Joey Priola Wilderness Photography

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  • Two of my all-time favorite places for coastal exploration and photography are Washington's Olympic National Park and Maine's Schoodic Peninsula. The sea stacks that are characteristic of the Olympic Peninsula, and the beautiful cobble beaches that can be found along the Schoodic Peninsula in Acadia National Park, make both of these places among the most scenic coastal destinations that can be found in the USA. While wandering the  Schoodic Peninsula one morning, I discovered this sea stack rising up from a cobble beach that combined my favorite aspects of both peninsulas, as if this sea stack had traveled the 3,000+ miles from the Pacific Coast to join me in Maine on this special morning.
    Acadia Meets Olympic
  • A fantastic winter sunrise lights up the sky above the rugged, beautiful and snowy Maine coast. While the vast majority of people visit Maine's coastal regions in the summer months, winter is a truly magical time to visit, as the throngs of summer tourists are gone and one can often experience and appreciate the uniqueness of the Maine coast in total solitude.
    Snow & Solitude
  • The Nubble Lighthouse in Maine is one of New England's most beautiful coastal attractions any time of year, but it becomes truly magical each winter when the lighthouse gets lit up with Christmas lights. I especially loved how the reflection of the lights in the sea became more prevalent as the sky grew darker.
    Christmas on the Coast
  • Brilliant summer sunshine lights up the coastal meadows at West Quoddy Head Lighthouse, the only candy cane-striped lighthouse in Maine and the easternmost point in the United States.
    All the World's a Sunny Day
  • Is there anything more New England than a Christmas tree made out of lobster traps and buoys? "Trees" of different sizes and arrangements can be found in coastal towns throughout New England during the Christmas season, and the tree pictured here comes with the added bonus of having the Nubble Lighthouse, dressed in its own Christmas lights, as a backdrop.
    'Tis the Season
  • The Nubble Lighthouse in Maine is one of New England's most beautiful coastal attractions any time of year, but it becomes truly magical each winter when the lighthouse gets lit up with Christmas lights.
    Christmas Island
  • Quite possibly the most beautiful coastal sunset I’ve ever experienced, taken during one of my all-time favorite backpacking trips (20 miles along the rugged Olympic Coast from Rialto Beach to Ozette Lake). My numb legs from standing in the frigid winter surf to get this perspective were soothed by a driftwood beach fire and some family wine. Olympic National Park, Washington.
    Gods of Olympus
  • A fantastic winter sunrise lights up the sky above the rugged, beautiful and snowy Maine coast. While the vast majority of people visit Maine's coastal regions in the summer months, winter is a truly magical time to visit, as the throngs of summer tourists are gone and one can often experience and appreciate the uniqueness of the Maine coast in total solitude.
    Winter's Way
  • Peggy's Cove Lighthouse reflects in a pool of water amid the beautiful granite that the lighthouse sits upon, as interesting cloud formations fill the sky to complete this peaceful coastal view.
    Nexus
  • A palm tree on Saona Island frames a visitor taking in the tropical beauty of the Dominican Republic on a perfect sunny day.
    Welcome Home
  • While trekking out on the jetty in Provincetown, I kept noticing piles of broken crab, clam and mussel shells, and was initially perplexed by their presence. Once a seagull swooped down on the rocks right in front of me, though, it all became clear. After the sea gulls pluck a clam out of the sandy sea floor at low tide, they fly up to the jetty and repeatedly drop their meal onto the rocks until it cracks open enough for them to enjoy their reward. It was refreshing to learn that sea gulls are indeed capable of hunting and not just stealing your picnic lunch while trying to enjoy a day at the beach! Cape Cod, Massachusetts.
    Breakfast on the Jetty
  • The blueberry bushes along the coast of the Schoodic Peninsula turn brilliant red in October, and on this morning the rising sun burst through the clouds just enough to set the bushes ablaze. Acadia National Park, Maine.
    Burning Bush
  • With the busy days of summer a distant memory, the only sign of life at this primitive dune shack on a snowy February day was animal prints in the snow. Cape Cod National Seashore, Massachusetts.
    Seeking Euphoria
  • Dawn broke cold and clear on this beautiful winter morning on a sandy beach in Cape Cod.
