Joey Priola Wilderness Photography

  • Prints
  • About
  • Contact
  • Blog
  • Cabin Services
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
x

Search Results

Refine Search
Match all words
Match any word
Prints
Personal Use
Royalty-Free
Rights-Managed
(leave unchecked to
search all images)
87 images found
twitterlinkedinfacebook

Loading ()...

  • I was afraid that the high winds on this frigid evening would blow over my camera while taking this self-portrait, which was how my first camera met its demise in Shenandoah National Park in 2014, but thankfully my current set-up made it through this unforgettable sunset unscathed. Adirondack High Peaks, NY.
    Mountain Rules
  • Frost coats flaming red berry bushes on a mountain summit as the first snow of the season graces the top of Algonquin Peak on a cold October dawn. Adirondack High Peaks, New York.
    Fire on the Mountain
  • A maple tree near Heart Lake in all its autumn glory. An Adirondack Mountain Club volunteer that I met while making this image told me that she knew someone that had been coming to the campground every autumn for 30 years, who used this tree as a gauge for autumn's progress. The gauge was reading "Peak" on this October morning!
    The Tree
  • The snowy summit of Whiteface Mountain barely pokes above the clouds at dusk. The pink glow in the sky is known as the "Belt of Venus" and is commonly seen on clear days before sunrise and after sunset. It appears 10-20 degrees above the horizon on top of the Earth's dark blue shadow that's found just above the horizon, and the crisp low humidity days of winter seem to make this phenomenon appear stronger than other times of the year. Adirondack Mountains, New York.
    Island in the Sky
  • Towering Mount Marcy pokes through the clouds and catches the warm light of sunset. Adirondack Mountains, New York.
    Layers of Marcy
  • Snowy evergreens on the summit of Cascade bask in an incredible post-sunset glow. The stunning beauty of the mountains on this frigid winter day was made all the more memorable by the frigid -30 degree windchill that the evergreens and I endured as we took in the most beautiful winter sunset I've ever seen. Adirondack High Peaks, New York.
    Transcendence
  • Day transitions to night high in the Adirondack Mountains as the final faint glow of sunset yields to the sparking stars.
    Transition
  • Snow-caked trees enjoy the sunset as Mount Colden towers over the valley in the distance. Adirondack High Peaks, New York.
    Marshmallow World
  • Evening lights shines on snowy krummholz and distant mountains as the valley in between plunges into darkness. Adirondack Mountains, New York.
    The Darkness In Between
  • Fiery sunset light sets krummholz (a German word meaning "crooked wood" that's used to describe stunted, windblown trees) coated in rime ice ablaze. Adirondack High Peaks, New York
    Flamethrower
  • The snowy landscape picks up a brilliant sunset glow high in the Adirondack Mountains.
    Ice in the Veins
  • Snow-covered trees frame a distant mountain on a cold and moody evening in the Adirondack Mountains.
    The Road That I Must Choose
  • Sometimes a photograph comes to fruition at the spur of the moment, with little to no planning or previsualization. Other times, however, much preparation and just the right circumstances are required for a vision to become reality. This photo of sunset from the snowy alpine zone below the summit of Mount Marcy falls squarely into the latter category, as I had been wanting to make this image for the past three winters before everything came together in early March 2020. After the Adirondacks got covered in 3 feet of snow from possibly the last snow storm of the season, I set off from the Adirondack Loj hopeful that I would finally be able to make the images that I had long sought. The trail conditions were fantastic, as other hikers and skiers had thankfully packed the powder down the previous day. As I gradually crept closer to the summit, my excitement grew as I realized that I'd finally have a chance to capture the photo that I sought for so long. I arrived at the summit area later than I had hoped, as I stopped often en route to the summit to photograph the snowy paradise that I hiked through. The quiet serenity of the forest was abruptly replaced by the howling winds of the alpine zone, and I searched out some compositions while struggling to stay warm. As the sun went down and the landscape was bathed in soft light, the beauty of the scene and the fact that I was capturing the photos that I had sought for so long made me forget about the cold and wind and the long hike out in the darkness. As the sky began to darken and I packed up for the journey down the mountain, I took one last look towards the summit of Marcy, and it dawned on me that in that moment, I was the highest  person in the state. In elevation, as well as spirit. Adirondack High Peaks, New York.
    Above All Else
  • The alpine zone of the Adirondack High Peaks is one of the most unique geographic zones in New York state. Home to rare and fragile alpine plants, not to mention some unforgettable views, the high mountain summits reward hikers in many ways. While beautiful year-round, there's something extra special about the alpine zone in winter. Constantly evolving based on snow and wind, each trip to this paradise in the sky is filled with surprises in the winter. On this trip to Algonquin, I was intrigued by patterns in the crusty snow that reminded me of the swirling lines of a fingerprint, as if mother nature was leaving her signature on her winter handiwork. Adirondack High Peaks, NY.
