Joey Priola Wilderness Photography

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  • The snowy landscape picks up a brilliant sunset glow high in the Adirondack Mountains.
    Ice in the Veins
  • 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
  • The setting sun broke through the clouds just enough to bring the snowy landscape to life. Adirondack High Peaks, New York.
    Renewal
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • If there’s one thing that a year on the road taught me, it’s to expect the unexpected. Whether it’s meeting a person that changes everything, a mouse deciding that your car would make a nice apartment, or a flat tire at the most inopportune time, even the most thought-out plans have a way of unraveling when living out of a car and a backpack. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, though. While at times these roadblocks and detours could certainly be frustrating, I found that it was often the unexpected, unplanned moments that filled me with the greatest sense of awe and wonder. I was reminded of this at the start of the second part of my trip, where Badlands National Park was one of my first stops. The idea of stopping at the park had only been formed earlier in the day, while looking at a map of Iowa and the surrounding states that was outside of the bathroom at a campground that I had stayed at. The red line that designated I-90 drove right past the Badlands, and since wildfires in Wyoming had dashed my original plans, I already had an open itinerary. After I entered the park and reached a high point on the road, the rippled, barren badlands reached out towards the seemingly endless plain, forming a surreal landscape unlike anything I had ever seen before. What I hadn’t noticed earlier, but was now very clear, was that a vicious storm was forming on the horizon. I grabbed my camera and watched and photographed the storm from a cliff edge; an unforgettable and entirely unexpected experience. Afterwards, I couldn’t help but think about the circumstances that led me to witness what I had just seen. How if it weren’t for a wildfire in Wyoming and a map on a bathroom wall, I wouldn’t be right here, right now. As I smiled at these thoughts and slowly rolled down the gravel road with some Allman Brothers on the radio, the clouds over the prairie ahead began to clear, and a rainbow touched down on the timeless, golden plains of South Dakota.
    Strike Twice
  • Fall colors dot the rocky landscape in Mumm Basin, high above aquamarine Berg Lake (the vivid turquoise color of the water is due to the presence of rock flour, finely-ground particles of rock formed by glacial erosion, in the lake). On the right, glaciated Mount Robson, the highest mountain in the Canadian Rockies, rises above Berg Lake. To the left, Robson Glacier and Robson Lake form the headwaters of Robson River, a tributary of the Fraser River, which is the longest river in British Columbia. Later on this moody September afternoon, snow would fall  on Mumm Basin and the surrounding peaks.
    Wildness
  • 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
  • The shapes and colors of the South Dakota Badlands often reminded me of the fanciful landscapes created by Dr. Seuss. Badlands National Park, South Dakota.
    Seusslands
  • Self-portrait from a rocky ledge overlooking pure autumn wilderness in the Adirondack Mountains.
    Wide-Eyed Wilderness
  • 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
  • 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
  • Wilderness travel can be one of the most challenging and humbling activities imaginable. With the right skills and attitude, however, there's nothing more rewarding and rejuvenating than disconnecting from the modern world and fully immersing yourself in the wilds. Adirondack Mountains, New York.
    Rejuvenation
  • 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
  • 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
  • Otherworldly ice formations adorn the boulders surrounding a waterfall on the Ausable River. Adirondacks, New York.
    Haunting Beauty
  • Flaming berry bushes covered in the first frost of the season catch the morning light. Adirondack High Peaks, New York.
    Torched
  • 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
  • Nothing is better than spending time in the great outdoors with the ones you love. Adirondack Mountains, New York
    Fallen For You
  • A summer sunset above a rocky brook in the Adirondacks. The banks of this brook made the perfect spot to propose to my now wife.
    Adirondack Amore
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • Bare trees and late autumn color on a mountainside at sunset in the Adirondack Mountains.
    Bare it All
  • 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
  • Towering, whimsical evergreens caked with snow made it feel like I was hiking to Whoville. Adirondack High Peaks, New York.
    Hiking to Whoville
  • Out for a late-fall evening paddle on the placid backwaters of a lake in Upstate NY.
    Backwaters
  • My dad snowshoes through a snowy winter forest in the Adirondack High Peaks.
    Bonding
  • The mountains were calling, so we went and got married! Adirondack Mountains, New York.
    Unity
  • A long exposure revealed the gradual swirling motion of foam in an eddy in a pristine mountain brook. Adirondack Mountains, New York.
    Fingerprint
  • 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
  • Enjoying the view from a snowy mountain summit in the Adirondacks.
    New Places
  • 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
  • Soft lights accentuates boulders adorned with snow and ice along the Raquette River. Adirondack Mountains, New York.
    Cover-up
  • Lush ferns and birch trunks along an Adirondack lake.
    Signs of Summer
  • A pristine brook cascades over boulders after a summer sunset in the Adirondacks.
    Purity
  • A frog floats on the surface of Thirteenth Lake in the Adirondacks on a sunny summer morning.
    Whatcha Doin' In My Waters?