    Deserted Dunes
  • A beautiful and colorful sunrise on the rugged coast was the perfect start to a perfect day in Maine's Acadia National Park.
    Perfect Start
  • As a teenager obsessed with running track and cross country, Steve Prefontaine was my idol. Hailing from the sleepy lumber town of Coos Bay, Oregon, “Pre” turned the running world on its head with his bravado and quotes like ” to give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift” until he met his untimely end in 1975 at the age of 24. While it’s been years since I ran my last race, my admiration for Pre lives on. It thus seems fitting that during my post-grad school road trip I was lifted out of the deepest loneliness of my journey while in Coos Bay. <br />
Far from home and feeling lonelier than I ever thought possible, I aimlessly drove the backroads of Central Oregon until I found myself at the coast. After spending a restless night at a deserted campground in Newport, I awoke the next morning to find myself covered in poison oak. Barely able to open my eyes, I headed to the nearest urgent care, which happened to be just up the road in Coos Bay. After getting some meds and pondering my next move, not wanting to return to the suffocating loneliness that was waiting for me back at my campsite, I happened to see a flyer advertising the Prefontaine Memorial Gallery, an exhibit devoted to Steve Prefontaine. I immediately drove over and headed up to the gallery, and was in awe at what I found. The room was filled with countless trophies and medals that Pre had won, and even had some spikes that he had raced in. I spent most of the afternoon poring over each medal, marveling at how this man had made the most of his all too brief life.  By the time I was done in the gallery, I had a renewed vigor and zest for life, and drove back to my campsite eager to explore the very dunes that Pre himself used to train on. Because to give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift, and this trip, I realized, was a gift that I just couldn’t sacrifice.
    The Gift
  • Submerged rocks just below the surface of Georgian Bay stretch out towards the horizon before sunrise. Bruce Peninsula National Park, Ontario.
    Morning Clarity
  • There is nothing that I enjoy more than taking a dip in a river, lake, or pond on a hot summer day. While I've had the great pleasure of diving into countless pristine natural bodies of water, it wasn't until I traveled to Georgian Bay that I discovered my ultimate swimming paradise. Blessed with an usually warm and calm late summer day, my dad and I whiled away the afternoon lounging and swimming along the rocky shore of the Bay. The lack of vegetation in the lake here gives the water an unbelievable vibrancy and clarity, and with my snorkel mask on, the beauty of the Bay fully revealed itself and beckoned me to enjoy and explore these crystalline waters forever. Bruce Peninsula National Park, Ontario.
    River Rat's Paradise
  • Centuries of pounding waves and storms have carved a cave, fittingly known as The Grotto, into the rocky coast of Georgian Bay. Scrambling down the lakeside cliff to access the cave is like entering another world. Green algae and lichens adorn the walls and roof of the dolomite cave, and an underwater tunnel allows light from the sun to penetrate the cave and make the aquamarine water eerily glow. Bruce Peninsula National Park, Ontario.
    Searching for Ariel
  • An intimate view of a sea anemone I found in one of the many tide pools at Point of the Arches. The opportunity to view sea life such as sea anemones and starfish in a wilderness setting is one of the many reasons why the coast within Washington’s Olympic National Park is one of my favorite destinations for backpacking and photography.
    Medusa
  • A halo forms around the sun shortly after sunrise, along the rugged coast of the Schoodic Peninsula. This type of halo is formed by sunlight passing through ice crystals in cirrus clouds in the Earth's atmosphere. Acadia National Park, Maine.
    Bullseye
  • Sea foam and pebbles on Kalaloch Beach. Olympic National Park, Washington.
    Fingers Through Your Hair
  • A beautiful winter sunset along the dramatic coast at Rialto Beach. Olympic National Park, Washington.
    Fireworks
  • Is there anything more "Maine" than enjoying a fresh-caught lobster on the coast while looking out at the boats that brought in the day's catch?
    Simply Maine
  • An old and weathered fishing buoy hangs on the exterior of an equally old and weathered fishing shack along the coast of Maine.
    Tales to Tell
  • Maine's Acadia National Park is stunningly beautiful any time of year, but the first half of June provides some extra flair when the lupines bloom. I used my macro lens to get this intimate shot of a bee visiting one of the flowers, and I was especially intrigued by the ball of pollen that the bee had collected on its leg.
