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)
Next
294 images found
twitterlinkedinfacebook

Loading ()...

  • Zion National Park’s Virgin River Narrows is regarded as one of the most fascinating and unique hikes in the world, and for good reason. Almost the entire hike is spent wading in the ankle to waist deep Virgin River, which at certain points is only about 10 feet wide, with the sheer walls of the canyon rising hundreds of feet above the river. One of the most fascinating things to me about the Narrows was the amount of life that is able to thrive in this cool and dark environment, which barely receives any direct sunlight due to the sheer height of the canyon walls. Pictured here is a lone cottonwood sapling that has managed to take root in a small alcove in the canyon wall. Zion National Park, Utah.
    Life Finds a Way
  • 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
  • New York State is blessed with many beautiful views and landscapes, with perhaps none more whimsical and seemingly straight from a fairy tale than the waterfalls and gorges of Watkins Glen. Of the many falls and cascades that can be found within Watkins Glen State Park, Rainbow Falls is arguably the most iconic and beautiful, and without a doubt the most popular. I hiked to the falls in the dark and arrived at the crack of dawn, which not only allowed me to have the whole place to myself, but the faint morning light also facilitated the use of a long exposure to render the cascades and water pouring off the mossy ledges to be rendered silky smooth.
    Journey to Oz
  • Enjoying a view over the calm waters of an Adirondack lake on a sunny summer morning.
    No Days Wasted
  • Snow and ice cover the steep granite walls of High Falls Gorge. Adirondack Park, New York.
    Falling For You
  • A break in the clouds allows the  sun to illuminate Kaaterskill Falls on a beautiful spring evening. Catskill Mountains, New York.
    In the Spotlight
  • Otherworldly ice formations adorn the boulders surrounding a waterfall on the Ausable River. Adirondacks, New York.
    Haunting Beauty
  • A moody winter sunset from the icy banks of the Ausable River. Adirondack Mountains, New York.
    Dramatic Flare
  • The Cloudsplitter Gondola pokes above snowy evergreens on a clear and cloudless day. Adirondack High Peaks, New York.
    Cloudsplitter
  • Red shale at the base of Bastion Falls contrasts against beautiful green spring foliage in New York's Catskill Mountains.
    Finally Spring
  • A waterfall spills into the frozen chasm of High Falls Gorge in winter. Adirondack Park, New York.
    Takeover
  • Taking in the vibrant early summer greenery en route to Peaked Mountain. Adirondacks, New York.
    All Things That Are Good
  • Frozen spray from the Ausable River  adorns the boulders surrounding a waterfall. Adirondacks, New York.
    Glazed
  • Otherworldly ice formations adorn the boulders surrounding a waterfall on the Ausable River. Adirondacks, New York.
    The Art of Ice
  • Ice begins to form around a waterfall in the Adirondacks under a beautiful sunset sky.
    Final Flow
  • Sunlight filters through the rain clouds and beautifully illuminates fresh spring foliage above a thundering waterfall. Ricketts Glen State Park, Pennsylvania.
    Rediscovery
  • Bash Bish Falls in the Taconic Mountains pours into a rocky grotto adorned with fresh spring foliage.
    Splish Splash
  • Golden autumn foliage surrounding Bash Bish Falls in the Taconic Mountains glows in the evening light after a rainstorm.
    Honey Hole
  • Bash Bish Falls pours into a rocky grotto adorned with fresh spring foliage. While the lushness and beauty of the falls and gorge may make it seem like this photo was taken in an exotic tropical hideaway, this type of beauty can be found right in the Taconic Mountains of New York and Massachusetts.
    Paradise
  • Bash Bish Falls pours into a rocky grotto adorned with fresh spring foliage. I ducked out of work early on this misty spring afternoon, and spent the evening exploring and photographing the falls and gorge in complete solitude. Taconic Mountains, Massachusetts.
    No Work, All Play
  • Tenacious pink wildflowers (Mountain Pride, I believe) sprout from a crevice in the rock below a granite dome at sunset, in the beautiful backcountry of Yosemite National Park.
    Tenacity
  • Rapids of the Tuolumne River sparkle like gold at sunset, in the backcountry of California's Yosemite National Park.
    Gold Rush
  • A granite dome rises up from an amphitheater of polished rock and basks in the twilight glow as the first stars begin to twinkle in the warm summer sky. Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne, Yosemite National Park, California.
