Joey Priola Wilderness Photography

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  • The first snow of the season (during the first week of October!) covers the summits of Algonquin and Wright in the Adirondack High Peaks.
    Party Crasher
  • 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
  • A beautiful winter sunset from the windblown slopes of Mount Marcy, looking west towards Algonquin. Adirondack High Peaks, New York.
    Leaders of the Pack
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • Flaming berry bushes covered in the first frost of the season catch the morning light. Adirondack High Peaks, New York.
    Torched
  • 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
  • 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
  • High winds below the summit of Mount Marcy carved the snow into interesting patterns and lines. Adirondack High Peaks, New York.
    Hostility
  • Towering, whimsical evergreens caked with snow made it feel like I was hiking to Whoville. Adirondack High Peaks, New York.
    Hiking to Whoville
  • Warm sunset light illuminates the distant summit of Whiteface on a cold and windy winter evening. Adirondack High Peaks, NY
    Deception
  • A storm builds over Algonquin Peak and the colorful autumn foothills of the High Peaks, as seen from the Plains of Abraham. Adirondack High Peaks, New York.
    Abraham's Fury
  • Snowy evergreens frame a distant Whiteface Mountain in the Adirondack High Peaks on a pristine winter evening.
    Where All the Fun Is
  • 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
  • Fresh snow blankets the evergreens along the trail to Mount Marcy. Adirondack High Peaks, New York.
    Powder
  • 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
  • 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
  • Fresh snow covers towering evergreens along the trail to Mount Marcy. Adirondack High Peaks, New York.
    Snow Ghosts
  • 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
  • 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 beautiful view of Gothics and Pyramid on a sunny winter day, as seen from the summit of Sawteeth. The picturesque slides on the face of Gothics give this portion of the Great Range an exceptionally alpine feel, particularly in the winter. Adirondack High Peaks, New York.
    Cut Once
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • It’s about the journey, not the destination. This well-worn saying can be applied to almost any context, but may hold most true when used in regards to climbing mountains. The sense of achievement, awe, and wonder gained from moving your being to a mountain summit rivals any other human activity or pursuit in terms of sheer intensity and emotion. Yet mountains are about so much more than just reaching the summit. The route to and from the apex of these wilderness temples is filled with challenges that crescendo with elevation gained, and beautiful nooks and crannies of the forest that the hurried hiker can easily blow right past. I was reminded of all of this on a winter trek into the High Peaks, when I took a break while clambering along Phelps Brook. I had been in a hurry to put in miles up to this point, but as I took a breather I discovered that in my haste to reach loftier destinations, I had nearly blown right by what would end up being the most beautiful thing I saw all day. Fresh snow and ice ringed the cascading brook that I had been absentmindedly hiking next to, and a stillness that can only be found in the winter forest permeated the air. I sat and watched and listened to the water flow and the ice crack for a long while, until the chill and mist rising from the brook made me get moving again. I hiked the rest of the day with new eyes and a new mindset, and reveled in each step of the journey. Adirondack High Peaks, New York
    The Journey
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • Flaming fall colors surround a lake in the Adirondack High Peaks.
    Eye for Autumn
  • 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
  • Blazing autumn foliage blankets a mountainside in the Adirondack High Peaks.
    Symphony of Color
  • 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
  • Beautiful, glowing, and warm sunset light contrasts with snowy evergreens on a frigid winter day. Adirondack High Peaks, New York.
    Floating in Fire
  • A kaleidoscope of autumn color covers the hillside above Heart Lake. Adirondack High Peaks, New York.
    Autumn Explosion
  • Snowy evergreens on a mountain summit bask in an incredible post-sunset glow. Adirondack High Peaks, New York.
    Frozen in Place
  • Brilliant sunlight shimmers off ice-coated tree branches on the summit of Sawteeth on a beautiful winter day. Adirondack High Peaks, New York.
    Diamonds
  • Snow-caked trees enjoy the sunset as Mount Colden towers over the valley in the distance. Adirondack High Peaks, New York.
    Marshmallow World
  • Moonlight illuminates snowy evergreens on a clear and starry winter night. Adirondack High Peaks, New York.
    Signs in the Sky
  • The moon shines in the clear winter sky and illuminates snowy evergreens below the summit of Mount Marcy. Adirondack High Peaks, New York.
    Sanctuary
  • 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
  • Stars begin to fill the moonlit sky at twilight below the summit of Mount Marcy. Adirondack High Peaks, New York.
    Twilight
  • 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
  • Blowing snow sculpted a winter wonderland on the summit of Street Mountain, on an absolutely frigid February day where the temperature dropped below -20 degrees Fahrenheit. Adirondack High Peaks, New York.
    Snow Globe
  • Warm sunset light contrasts with frigid temperatures and illuminates snow-covered evergreens and distant mountains. Adirondack High Peaks, New York.