    Bee Happy
  • Fall foliage peppers the coast as fog obscures the distant hills. Acadia National Park, Maine.
    Obfuscation
  • A budding rhododendron signals the arrival of spring along the Oregon coast.
    Arrival
  • Ice coats rounded granite boulders along the rugged coast of Maine on a frigid evening in February. The night before was the coldest weather my Dad and I have ever camped in, with temperatures dipping close to -20 degrees Fahrenheit! Braving the winter weather has several advantages, though, including practically zero crowds and interesting photo-ops. Acadia National Park, Maine.
    Shiver
  • A pre-sunrise glow fills the sky and illuminates the rocky shoreline of Georgian Bay. Bruce Peninsula National Park, Ontario.
    Levels
  • A view into both the above and underwater worlds at Saona Island, where a starfish rests on the sandy ocean floor and palm trees fringe the white sand beach. If you travel here and come across a starfish, please resist the urge to pick it up to get a closer look. Saona Island, Dominican Republic.
    Hi There
  • A skiff floats in the turquoise Caribbean waters off of palm tree-fringed Saona Island.
    Escape Plan
  • A rare calm day on Georgian Bay reveals beautiful underwater rocks and boulders. The lack of vegetation in the lake here gives the water an unbelievable color and clarity, and the expansive blue waters of the Bay blended into the sky to form a seemingly endless view. Bruce Peninsula National Park, Ontario.
    Infinity
  • Twenty minutes before sunrise, a beautiful orange glow spreads across the horizon and reflects in the unusually calm waters of Georgian Bay. Bruce Peninsula National Park, Ontario.
    Fresh Start
  • The rising sun edges over the seemingly infinite Georgian Bay and sets the sky and rocky shore ablaze. Bruce Peninsula National Park, Ontario.
    Bay Life
  • While savage storms and squalls have littered the waters of Georgian Bay with numerous shipwrecks, rare calm days such as this reveal the subtle, soothing beauty of the Bay. The lack of vegetation in the lake here lends the water an incredible clarity, revealing a beautiful assortment of pebbles and boulders that extends as far as the eye can see. Bruce Peninsula National Park, Ontario.
    Serenity Now
  • Boulders and rocks along the shore of Georgian Bay, in Ontario's Bruce Peninsula National Park.
    Crystalline
  • On our final day of a backpacking trip along the wilderness coast of Washington’s Olympic National Park, my friends and I ventured south from our camp at Point of the Arches. After climbing over rocky headlands and through pristine temperate rainforest high above the sea, we arrived at a deserted little cove between the headlands. At first this beach seemed just like all the others we had passed by, but upon closer inspection we discovered that the beach consisted of a seemingly infinite assortment of small, smooth pebbles of all different colors. We spent the afternoon lounging in the sunbaked pebbles, and exploring the intricacies of a world that often goes undetected. I used a shallow depth of field here to create an abstract expression of the pebbles, with only a slice being in focus and the rest fading into featureless colors and patterns.
    Pebble Feel
  • The rising sun breaks through the clouds and sea mist just enough to give a warm glow to the beautiful cobblestones on a beach on the Schoodic Peninsula. Acadia National Park, Maine.
    Serenity
  • Waves lap at the purple sand of Pfeiffer Beach on a beautiful June evening. The unique purple sand found at Pfeiffer Beach comes from manganese garnet found in the hills above the beach, which gets washed down to the beach below. Big Sur, California.
    Getaway
  • A rock and seaweed rest on the purple sands of California's Pfeiffer Beach. The unique purple sand at Pfeiffer Beach comes from manganese garnet found in the nearby hills, which gets washed down to the beach below. Big Sur, California.
    Psychedelic
  • Dusk at Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland.
    Dusk at the Causeway
  • On this unforgettable evening at Giant's Causeway, I was so enraptured by the phenomenal sunset over the ocean (see my photo entitled "Eruption") that I almost completely missed this unbelievable scene that was unfolding behind me. It's not often that conditions such as these coalesce at the perfect moment, and after an exhausting journey across the Atlantic and through most of Ireland to reach here, being able to witness and capture this moment in person felt like the ultimate reward. Giant's Causeway, Northern Ireland.
