. Roaring Plains West Wilderness, West Virginia.
    Spruce Tea
  • Just after sunrise on a late September morning, I awoke at my backcountry campsite to find a beautiful combination of soft light, fall foliage, and morning fog from a rocky lookout. I utilized a long exposure to reveal the motion of the clouds streaking through the sky and the fog ever so slightly rolling over the mountain ridges. Dolly Sods Wilderness, West Virginia.
    Mystery of Time
  • An up close view of the beautiful tiers of the second falls of Shay Run. Blackwater Falls State Park, West Virginia.
    Golgi
  • Every June, blooming mountain laurel provides a splash of pink to the already beautiful backcountry of West Virginia's Dolly Sods Wilderness.
    Sweet Smell of Summer
  • A spectacular autumn sunset panorama from a rocky overlook in West Virginia's Monongahela National Forest. Five vertical images were stitched together to get this 180 degree view.
    Mon on Fire
  • Golden ferns and a mountain ridge bursting with colorful autumn foliage made an idyllic scene on a perfect October day in West Virginia's Canaan Valley State Park.
    Lazy Day
  • A wet Pink Lady's Slipper hides out in the forest undergrowth. Spruce Knob Lake, West Virginia.
    Aphrodite
  • The evening sun illuminates the forested slopes rising from the Blackwater River in beautiful warm, golden light. Blackwater Falls State Park, West Virginia.
    Pocketful of Gold
  • Elakala Falls, one of the most elegant waterfalls on the east coast, is especially beautiful in autumn when the rocks surrounding the base of the falls get peppered with fallen leafs. Blackwater Falls State Park, West Virginia.
    Feast
  • A fascinating world of intricate details can be found within each and every leaf of a tree, perfectly demonstrated by these rain-covered, freshly fallen maple and aspen leaves. Blackwater Falls State Park, West Virginia.
    Over-Under
  • To accentuate the form and motion of the water rushing from the base of the second falls of Shay Run, I used a multi second exposure and placed my camera just a few inches above the water. I spent hours splashing around in the water trying out different compositions at this waterfall. It was a blast :-) Blackwater Falls State Park, West Virginia.
    Curve Appeal
  • While in grad school at Johns Hopkins, I walked by these maple trees on my way to and from lab every day. They're some of the largest maples I've ever seen, with long, graceful branches emanating from their trunks. This photograph captures one of the branches reaching out towards me, dressed in its autumn's best.
    Dissertation
  • Douglas Falls, of West Virginia's Blackwater River, resembles a scene more likely to be found in Utah's red rock country than in West Virginia. The rocks in this section of the river have been stained red due to the past use of coke ovens on the bank of the river. Autumn foliage contrasting against the red rocks makes for a striking photo. Monongahela National Forest, West Virginia.
    Red Raider