    Winter's Fingerprint
  • Snowy evergreens blanket the slopes of Mount Marcy on a perfect winter day. The harsh and challenging conditions, relative solitude, and otherworldly landscape makes winter by far my favorite season to head to the high mountains. Adirondack High Peaks, New York.
    The Journey Ahead
  • Soft moonlight illuminates snowy evergreens on a clear and starry winter night. There are few moments in nature as peaceful as those spent in the lonely, snowy mountains after dark. Adirondack Mountains, New York.
    Soothe the Soul
  • Hardy, snow-covered trees found high up the mountains are one of my favorite winter photography subjects, but what really drew me to this scene was the blanket of clouds on the distant mountains at dusk. Adirondack Mountains, New York.
    Insulation
  • Moonlight illuminates snowy evergreens on a clear and starry winter night. Adirondack High Peaks, New York.
    Signs in the Sky
  • A skier works their way towards an Adirondack summit on a rare calm and sunny winter day. Adirondack Mountains, New York.
    Ascension
  • Warm sunset light illuminates the distant summit of Whiteface on a cold and windy winter evening. Adirondack High Peaks, NY
    Deception
  • Snowy evergreens frame a distant Whiteface Mountain in the Adirondack High Peaks on a pristine winter evening.
    Where All the Fun Is
  • Snowy evergreens on a mountain summit bask in an incredible post-sunset glow. Adirondack High Peaks, New York.
    Frozen in Place
  • The moon shines in the clear winter sky and illuminates snowy evergreens below the summit of Mount Marcy. Adirondack High Peaks, New York.
    Sanctuary
  • There's nothing like exploring the High Peaks after a snowstorm. After photographing the sunset from just below the summit of Marcy, descending into the sanctuary of the forest was a welcome escape from the hostile, wind-raked alpine zone. Soft moonlight illuminated the snowy evergreens with delicate light, and my descent of the mountain took much longer than it should have as I stopped often to attempt to capture the beauty. I passed this stand of evergreens on my way to the summit earlier in the day, and immediately became enraptured by the large tree on the left of this photo, as I had never before seen a tree caked with so much snow. The light from the moon was just strong enough to illuminate the snowy trees, and a slight halo in the thin fog around the moon added a final touch of etherealness. Knowing that I was the only person still out on the mountain made this moment all the more special, and helped to make the experience one of the most memorable ones I've had in these mountains. Adirondack High Peaks, New York.
    To the Heavens
  • Beautiful sunset light makes the snowy winter landscape come alive. The solitude and dramatic beauty of winter makes it my favorite time of year to explore the mountains. Adirondack Mountains, New York.
    Higher and Higher
  • A band of post-sunset color adds a touch of vibrancy to the snowy and moody winter mountain landscape. Adirondack Mountains, New York.
    The Thrill of Exploration
  • Whiteface Mountain rises up from the valley into the clouds, as seen from below the summit of Mount Marcy. Adirondack High Peaks, New York.
    Layers of Whiteface
  • A beautiful winter sunset from the windblown slopes of Mount Marcy, looking west towards Algonquin. Adirondack High Peaks, New York.
    Leaders of the Pack
  • Beautiful, glowing, and warm sunset light contrasts with snowy evergreens on a frigid winter day. Adirondack High Peaks, New York.
    Floating in Fire
  • Warm sunset light contrasts with frigid temperatures and illuminates snow-covered evergreens and distant mountains. Adirondack High Peaks, New York.
    Closing Time
  • Wind-carved snow and trees covered in rime ice created a magical winter scene near the summit of Algonquin Peak, on one of those rare winter days where the sun shines so bright and the air is so still that it makes you wish that spring would never come. Adirondack High Peaks, New York.
    Euphoria
  • Soaking in a cold and beautiful winter sunset from just below a mountain summit in the Adirondacks.
    Energy
  • Soft sunset light spreads across the sky and adds some warmth to the snowy winter mountains. Adirondack Mountains, New York.
    A Winter Friend
  • Wind-carved snow and trees covered in rime ice created a magical winter scene near the summit of Algonquin Peak, on one of those rare winter days where the sun shines so bright and the air is so still that it makes you wish that spring would never come. Adirondack High Peaks, New York.
    Mesmerized
  • Low-angled evening light struck the snowy landscape at just the right angle to allow a little evergreen sapling to project a shadow much larger than the tree itself. Adirondack Mountains, New York.
    Projecting Confidence
  • Intense sunset light illuminates the snowy mountains on a cold winter day. Light like this is incredibly fleeting, but witnessing the snowy landscape come to life while on a deserted summit makes the time and effort required to experience and photograph these special moments oh so worth it. Adirondack Mountains, New York.