  • 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
  • Buttermilk Falls in Long Lake looks as smooth as its name on a winter afternoon after a fresh snowfall. The short hike to the falls is always a great leg stretcher when passing through the area, and is a wonderful destination in its own right no matter the season. Adirondack Mountains, New York.
    Call Me Buttah
  • Fresh snow blankets the evergreens along the trail to Mount Marcy. Adirondack High Peaks, New York.
    Powder
  • 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
  • Snow and ice cover the steep granite walls of High Falls Gorge. Adirondack Park, New York.
    Falling For You
  • 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
  • Soft sunset light spreads across the sky and adds some warmth to the snowy winter mountains. Adirondack Mountains, New York.
    A Winter Friend
  • Delicate hoar frost coats the branches of a tree on a clear and chilly winter morning in the Adirondacks. Hoar frost forms when water vapor in the air comes into contact with a solid surface (like a tree branch) that is already below the freezing point.
    Winter Delicacy
  • Delicate morning fog glows with the soft light of sunrise over a mountainside bursting with every fall color imaginable. Adirondack Mountains, New York.
    Radiance
  • A couple enjoys an afternoon paddle on a warm September day that looked like autumn but felt like summer. Indian Lake, New York.
    Second Summer
  • Snow-covered boulders in a frozen river take on an abstract form under the soft light of a cloudy day. Adirondack Mountains, New York.
    Sensuality
  • A moody winter sunset from the icy banks of the Ausable River. Adirondack Mountains, New York.
    Dramatic Flare
  • 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
  • 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
  • Fall colors and dramatic clouds reflect in Heart Lake after sunset. Adirondacks, New York.
    Heart of the High Peaks
  • Towering Mount Marcy pokes through the clouds and catches the warm light of sunset. Adirondack Mountains, New York.
    Layers of Marcy
  • 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
  • Ominous clouds fill the sky before a fall storm hits. Adirondack Mountains, New York.
    Impending Doom
  • A sliver of morning light strikes the face of a mountain covered in beautiful fall foliage. Adirondack Mountains, New York.
    Sunrise Spotlight
  • A lone maple tree stands out from its evergreen friends on a small island in Indian Lake on a perfect autumn afternoon.
    Stand out From the Crowd
  • A lone maple that has somehow managed to take root in a narrow, rocky island   shows off its bright fall color as it watches the mountains peek above pre-sunrise fog on Indian Lake.
    Isolation
  • 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
  • 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
  • Moonlight illuminates snowy evergreens on a clear and starry winter night. Adirondack High Peaks, New York.
    Signs in the Sky
  • 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
  • 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
  • Snow-covered tree trunks form an abstract, ghostly scene in the winter forest. Adirondack Mountains, New York.
    Depth of Winter
  • A long exposure of a silky waterfall flowing high after an October rainstorm.
    Cream of the Crop
  • 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
  • The setting sun briefly broke through the clouds just long enough to light up the fiery red marsh grasses and distant trees in beautiful light.
    Fire Light
  • Fog rolls over the Adirondack Mountains at dawn on a chilly fall morning.
    Autumn Closing In
  • Blazing autumn foliage blankets a mountainside in the Adirondack High Peaks.
    Symphony of Color
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • Colorful fall foliage surrounds the bare trunk and branches of a birch tree. Adirondack Mountains, New York.
    Skeleton Crew
  • The moon shines in the clear winter sky and illuminates snowy evergreens below the summit of Mount Marcy. Adirondack High Peaks, New York.
    Sanctuary
  • Interesting patterns in a partially frozen pond in the forest. Adirondack Park, NY.
    Amorphous
  • 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
  • Snow-covered trees frame a distant mountain on a cold and moody evening in the Adirondack Mountains.
    The Road That I Must Choose
  • 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
  • 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
  • Amanda and Maggie take a breather and enjoy the view of Indian Lake from our island campsite on a perfect fall day.
    A Girl's Best Friend
  • A wall of fog on Indian Lake catches the morning sunlight as the tips of distant mountains peek above the fog.
    Take a Peep
  • 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 waterfall spills into the frozen chasm of High Falls Gorge in winter. Adirondack Park, New York.
    Takeover
  • Beautiful, glowing, and warm sunset light contrasts with snowy evergreens on a frigid winter day. Adirondack High Peaks, New York.
    Floating in Fire
  • Bright red foliage frames a rushing river after an October rainstorm.
    Red Oak Rush
  • 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
  • A beautiful sunrise over Whiteface capped off a wonderful fall getaway to a cabin in the mountains.
    Do We Have to Leave?
  • 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
  • Sure, winter can have its downsides, like shoveling the driveway and excavating your car from its icy tomb before work, but is there anything more magical than hiking through the forest on a bluebird day after a snow storm? Adirondack Mountains, NY.
    Magic's in the Air
  • Puffy clouds drift across the sky above Whiteface on our wedding day. Adirondack Mountains, New York.
    Wedding Day
  • A burst of sunshine lights up the autumn forest canopy in the Adirondack Mountains.
    Color Wheel
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