    Granite Kingdom
  • The most important lesson I learned while in San Francisco for a work conference was that when the rental car salesman offers to upgrade you from the cheap compact car that you had pre-booked to a Mustang convertible for just 60 bucks, you say yes. While my pre-conference backpacking trip along the wild and crystalline waters of the Tuolumne River in Yosemite National Park was surely a highlight of my trip to California, it was the journey to and from the trailhead in my trusty ‘Stang that is most etched in my memory. Ever since I had my first car, a piece of shit Saturn station wagon that crapped out after only 40,000 miles, I’ve been obsessed with the intoxicating feeling of absolute freedom and adventure that a full tank of gas and an open mind can provide. After finishing grad school and taking a year off to road trip throughout the American West and British Columbia, I thought that I had experienced pretty much everything that the open road had to offer. But as I bombed down 395 with the evening sun glistening off Mono Lake and the sweet smell of sage washing over me, topping 100 with the first 55 seconds of Van Halen’s “Hot for Teacher” blasting on loop and flipping the bird to every “speed monitored by aircraft” sign that I blew by, I realized that even after all the past trips and miles, the road still had undiscovered secrets to offer. That no matter how many places you’ve been and blank spaces on the map you’ve explored, the open road will always lead you to exactly where you need to be. As I approached my campsite for the night and the sky began to fade from blue to orange to purple, I chuckled as I thought to myself about how the idiom “my way or the highway” is all wrong. There is no choice to be made, after all, because as long as I’m able to climb into a car and press my forefoot on the accelerator, my way IS the highway.
    My Way is the Highway
  • Red volcanic rock adds a splash of color to the soaring granite cliffs that line the beautiful and wild Tuolumne River, in the backcountry of California's Yosemite National Park.
    Watercolor
  • The Virgin River rushes through the Zion Narrows, towards the warmth of light reflected off the sheer canyon walls. Zion National Park, Utah.
    The Glow Below
  • Balsamroot flowers in Washington's Cascades take in a beautiful view of Mt. Stuart off in the distance.
    True to Your Roots
  • Spectacular fall foliage blankets the mountainsides surrounding Indian Lake.  The many incredible paddling and hiking options at Indian Lake quickly made this one of our favorite areas of the Adirondacks.
    The Scenic Route
  • 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
  • Spectacular fall foliage blankets the mountainsides surrounding Indian Lake. The many incredible paddling and hiking options at Indian Lake quickly made this one of our favorite areas of the Adirondacks.
    Autumn Riches
  • Towering, whimsical evergreens caked with snow made it feel like I was hiking to Whoville. Adirondack High Peaks, New York.
    Hiking to Whoville
  • Chilly and damp autumn days are perfect for forest hiking and waterfall photography, especially along deserted trails during peak foliage. I came across these picturesque cascades while on a hike in New Hampshire's White Mountains, and spent an hour just sitting next to the falls admiring their beauty before capturing the photo seen here.
    Slow it Down
  • Formed nearly 2000 years ago from lava streaming down the southern flank of Mount St. Helens, Ape Cave is the longest continuous lava tube in the continental US, at 2.5 miles long. Hiking the cave is truly a unique experience. The temperature stays at a constant 42 degrees F, and despite the total darkness, “cave slime” bacteria is able to thrive, and coats the walls of the caves. I used my headlamp to illuminate the twisting passageway of the cave in this photo, and the silver-green color of the walls and “roof” of the cave is actually the aforementioned “cave slime”. Ape Cave, Gifford Pinchot National Forest, Washington.
    Planet of the Apes
  • The light of the setting sun strikes an Ancient Bristlecone Pine tree in California's White Mountains. The hardy, gnarled, and beautiful bristlecone pines found in the White Mountains are the oldest known living non-clonal trees in the world, with the oldest identified one being over 5,000 years old! To keep the tree safe, it's identity and exact location has not been disclosed. But with hundreds, maybe thousands, of bristlecone pines in this forest, chances are that there's one out there that's the oldest of them all, but it hasn't been identified yet. Knowing this makes hiking among these ancient wonders an even more exhilarating experience, as every tree passed could potentially be the oldest tree in the world.