    Closing Time
  • Rime ice covers the trees on the summit of Tabletop Mountain, in the High Peaks Wilderness of New York's rugged Adirondack Mountains. Rime ice is formed when small supercooled water droplets freeze on contact with a surface, such as a tree branch, which is at a sub-freezing temperature.
    Ice Bouquets
  • 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
  • Fall colors shrouded in fog on a mountainside in the Adirondack High Peaks.
    Head In The Clouds
  • Crepuscular rays shine down on a frozen Heart Lake, as seen from the summit of Mt. Jo. Adirondack High Peaks, New York.
    Heart of Ice
  • Beautiful blue ice hangs from the cliff beside the last unfrozen veils of Rainbow Falls. Adirondack High Peaks, New York.
    When Rainbows Freeze
  • Cascades on Gill Brook on a warm June day. Adirondack High Peaks, New York.
    Cooling Off
  • My dad snowshoes through a snowy winter forest in the Adirondack High Peaks.
    Bonding
  • The setting sun broke through the clouds just enough to bring the snowy landscape to life. Adirondack High Peaks, New York.
    Renewal
  • Tending to the fire on a chilly autumn afternoon. Adirondack High Peaks, New York.
    Fire Goddess
  • 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
  • Rime ice covers the trees on the summit of Tabletop Mountain, with Haystack off in the distancw. Rime ice is formed when small supercooled water droplets freeze on contact with a surface, such as a tree branch, which is at a sub-freezing temperature. Adirondack High Peaks, NY.
    Winter's Grasp
  • 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
  • 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
  • Day transitions to night high in the Adirondack Mountains as the final faint glow of sunset yields to the sparking stars.
    Transition
  • The snowy landscape picks up a brilliant sunset glow high in the Adirondack Mountains.
    Ice in the Veins
  • 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
  • Krummholz covered in rime ice catches the brilliant sunset light on a perfect winter day in the Adirondack High Peaks.
    Warp Speed
  • 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
  • Even as fall foliage reaches its peak at Whiteface Mountain, the snowcapped summit portends that it won't be long until the reds and oranges of fall are replaced with winter's white. Adirondack Mountains, New York.
    Won't be Long
  • 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
  • A skier works their way towards an Adirondack summit on a rare calm and sunny winter day. Adirondack Mountains, New York.
    Ascension
  • 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
  • The Cloudsplitter Gondola pokes above snowy evergreens on a clear and cloudless day. Adirondack High Peaks, New York.
    Cloudsplitter
  • Towering Mount Marcy pokes through the clouds and catches the warm light of sunset. Adirondack Mountains, New York.
    Layers of Marcy
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • Snow-covered trees frame a distant mountain on a cold and moody evening in the Adirondack Mountains.
    The Road That I Must Choose
  • 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
  • Freshly fallen maple leaves rest on a piece of birch bark in the Adirondack Mountains.
    Treasures of the Forest
  • 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
  • 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
  • A beautiful sunrise over Whiteface capped off a wonderful fall getaway to a cabin in the mountains.
    Do We Have to Leave?
  • Fog glides over the treetops on a cold October morning in the Adirondacks.
    Hover
  • Puffy clouds drift across the sky above Whiteface on our wedding day. Adirondack Mountains, New York.
    Wedding Day
  • Snow-covered tree trunks form an abstract, ghostly scene in the winter forest. Adirondack Mountains, New York.
    Depth of Winter
  • The girls taking in the view from the rocky shore of a crystalline Adirondack lake on a beautiful October afternoon. (Image also available without the hiker and dog).
    Ghosts of Fall
  • Self-portrait from a craggy Adirondack summit while waiting for the light and warmth of morning to come.
    Waiting For The Eastern Glow
  • 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
  • Breaking clouds and morning fog catch the golden light of sunrise at the height of autumn in the Adirondacks.
    Only For a Moment
  • 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
  • Freshly fallen autumn leaves gather around exposed tree roots in the Adirondack Mountains.
    Life Cycle
  • Even after the leaves have fallen from the trees, there is still beauty to be found in the autumn forest. Adirondack Mountains, New York.
    After the Fall
  • An abstract view of rain droplets on a fallen autumn leaf in the Adirondack Mountains.
    Intricacy
  • Storm clouds catch the warm morning light and close in on Whiteface in the Adirondack Mountains.
    Anticipation
  • Enjoying a beautiful Adirondack autumn view on a perfect sunny day.
    Sunshine Enough to Spread
  • Soaking in a cold and beautiful winter sunset from just below a mountain summit in the Adirondacks.
    Energy
  • Nothing is better than spending time in the great outdoors with the ones you love. Adirondack Mountains, New York.
    True Love
  • 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
  • Sunshine brings out the intricate details of raindrops on freshly fallen autumn leaves. Adirondack Mountains, New York.
    Sundrops
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