Joey Priola Wilderness Photography

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  • 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
  • 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
  • A spectacular sunset paints the sky above Peggy's Cove Lighthouse shades of orange and pink.
    Brushstrokes
  • Nature can often be a source of quietude and peaceful serenity, but sometimes its raw and savage power is vividly on display. On days such as this one at Nevada’s Great Basin National Park, she displays both personalities. After spending the morning lounging in my hammock, adjusting to the 10,000 foot altitude and relaxing after the previous day’s 15 hour drive from Badlands National Park, I shouldered my pack to hike up towards some high alpine lakes for sunset. As I was about to leave my campsite, a ranger came up to tell me that they were evacuating the campground, due to a wildfire in the area. I thought he was joking at first, since it was a pristine summer day. He was serious, though, and just like that, my plans changed. I tore down my tent and began the winding drive down the shoulder of Wheeler Peak, thinking about where I would sleep that night and where my next destination would be. Distracted by these thoughts, I had almost forgotten the reason I had to leave the campground. That is, until the road broke free from the forest and I saw a scene unfold before me unlike anything I had ever witnessed. Gigantic clouds of smoke rose from the forested mountainside, glowing orange from the flames below and the sun above. The otherwise cloudless blue sky was barely visible. The power and indifference of the fire was overwhelming, and although I knew I needed to get the hell out of there, I just couldn’t look away. I eventually ran back to my car, and began the white-knuckle drive down the mountain, keeping one eye on the fire and one on the twisting road.  After such an exhilarating experience, the answer to the question “where to next?” was now abundantly clear – nowhere but here. This photo is my favorite from the three days I spent photographing the fire, and was captured at twilight on the first night of the fire when billowing clouds of smoke invaded the night sky and the moon hung over Wheeler Peak and silently watched the mountainsides burn.
    Luna & Lucifer
  • Mankind’s greatest discovery. That is how my friend, Evan and I often refer to fire when gathered around its warm, inviting glow while roaming the wild places of the world. While a campfire in the backcountry has always been an almost holy experience for us, we gained a deeper appreciation for the spiritual power of fire on this night. Watching the light from the flames ignite the alcove we were camping in with the most beautiful shades of orange and red, while our shadows danced on the sandstone walls, it became perfectly clear to me that I had never before felt so connected to early man. I could visualize our caveman predecessors having a night just as we were, reveling in the glory and mystery of fire, with no words spoken, because none needed to be. My friend’s shadow towering over him on the cave wall seemed as if it was an ancient ancestor watching over us, having come back to the cave where it once was captivated by the very flames that we will always look into with awe and wonderment.
    Primal Man
  • 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
  • Ominous clouds fill the sky before a fall storm hits. Adirondack Mountains, New York.
    Impending Doom
  • 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
  • The snowy landscape picks up a brilliant sunset glow high in the Adirondack Mountains.
    Ice in the Veins
  • Peak autumn foliage spreads out below the snow-capped summit of Algonquin Peak, as morning fog drifts off the surface of a lake on a cold October morning a half hour before sunrise. Adirondack High Peaks, New York.
    Ephemeral
  • Nothing is better than spending time in the great outdoors with the ones you love. Adirondack Mountains, New York
    Fallen For You
  • Out for a late-fall evening paddle on the placid backwaters of a lake in Upstate NY.
    Backwaters
  • 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
  • Fallen leaves decorate a river shoreline and intermingle with beautifully rounded stones on a drizzly autumn day. Adirondack Mountains, New York.
    Autumn Spread
  • The setting sun broke through the clouds just enough to bring the snowy landscape to life. Adirondack High Peaks, New York.
    Renewal
  • Flaming berry bushes covered in the first frost of the season catch the morning light. Adirondack High Peaks, New York.
    Torched
  • Bare trees and late autumn color on a mountainside at sunset in the Adirondack Mountains.
    Bare it All
  • Soft sunset light spreads across the sky and adds some warmth to the snowy winter mountains. Adirondack Mountains, New York.
    A Winter Friend
  • Self-portrait from a rocky ledge overlooking pure autumn wilderness in the Adirondack Mountains.
    Wide-Eyed Wilderness
  • Towering Mount Marcy pokes through the clouds and catches the warm light of sunset. Adirondack Mountains, New York.