    Secrecy
  • The light of the setting sun strikes an Ancient Bristlecone Pine tree in California's White Mountains. The hardy, gnarled, and beautiful bristlecone pines found in the White Mountains are the oldest known living non-clonal trees in the world, with the oldest identified one being over 5,000 years old! To keep the tree safe, it's identity and exact location has not been disclosed. But with hundreds, maybe thousands, of bristlecone pines in this forest, chances are that there's one out there that's the oldest of them all, but it hasn't been identified yet. Knowing this makes hiking amongst these ancient wonders an even more exhilarating experience, as every tree passed could potentially be the oldest tree in the world :)
    Time to Shine
  • A fogbow forms over the ocean and perfectly frames a bergy bit floating in the water below, as seen from the rugged cliffs of Quirpon Island, Newfoundland. Quirpon Island was once known as the "Isle of Demons" by sailors in the 16th century, and was thought to be inhabited by devils and wild beasts that would torment anyone that dared land on the island. Formed in a similar fashion as rainbows, fogbows are caused by sunlight passing through water droplets in thin fog. Since the water droplets in fog are so small, fogbows have only weak colors or are colorless, but still made for an exciting, unexpected, and spooky spectacle when it presented itself to us while hiking along the cliffs of the “Isle of Demons.”
    Isle of Demons
  • On any visit, it doesn’t take long to realize that Yellowstone National Park is a special place. With a concentration of wildlife and geothermal activity unseen anywhere else in the world, once-in-a-lifetime experiences occur daily when visiting the park. But with increased visitation, cell phone hot spots, and selfie stick-toting tourists cramming the boardwalks at places such as Old Faithful and Morning Glory Pool, it can be difficult to experience the “real” Yellowstone. Fortunately, the raw, remote, and sometimes savage beauty of Yellowstone is still there for those willing to put in the work required to see it. My friend and I found the real Yellowstone while on a 50 mile backpacking trip in October. We clambered over snowy mountain passes, hiked through rain, sleet, snow, mud, and brilliant sunshine, saw wolf and grizzly tracks, and soaked au naturel in hot springs almost 20 miles from the nearest road. Perhaps the most memorable moment of the trip, though, was watching and photographing the final sunrise of our journey from the shores of Shoshone Lake (the largest backcountry lake in the lower 48 states that can’t be reached by a road), deserted save for the two lakeside geysers that are steaming and sputtering in this photograph. Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming.
    Life on Mars
  • The light of the setting sun strikes an Ancient Bristlecone Pine tree in California's White Mountains, highlighting the unique shape and form of these magnificent trees. The hardy, gnarled, and beautiful bristlecone pines found in the White Mountains are the oldest known living non-clonal trees in the world, with the oldest identified one being over 5,000 years old. To keep the tree safe, it's identity and exact location has not been disclosed. But with hundreds, maybe thousands, of bristlecone pines in this forest, chances are that there's one out there that's the oldest of them all, but it hasn't been identified yet. Knowing this makes hiking amongst these ancient wonders an even more exhilarating experience, as every tree passed could potentially be the oldest tree in the world.
    Timeless Tango
  • A pair of hiking boots rest on a rug that mimics the iconic trail markers used throughout the Adirondacks.
    Show Me The Way
  • Flaming berry bushes covered in the first frost of the season catch the morning light. Adirondack High Peaks, New York.
    Torched
  • 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
  • Breaking clouds and morning fog catch the golden light of sunrise at the height of autumn in the Adirondacks.
    Only For a Moment
  • Fog rolls over the Adirondack Mountains at dawn on a chilly fall morning.
    Autumn Closing In
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • Self-portrait from a craggy Adirondack summit while waiting for the light and warmth of morning to come.
    Waiting For The Eastern Glow
  • Camping on our own private island on an unseasonably warm autumn day during peak foliage instantly became our all-time favorite camping trip. Indian Lake Islands, Adirondacks.
    High on Life
  • 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
  • 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
  • Peak autumn foliage complements a colorful sunrise on a rocky summit in the Adirondacks.