    Always Worth It
  • Towering, whimsical evergreens caked with snow made it feel like I was hiking to Whoville. Adirondack High Peaks, New York.
    Hiking to Whoville
  • On clear and cold winter days after a fresh snowfall, nothing is more fun to me than tramping through the snowy mountains seeking out the beauty of winter. Adirondack Mountains, New York.
    Tramping Through the Snow
  • Fresh snow blankets the evergreens along the trail to Mount Marcy. Adirondack High Peaks, New York.
    Powder
  • Fall colors shrouded in fog on a mountainside in the Adirondack High Peaks.
    Head In The Clouds
  • Flaming berry bushes covered in the first frost of the season catch the morning light. Adirondack High Peaks, New York.
    Torched
  • Beautiful sunset light makes the snowy winter landscape come alive. The solitude and dramatic beauty of winter makes it my favorite time of year to explore the mountains. Adirondack Mountains, New York.
    My Fingers Hurt
  • The alpine zone of the Adirondack High Peaks turns into a strange, beautiful, and often inhospitable land in winter. After climbing Algonquin Peak on an atypically sunny and calm day, I spent hours on the summit enjoying and photographing the wind-carved snow drifts and evergreens coated in rime ice.
    Top it Off
  • The setting sun broke through the clouds just enough to bring the snowy landscape to life. Adirondack High Peaks, New York.
    Renewal
  • Evergreens covered in rime ice stand like frozen sentinels at dusk keeping guard of the alpine zone of Algonquin Peak. Adirondack High Peaks, New York.
    Summit Sentinels
  • Skiers hoof their way to some backcountry turns in the Adirondacks. Watching them whiz down the mountain as I trudged along made me wish I could replace my snowshoes with some skis!
    Summit Reward
  • Morning fog rises from a lake ringed with beautiful autumn foliage. Look ever so closely and you'll see a flock of geese through the fog on the surface of the lake. Adirondack Mountains, New York.
    Call Through the Mist
  • Fresh snow covers towering evergreens along the trail to Mount Marcy. Adirondack High Peaks, New York.
    Snow Ghosts
  • High winds below the summit of Mount Marcy carved the snow into interesting patterns and lines. Adirondack High Peaks, New York.
    Hostility
  • Stars begin to fill the moonlit sky at twilight below the summit of Mount Marcy. Adirondack High Peaks, New York.
    Twilight
  • Wind-carved snow and trees covered in rime ice created a magical winter scene near the summit of Algonquin Peak, on one of those rare winter days where the sun shines so bright and the air is so still that it makes you wish that spring would never come. Adirondack High Peaks, New York.
    Chiseled
  • An evergreen branch coated in rime ice reaches out like the frosty hand of winter on a sunny but frigid January day. Adirondack High Peaks, New York.
    A Touch of Frost
  • Dappled sunlight and beautiful autumn foliage on a cloudy afternoon in the Adirondack Mountains.
    Curtain Call
  • Flaming fall colors surround a lake in the Adirondack High Peaks.
    Eye for Autumn
  • Winter comes early in the mountains. Although the calendar said there was over two months til it began, the first snow of the season blanketed the summits of the Adirondack High Peaks in early October as fall colors were peaking at lower elevations.
    Changing of the Guard
  • Peak autumn foliage spreads out below the snow-capped summit of Algonquin Peak, as morning fog drifts off the surface of a lake on a cold October morning a half hour before sunrise. Adirondack High Peaks, New York.
    Ephemeral
  • Nothing is better than spending time in the great outdoors with the ones you love. Adirondack Mountains, New York.
    True Love
  • A puff of morning fog rises from Heart Lake and catches the dawn light, as the surrounding mountains burst with autumn color. Adirondack High Peaks, New York.
    These Mountains are my Home
  • Nothing is better than spending time in the great outdoors with the ones you love. Adirondack Mountains, New York
    Fallen For You
  • Fog rolls over the Adirondack Mountains at dawn on a chilly fall morning.
    Autumn Closing In
  • Vibrant autumn colors spread out below the snow-capped summit of Algonquin Peak, as morning fog drifts off the surface of a lake on a cold October morning at sunrise. Adirondack High Peaks, New York.
    Kaleidoscope
  • Self-portrait from a craggy Adirondack summit while waiting for the light and warmth of morning to come.
    Waiting For The Eastern Glow
  • A kaleidoscope of autumn color covers the hillside above Heart Lake. Adirondack High Peaks, New York.
    Autumn Explosion
  • Indian Falls is a beloved spot in the Adirondack High Peaks, and I have fond memories of laying out on the sun-warmed bedrock next to the falls after my dad and I climbed Mount Marcy together years ago. There would be no lounging around on this day, but the view looking out to the MacIntyre Range from Indian Falls might be even more beautiful in winter.