    Layers of Marcy
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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 beautiful sunset reflects in a placid pond during a backcountry canoe camping trip in the Adirondacks.
    Inner Peace
  • Freshly fallen maple leaves rest on a piece of birch bark in the Adirondack Mountains.
    Treasures of the Forest
  • Tending to the fire on a chilly autumn afternoon. Adirondack High Peaks, New York.
    Fire Goddess
  • Fog rolls over the Adirondack Mountains at dawn on a chilly fall morning.
    Autumn Closing In
  • A long exposure of a silky waterfall flowing high after an October rainstorm.
    Cream of the Crop
  • 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
  • Delicate morning fog glows with the soft light of sunrise over a mountainside bursting with every fall color imaginable. Adirondack Mountains, New York.
    Radiance
  • One of the best things about owning a canoe? Still being able to explore the wilderness when you bust your ankle. A morning paddle took me out to a rocky little island in the middle of a calm pond, where I thankfully was able to hobble around enough to find this little clutch of grass and flowers nestled in the rocks, with my canoe beached in the distance. Adirondack Park, New York.
    Morningtide
  • 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
  • A moody winter sunset from the icy banks of the Ausable River. Adirondack Mountains, New York.
    Dramatic Flare
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • Colorful fall foliage surrounds the bare trunk and branches of a birch tree. Adirondack Mountains, New York.
    Skeleton Crew
  • 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
  • A red-tailed hawk gives a side-eyed staredown while perched in a tree clinging to its final few autumn leaves.
    Soul Piercing
  • 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
  • A wall of fog on Indian Lake catches the morning sunlight as the tips of distant mountains peek above the fog.
    Take a Peep
  • Beautiful, glowing, and warm sunset light contrasts with snowy evergreens on a frigid winter day. Adirondack High Peaks, New York.
    Floating in Fire
  • A burst of sunshine lights up the autumn forest canopy in the Adirondack Mountains.
    Color Wheel
  • 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
  • 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
  • Bright red foliage frames a rushing river after an October rainstorm.
    Red Oak Rush
  • 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
  • A kaleidoscope of autumn color covers the hillside above Heart Lake. Adirondack High Peaks, New York.
    Autumn Explosion
  • Breaking clouds and morning fog catch the golden light of sunrise at the height of autumn in the Adirondacks.
    Only For a Moment
  • Snow-caked trees enjoy the sunset as Mount Colden towers over the valley in the distance. Adirondack High Peaks, New York.
    Marshmallow World
  • Warm sunset light illuminates the distant summit of Whiteface on a cold and windy winter evening. Adirondack High Peaks, NY
    Deception
  • Out for an afternoon paddle on Indian Lake on a perfect autumn day.
    On the Hunt
  • "Bobby" rests on the banks of a peaceful pond at sunrise on a perfect summer morning. Adirondack Mountains, New York.
    Keep Calm & Canoe On
  • Freshly fallen autumn leaves gather around exposed tree roots in the Adirondack Mountains.
    Life Cycle
  • The motion of fallen leaves swirling in the eddy of a creek was revealed using a multi-second exposure. Even after fall colors are past peak, as the leaves begin to drop new opportunities for photography are created. Adirondack Mountains, New York.
    Relativity
  • 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
  • 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 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
  • Day transitions to night high in the Adirondack Mountains as the final faint glow of sunset yields to the sparking stars.
    Transition
  • 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
  • Two small islands appear through thick fog and reflect in a still lake on a late-fall morning. Even after the colorful leaves of autumn drop and fade, there's still much beauty to be seen and photographed in the wilderness. Adirondack Mountains, New York.
    An Autumn Haunting
  • Ice begins to form around a waterfall in the Adirondacks under a beautiful sunset sky.
    Final Flow
  • Beauty surrounds us, if we just take the time to look for it (and appreciate it). I was reminded of this recently on an exceptionally chilly late-fall morning as I was rushing out the door to head to work. En route to my car I passed by a collection of freshly fallen leaves on the sidewalk that were ringed with morning frost. "Work can wait," I thought to myself, and ran back inside to grab my camera and snap the photo seen here. No matter where you live or how busy you are, try as best you can to take even just a single moment each day to seek out and appreciate the beauty that surrounds you.