    Momentous
  • The setting sun dips below a bank of clouds over the Atlantic Ocean for a fleeting moment, bathing the hexagonal columns of basalt at Giant's Causeway in beautiful warm light. Taken minutes before my photograph entitled "Momentous", the sunset on this stormy evening was one of the most beautiful sunsets I've ever seen and photographed, and was the absolute perfect welcome to the unexpectedly beautiful land of Northern Ireland.
    Eruption
  • Yellow lichen covers a section of fascinating basalt columns at Giant's Causeway, Northern Ireland. Approximately 40,000 interlocking, hexagonal basalt columns are found at Giant's Causeway, the result of a volcanic eruption over 60 million years ago. Legend has it that the Irish giant, Finn McCool, built the Causeway across the North Channel so that he could fight the Scottish giant, Benandonner. After building the causeway and coming face to face with Benandonner, Finn hid from Benandonner when he realized that his foe was much bigger than he was. Finn's wife, Oonagh, then disguised Finn as a baby and tucked him in a cradle. When Benandonner saw the size of the 'baby', he reckoned that its father, Finn, must be a giant among giants. He fled back to Scotland in fright, destroying the causeway behind him so that Finn would be unable to chase him down. In support of this legend, across the sea at Scotland's  Fingal's Cave, there are identical basalt columns which are part of the same lava flow.
    Creation
  • A colorful sunrise during a memorable stay on British Columbia's Long Beach, in Pacific Rim National Park.
    May This Last Forever
  • A tangle of kelp rests on Shi Shi Beach at sunset, in the shadow of a large sea stack. Olympic National Park, Washington.
    Castles and Kelp
  • When I close my eyes and daydream of past adventures, this is what I see - a beautiful sunset, wilderness all around, and an endless vista that beckons me to keep exploring. Olympic National Park, Washington.
    Daydreams of my Youth
  • Receding waves rush back out to sea at Ruby Beach, as a lone sea stack looks towards the pastel twilight sky. Olympic National Park, Washington.
    Sunken Wizard
  • Clouds and the sea glow with beautiful light and colors after a phenomenal sunset. Olympic National Park, Washington.
    Afterglow
  • The motion of rushing waves seems to mimic the curve of the clouds, during a phenomenal sunset along a deserted stretch of coastline in Olympic National Park, Washington.
    Sunset Swirl
  • Waves and pebbles mingle on the rocky coast of Acadia National Park. Years and years of such interactions result in the rounded shape of the granite cobbles seen here. Acadia national Park, Maine.
    Smoothed By Time
  • A self-portrait from inside a cave along the spectacular coast of Georgian Bay. The lack of vegetation in the lake here gives the water an unbelievable color and clarity, especially when the sun is shining. Bruce Peninsula National Park, Ontario.
    Caveman
  • Waves cascade over boulders along the rugged coast of Georgian Bay. Bruce Peninsula National Park, Ontario.
    Summer Squall
  • A beautiful beach of white cobblestones lines the turquoise waters of Georgian Bay. The lack of vegetation in the lake here gives the water an unbelievable color and clarity, which can make Georgian Bay seem more Caribbean than Canada. Bruce Peninsula National Park, Ontario.
    Canadian Caribbean
  • Periwinkles and kelp adorn a boulder along the rugged coast as an incredible sunrise emphatically marks the dawn of a new day. Acadia National Park, Maine.
    Life In Between
  • Years of erosion by the sea carved arches into the rock along the coast at The Arches Provincial Park, Newfoundland.
    Evil Eyes
  • A spectacular sunset paints the sky above Peggy's Cove Lighthouse shades of orange and pink.
    Brushstrokes
  • A kayaker explores the rocky coast of Georgian Bay. The lack of vegetation along the shore here gives the water an incredible aquamarine color and clarity.
    Kayaking in Paradise
  • The sun begins to set over the green-gray North Atlantic Ocean, as seen from the hexagonal basalt columns of Giant's Causeway. Legend has it that the Irish giant, Finn McCool, built the Causeway across the North Channel so that he could fight the Scottish giant, Benandonner. After building the causeway and coming face to face with Benandonner, Finn hid from Benandonner when he realized that his foe was much bigger than he was. Finn's wife, Oonagh, then disguised Finn as a baby and tucked him in a cradle. When Benandonner saw the size of the 'baby', he reckoned that its father, Finn, must be a giant among giants. He fled back to Scotland in fright, destroying the causeway behind him so that Finn would be unable to chase him down. In support of this legend, across the sea at Scotland's  Fingal's Cave, there are identical basalt columns which are part of the same lava flow.