    Red October
  • 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
  • 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
  • One of my favorite parts of camping with my dad is chatting by the fire, often with a martini in hand, after an exciting day in the woods. While any topic of conversation is enjoyable, some of the most entertaining and memorable stories have been tales from my dad's youth working as a park ranger at Green Lakes State Park in Syracuse, NY.<br />
<br />
Green Lake and its neighbor, Round Lake, are both meromictic lakes, which means that their surface and bottom waters don't mix like most lakes do in the fall and spring. The fact that there are only about 20 meromictic lakes in North America makes Green Lake special, and its made even more unique by the fact that it possesses an incredible blue-green color that seems out of place in Upstate NY and more likely to be found in the tropics. This color comes from the high presence of minerals in the water that seeps through the surrounding bedrock and into the lake. Similar to the turquoise-colored glacial lakes that can be found in the Canadian Rockies and other parts of the world, Green Lake shimmers in otherworldly hues when sunlight hits the water. Green Lakes State Park, New York.
    Reminiscing
  • A waterfall gently cascades down from the vibrant spring forest in the Adirondack Mountains.
    Water is Life
  • Self-portrait from a rocky ledge overlooking pure autumn wilderness in the Adirondack Mountains.
    Wide-Eyed Wilderness
  • Dappled sunlight and beautiful autumn foliage on a cloudy afternoon in the Adirondack Mountains.
    Curtain Call
  • Fall colors shrouded in fog on a mountainside in the Adirondack High Peaks.
    Head In The Clouds
  • 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
  • Nothing is better than spending time in the great outdoors with the ones you love. Adirondack Mountains, New York
    Fallen For You
  • 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
  • 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
  • Flaming fall colors surround a lake in the Adirondack High Peaks.
    Eye for Autumn
  • Blazing autumn foliage blankets a mountainside in the Adirondack High Peaks.
    Symphony of Color
  • Fresh snow blankets the evergreens along the trail to Mount Marcy. Adirondack High Peaks, New York.
    Powder
  • Tending to the fire on a chilly autumn afternoon. Adirondack High Peaks, New York.
    Fire Goddess
  • Warm sunset light illuminates the distant summit of Whiteface on a cold and windy winter evening. Adirondack High Peaks, NY
    Deception
  • Fall colors and dramatic clouds reflect in Heart Lake after sunset. Adirondacks, New York.
    Heart of the High Peaks
  • A beautiful winter sunset from the windblown slopes of Mount Marcy, looking west towards Algonquin. Adirondack High Peaks, New York.
    Leaders of the Pack
  • A long exposure of a silky waterfall flowing high after an October rainstorm.
    Cream of the Crop
  • 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 fall foliage and the beautiful colors of sunrise reflect in Heart Lake. Adirondacks High Peaks, New York.
    Heart of the High Peaks II
  • 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
  • Bright red foliage frames a rushing river after an October rainstorm.
    Red Oak Rush
  • A burst of sunshine lights up the autumn forest canopy in the Adirondack Mountains.
    Color Wheel
  • Tending to the fire on a cold autumn night. Adirondack High Peaks, New York.
    Light of Life
  • Snowy evergreens frame a distant Whiteface Mountain in the Adirondack High Peaks on a pristine winter evening.
    Where All the Fun Is
  • 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
  • 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
  • A kaleidoscope of autumn color covers the hillside above Heart Lake. Adirondack High Peaks, New York.
    Autumn Explosion
  • 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
  • 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.
    True Love
  • Fog glides over the treetops on a cold October morning in the Adirondacks.
    Hover
  • Beautiful fall foliage reflects in Heart Lake at sunset. Adirondack Mountains, New York
    My Heart is Yours
  • The snowy landscape picks up a brilliant sunset glow high in the Adirondack Mountains.
    Ice in the Veins
  • Winter transforms the shore of Lake Ontario into a fantasyland of snow and ice, which was accentuated on this frigid evening by a beautiful sunset. Chimney Bluffs State Park, New York.
    Vortex
  • A frog floats on the surface of Thirteenth Lake in the Adirondacks on a sunny summer morning.
    Whatcha Doin' In My Waters?
  • 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
  • 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
  • Cascades on Gill Brook on a warm June day. Adirondack High Peaks, New York.
    Cooling Off
  • Lush greenery, cool blue lakes, and long days begging to be filled with adventure are hallmarks of an Adirondack summer.
    Adirondack Summer
  • 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
  • Towering Mount Marcy pokes through the clouds and catches the warm light of sunset. Adirondack Mountains, New York.
    Layers of Marcy
  • 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
  • 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
  • Freshly fallen maple leaves rest on a piece of birch bark in the Adirondack Mountains.
    Treasures of the Forest
  • Lush ferns and birch trunks along an Adirondack lake.
    Signs of Summer
  • 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
Next