    Beauty Surrounds Us
  • The tenacity of trees never ceases to amaze me. With the ability to take root and flourish in seemingly inhospitable environments, such as a sheer cliff face like the one in this photo, trees are masters of survival and perseverance. Adirondack Mountains, New York.
    Can't be Stopped
  • Fog glides over the treetops on a cold October morning in the Adirondacks.
    Hover
  • 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
  • Nothing is better than spending time in the great outdoors with the ones you love. Adirondack Mountains, New York.
    True Love
  • Peak autumn foliage complements a colorful sunrise on a rocky summit in the Adirondacks.
    Red October
  • Warm sunset light contrasts with frigid temperatures and illuminates snow-covered evergreens and distant mountains. Adirondack High Peaks, New York.
    Closing Time
  • 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
  • Heading out for a sunrise paddle on a calm Adirondack pond is the perfect beginning to a summer day.
    Morning Calm
  • 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
  • Beautiful fall foliage reflects in Heart Lake at sunset. Adirondack Mountains, New York
    My Heart is Yours
  • An incredible early autumn sunrise from one of my favorite spots in West Virginia. One of the many reasons that I love backcountry camping so much is that it allows me to roll out of my tent and walk just a few feet to witness and photograph scenes like this.
    Autumn in Appalachia
  • A spectacular autumn sunset panorama from a rocky overlook in West Virginia's Monongahela National Forest. Five vertical images were stitched together to get this 180 degree view.
    Mon on Fire
  • 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
  • Massive and striking Banner Peak glows with the first light of the day, and towers over Garnet Lake and one of its many islands. Ansel Adams Wilderness, California.
    In the Shadow of Giants (color version)
  • An interesting cloud formation complements a maple tree showing off its autumn colors on a beautiful October day in West Virginia's Canaan Valley State Park. While not nearly as well known or talked about as places like New England when it comes to fall colors, I think that the West Virginia Highlands put on a fall foliage display that's just as good as what can be seen in other parts of the country, and typically with a fraction of the crowds!
    Homestead
  • The wood stove is the lifeblood of a cabin in winter. With its glowing flames, soft hum, and soothing warmth, the wood stove is the perfect thing to come back to after a day spent exploring the snowy mountains. And on more than one occasion, the pull of the wood stove was so irresistible that we didn't even make it out of the cabin all day! Adirondack Mountains, New York.
    Heart of the Cabin
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • Krummholz covered in rime ice catches the brilliant sunset light on a perfect winter day in the Adirondack High Peaks.
    Warp Speed
  • While in grad school at Johns Hopkins, I walked by these maple trees on my way to and from lab every day. They're some of the largest maples I've ever seen, with long, graceful branches emanating from their trunks. This photograph captures one of the branches reaching out towards me, dressed in its autumn's best.
    Dissertation
  • 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
  • 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
  • Majestic Mount Robson, the tallest peak in the Canadian Rockies, towers over the forest at Robson Meadows, as seen during a spectacular September sunset. The Texqakallt, a Secwepemc people and the earliest inhabitants of the area, call Mount Robson Yuh-hai-has-kun, which translates to Mountain of the Spiral Road. The mountain is often cloaked in clouds, and nothing can prepare you for your first clear view of the mountain. Mine came on a chilly night at 2 AM, at the tail end of a marathon drive starting at the redwoods of Northern California, and ending at Robson Meadows campground. In a daze, thinking only of how good it would feel to finally set up my tent and slip into my sleeping bag for a deep slumber, I looked up and saw a white mass hovering in the starry, moonlit sky. As I drove closer, I realized that what I at first though was some sort of alien spaceship, was actually the snowy face of Mount Robson, towering nearly 10,000 feet above the surrounding meadows and forest. Slack-jawed and fortunate that no other cars were on the road for me to veer into, I finally arrived and set up camp. Even after 18 hours in the car, I had a hard time sleeping that night. I was full of excitement for the coming days of exploration after catching my first glimpse of the moonlit monolith, the Mountain of the Spiral Road.    Mount Robson Provincial Park, British Columbia, Canada.
    Mountain of the Spiral Road
  • A pre-sunrise glow fills the sky and illuminates the rocky shoreline of Georgian Bay. Bruce Peninsula National Park, Ontario.
    Levels
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