    Reptilia
  • Interesting patterns in the sand along a rocky section of Long Beach at sunset. Pacific Rim National Park, British Columbia.
    Delusions
  • A lone sea lion calls out to his companions, as waves crash on the black volcanic rocks of the Oregon Coast. Cape Perpetua, Oregon.
    Calling Out
  • Maine's Acadia National Park is stunningly beautiful any time of year, but the first half of June provides some extra flair when the lupines bloom.
    Meadows of Magic
  • A hiker takes in the view from a clifftop perch in Maine's Acadia National Park.
    So Many Activities
  • Serpents of sand snake their way through a dusting of winter snow on the beautiful dunes of Cape Cod National Seashore.
    Sand Serpents
  • A beautiful sunrise glow bathes a rugged cobble beach in warm, soft light. Watching the sun slowly creep above the horizon while listening to the cobblestones clink with each incoming wave was the perfect way to begin the new day. Acadia National Park, Maine.
    Alone With Your Thoughts
  • Colorful stones on a rugged beach on the Newfoundland coast surround a boulder striped like a tiger.
    Who Dey
  • Portland Head Light takes in another beautiful sunrise along the rugged coast of Maine.
    Morning Glory
  • A wave crashes and sprays on the beach where beautiful volcanic rock protrudes above the sand. Saona Island, Dominican Republic.
    Hideaway
  • A palm tree stretches out on the beautiful beach on Saona Island.
    Away From It All
  • A rock pillar, or "flowerpot" sculpted by erosion rises from the aquamarine waters of Georgian Bay. Fathom Five Provincial Park, Ontario.
    A Matter of Time
  • A rusted buoy rests on the white cobbles of a beautiful beach in Ontario's Bruce Peninsula National park.
    Castaway
  • Rippled sand leads towards a massive sea stack at Point of the Arches on Shi Shi Beach. Olympic National Park, Washington.
    Sand Castles
  • Low tide at Point of the Arches reveals a tide pool filled with colorful starfish and sea anemones. The opportunity to view sea life such as sea anemones and starfish in a wilderness setting is one of the many reasons why the coast within Washington’s Olympic National Park is one of my favorite destinations for backpacking and photography.
    Vibrancy
  • A colorful starfish rests on the rocky coastline amongst the towering sea stacks at Point of the Arches on Shi Shi Beach. Olympic National Park, Washington.
    Son of Shi Shi
  • Starfish, sea anemones, and kelp adorn the rugged coastline at Point of the Arches on Shi Shi Beach. Olympic National Park, Washington.
    Mysterious Dawn
  • The setting sun sets the Atlantic Ocean ablaze on a beautiful spring evening, as seen from a grassy perch atop the Cliffs of Moher. County Clare, Ireland.
    Guiding Light
  • An intimate view of the Cliffs of Moher, which rise over 700 feet feet from the Atlantic Ocean in County Clare, Ireland.
    Resistance
  • Waves crash in a chasm in the volcanic rock at Cape Perpetua, Oregon, on a beautiful spring evening. When the waves crash just right, a plume of spray gets shot up through a hole in the rock, as seen in the top center of this photo, and is affectionately known as "spouting horn".
    Sound the Horn
  • The rocky orange shoreline at California's Salt Point State Park was the perfect complement to the dark blue sea on this cloudy evening. Once an ancient sea bed that was uplifted to the surface, the sedimentary rock that forms the shore at Salt Point has been weathered into all kinds of beautiful shapes and colors. While it's hard to imagine today, rock from the shoreline at Salt Point was harvested in the 1800s and used  to construct some of the earliest city streets in San Francisco.
    Risen
  • A beautiful sunrise reflects in a tide pool tucked within the seaweed and barnacle-covered boulders of the Schoodic Peninsula. Often referred to as the "quiet side" of Acadia National Park, the Schoodic Peninsula sees only a fraction of the crowds found at the Mount Desert Island portion of Acadia, making it the perfect place to enjoy some solitude with your scenery along the beautiful coast of Maine.