    Remember When
  • Taking in the view of autumn colors spread out below the snow-capped summit of Algonquin Peak, as morning fog drifts off the surface of a lake on a cold October morning at sunrise. As hard as it can be to extract myself from the warm cocoon of my sleeping bag on cold mornings such as this one, viewing and photographing the sunrise always makes it more than worth it. Adirondack High Peaks, New York.
    Soak It In
  • Beautiful fall foliage reflects in Heart Lake at sunset. Adirondack Mountains, New York
    My Heart is Yours
  • Tending to the fire on a chilly autumn afternoon. Adirondack High Peaks, New York.
    Fire Goddess
  • An evergreen tree near the summit of Algonquin bows under the weight of snow and ice that accumulated over the course of a long winter in the alpine zone. Adirondack High Peaks, New York.
    Weight of Winter
  • A sugar maple along the shore of Heart Lake shows off its autumn colors as Mt. Jo looms in the distance. Adirondack High Peaks, New York.
    Front Row Seat
  • Tending to the fire on a cold autumn night. Adirondack High Peaks, New York.
    Light of Life
  • Beautiful autumn foliage blankets a mountainside in the Adirondack High Peaks as the morning fog breaks just enough to allow the rising sun to bathe the landscape in warm light.
    Patience
  • Peak autumn foliage spreads out below the snow-capped summit of Algonquin Peak, as morning fog drifts off the surface of a lake on a cold October morning a half hour before sunrise. Adirondack High Peaks, New York.
    Icing On The Cake
  • Krummholz covered in rime ice catches the brilliant sunset light on a perfect winter day in the Adirondack High Peaks.
    Warp Speed
  • The Adirondacks in winter is quite possibly my personal favorite photography subject. In particular,  the gnarled and hardy evergreens that occupy tree line and the beginning of the alpine zone make my heart pound and creativity flow unlike anything else found in nature when they become covered with snow in the depths of winter. After climbing the surprisingly deserted trail to the summit of Cascade, I was greeted with a windchill that approached -30 degrees Fahrenheit, and a fantasy-land of pure winter magic unlike anything I had seen before. The challenging weather conditions only added to the experience and made it that much more memorable, and as the sun dipped below the distant mountains and the most intense post-sunset glow I've ever witnessed emanated through the sky, I raced around like a madman capturing as many photos as I could. After the sky shifted from orange, to pink, to blue, to black, I began my descent down the dark and lonely trail, reveling in the feeling of pure ecstasy that only comes from the wilderness and doing what you love most in the world.
    Ecstasy
  • Krummholz (a German word meaning "crooked wood" that's used to describe stunted, windblown trees) coated in rime ice picks up the delicate post-sunset glow on a frigid summit in the Adirondacks.
    Alpine Ice Garden
  • Breaking clouds and morning fog catch the golden light of sunrise at the height of autumn in the Adirondacks.
    Only For a Moment
  • Fog glides over the treetops on a cold October morning in the Adirondacks.
    Hover
  • Peak autumn foliage complements a colorful sunrise on a rocky summit in the Adirondacks.
    Red October
  • Peak fall foliage and the beautiful colors of sunrise reflect in Heart Lake. Adirondacks High Peaks, New York.
    Heart of the High Peaks II
  • Fall colors and dramatic clouds reflect in Heart Lake after sunset. Adirondacks, New York.
    Heart of the High Peaks
  • A young buck deftly crosses a river in the Adirondacks. Seeing wildlife while out for a hike is always a treat, especially in such a beautiful setting.
    Near and Deer
  • Fog and foliage is one of the most mesmerizing combinations for photography. As the fog mingled with the precipitous mountains on this autumn morning, I was fortunate to have a flock of geese fly through the mist just as I pressed the shutter, adding a special sense of scale and drama to the already mystical scene.
    Fall or Nothing at All
  • On a beautiful afternoon in the Adirondacks, the sun hit spray from a waterfall just right to cause a rainbow to form above a boulder that glittered like gold.
    Gold Under the Rainbow
  • After a morning of dense fog and clouds, the sun broke out just in time to sit down and enjoy the view.
    Good Morning Life
  • Beautiful blue ice hangs from the cliff beside the last unfrozen veils of Rainbow Falls. Adirondack High Peaks, New York.
    When Rainbows Freeze
  • Bizarre, otherworldly details in the blue ice formed from the spray of Rainbow Falls take on the form of aliens and ghouls. Adirondack High Peaks, New York.
    Invasion
  • Is there a better way to spend a hot summer day than on a pristine and wild Adirondack lake?<br />
<br />
This image was featured in the Adirondack Mountain Club 2021 calendar for the month of July.
    Float Away