    The Quiet Side
  • Pelicans and cormorants soar over, and cling to, a gigantic sea stack near False Klamath Cove at sunset. Redwoods National Park, California.
    Chaos Theory
  • The post-sunset glow illuminates the ripples of Cedar Creek as it flows towards the Pacific Ocean. Olympic National Park, Washington.
    Dragon Scales
  • Waves crash and spray along the rugged Maine coast just as the sun begins to crest the horizon and signal the start of a new day.
    Perfect Timing
  • Beautiful sunrise light strikes an upright boulder and the distant cliffs along the Atlantic Ocean in Maine's Acadia National Park.
    Rise Up
  • Mount Desert Island looms in the distance on a cloudy afternoon, as seen from the rugged coast of the Schoodic Peninsula. Acadia National Park, Maine.
    Apparition
  • A halo forms around the sun shortly after sunrise, along the rugged coast of the Schoodic Peninsula. This type of halo is formed by sunlight passing through ice crystals in cirrus clouds in the Earth's atmosphere. Acadia National Park, Maine.
    Halo
  • A hiker pauses on a granite headland on the Schoodic Peninsula to marvel at the power of the ocean. Acadia National Park, Maine.
    Call of the Sea
  • Palm fronds soak up the warm tropical sun on Saona Island.
    Under the Canopy
  • A spectacular late summer sunrise lights up the sky and the rocky shoreline of Georgian Bay. Bruce Peninsula National Park, Ontario.
    A Warning Ignored
  • A stormy sky erupts with beautiful colors after the sun sets at Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland.
    Welcome
  • Receding waves, caught by pebbles on Kalaloch Beach, streak back towards the sea during a beautiful winter sunrise. Olympic National Park, Washington.
    Return to Me
  • The setting sun illuminates the beautiful rocky shore at California’s Montaña de Oro State Park. Millions of years ago, the sedimentary rock of the Montana de Oro coast was an ancient sea floor. When tiny fragments of once-living organisms drifted to the bottom of the sea, they mixed with silt and sand, forming mudstone over time. The mud then solidified into thick layers of sedimentary rock, and now forms the rocky, striated coast at Montaña de Oro.
    Web Gem
  • Cracks in the ruggedly beautiful granite coast lead the eye along the coastline to the warm light of sunrise. Acadia National Park, Maine.
    Take Me There
  • The sun bursts through the clouds shortly after rising to make the rocky coast of the Schoodic Peninsula sparkle like gold. Acadia National Park, Maine.
    Gold Coast
  • Low-angled sunrise light accentuates ripples in the sand as waves crash in the distance. Cape Cod National Seashore, Massachusetts.
    The Ocean Called
  • Sunset light illuminates sea stacks and weathered rocks on the beach in Washington's Olympic National Park.
    A Moment in the Sun
  • A clifftop view looking down towards the turquoise waters of Georgian Bay and the mouth of a cave known as The Grotto that has been carved into the dolomite shore. Bruce Peninsula National Park, Ontario.
    Mysterious Waters
  • While wandering Long Beach one evening at the tail end of an emotionally-charged day, I scrambled up a rocky headland hoping to escape the thoughts that wouldn't get off my mind, and to watch the sunset in the process. Atop the headland, I discovered an array of pretty spring wildflowers that were basking in the glorious sunshine after a long and wet Pacific Northwest winter. Just as I settled in myself to enjoy the renewing warmth of the sun, a bird began to circle overhead, and together we watched the sun cast the final warm rays of the day over the mighty Pacific. Pacific Rim National Park, British Columbia.
    Birds of a Feather
  • A sunflower sea star crawls along the sand in the shallow water of a coastal tide pool in the backcountry of Washington's Olympic National Park. Watching this sea star scuttle about was one of the most incredible experiences I've ever had in the wilderness, and I feel incredibly lucky to have had it. Beginning in 2013, the year that I took this photo, a mysterious sea star wasting disease coupled with rising ocean temperatures has virtually wiped the once prolific sunflower sea star out of existence on the North American West Coast.
    Ode to Ned