Joey Priola Wilderness Photography

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  • 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
  • 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
  • Freshly fallen autumn leaves gather around exposed tree roots in the Adirondack Mountains.
    Life Cycle
  • Snow-covered tree trunks form an abstract, ghostly scene in the winter forest. Adirondack Mountains, New York.
    Depth of Winter
  • 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 juvenile red-tailed hawk perched atop a tree fluffs up its feathers.
    All Fluffed Up
  • A red-tailed hawk gives a side-eyed staredown while perched in a tree clinging to its final few autumn leaves.
    Soul Piercing
  • A robin hides out in a blooming cherry tree in Upstate New York.
    Home Range
  • 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 hardy, gnarled, and beautiful bristlecone pines found in the White Mountains of California are the oldest known living non-clonal trees in the world, with the oldest identified one being over 5,000 years old. Over the course of a week of exploring the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest, I found myself returning time and again to this one particular tree. I was fascinated by  its twisting, barkless limbs, and the fact that only a small portion of the tree was still technically alive. You don't live for thousands of years without being a master of survival, and one of the ways in which these trees are able to live so long is their sectored architecture. Each root section feeds only the part of the tree directly above it, and as one root dies off due to exposure through soil erosion, only the sector of tree above that root dies. In the tree shown in this photograph, the right side has succumbed to exposure and erosion, while the upper left reaches are still clinging to life. On one of the last mornings of my visit, I was  able to capture this tree under a sky filled with surreal clouds shortly after sunrise, which felt like the perfect complement to the otherworldly shape and longevity of the ancient bristlecones.
    Father Time
  • 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
  • The Bristlecone Pine trees found in California's White Mountains, home of the oldest known living tree in the world at over 5,000 years, are masters of survival. The colorful trunk of this particular tree managed to wrap itself around a pile of rocks, while still continuing to grow.
    Hourglass
  • 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
  • This large birch tree in the verdant Vermont forest didn't let a boulder stop it from flourishing, it simply decided to grow right around it! The next time I'm faced with a seemingly insurmountable obstacle, I'll think about this tree as motivation.
    I Will Find a Way
  • There are moments in life when time seems to stand still. When all the outside noise slips away and the mind, body, and spirit are focused entirely on the moment at hand. For me, the wilderness is where I go to seek these moments. Whether it's been a stunning sunset along the ocean, a rewarding winter view after a punishing climb, or hearing the haunting call of a loon echo across a foggy lake, I've been fortunate to experience countless moments where nature has taken my breath away and made time stand still. Out of all these moments, there's one that stands out from the rest. On a trip to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, we were dying to see black bears in the wild. After a couple days of exploration with no sightings, we were rewarded with what likely was the greatest experience we've ever had in the wilds. A mama bear and her three cubs were hanging out at the base of a walnut tree, which itself was exhilarating to see. But then the cubs got restless, and began to climb the walnut tree. We stood awestruck as they deftly scaled the thin branches that swayed in the evening breeze, and I could feel my heart pounding so much with excitement that it felt like it would burst. This was one of those rare moments that cause you to ask aloud "is this real?" because it's unlike anything that your eyes have seen before. This was indeed real, and was a moment we'll never forget.
    Time Stood Still
  • The gnarled and beautiful limbs of an Ancient Bristlecone Pine catch the evening light. The Ancient Bristlecone Pine forest in the White Mountains of California, where this photograph was taken, is home to the oldest known living tree in the world - a Bristlecone Pine that is over 5,000 years old!
    Twists of Time
  • Is there anything more New England than a Christmas tree made out of lobster traps and buoys? "Trees" of different sizes and arrangements can be found in coastal towns throughout New England during the Christmas season, and the tree pictured here comes with the added bonus of having the Nubble Lighthouse, dressed in its own Christmas lights, as a backdrop.
    'Tis the Season
  • A giant fallen tree adorned with moss slowly decays and gives life to the forest that it once towered over. Olympic National Park, Washington.
    Giving Back
  • A palm tree on Saona Island frames a visitor taking in the tropical beauty of the Dominican Republic on a perfect sunny day.
    Welcome Home
  • Viewing wildlife in their natural habitat is one of the most thrilling outdoor experiences imaginable. Heading into my first trip to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, I knew that seeing wildlife such as black bears was a possibility, but I tried to rein in my expectations of seeing one of these majestic creatures. In an incredible stroke of luck, we would end up seeing not one but five black bears during our week in the Smokies! We came across the one in this photo just in time to see it awake from its evening snooze to stretch out against a tree trunk before ambling off into the autumn forest, truly a moment that we'll never forget.
    Just in Time
  • Since I’ve had some extra time on my hands lately, it’s given me a chance to dig through the archives and revisit some photos that I had long forgotten about, including a number of shots from trips to West Virginia while I was in grad school at Johns Hopkins. The Monongahela National Forest epitomizes the West Virginia state slogan of Wild and Wonderful, and my journeys to the incredible wilderness areas of the Mon always left me feeling rejuvenated and inspired, and were a welcome respite from the general chaos that is grad school. On a spring camping trip to Spruce Knob Lake, I came across a ghostly old tree stump and roots at sunset that were just barely poking up above the surface of the lake. A tuft of grass was somehow sprouting up out of the old stump, which seems like the perfect metaphor for hope and rebirth in these crazy, scary times amidst the coronavirus pandemic.
    Rebirth
  • A palm tree stretches out on the beautiful beach on Saona Island.
    Away From It All
  • A hardy tree that has somehow managed to grow from the top of a sea stack at Point of the Arches takes in a fantastic November sunrise. Shi Shi Beach, Olympic National Park, Washington.
    Roots
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • Snow-covered trees frame a distant mountain on a cold and moody evening in the Adirondack Mountains.
    The Road That I Must Choose
  • Snow-caked trees enjoy the sunset as Mount Colden towers over the valley in the distance. Adirondack High Peaks, New York.
    Marshmallow World
  • Bare trees and late autumn color on a mountainside at sunset in the Adirondack Mountains.
    Bare it All
  • 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
  • A view into both the above and underwater worlds at Saona Island, where a starfish rests on the sandy ocean floor and palm trees fringe the white sand beach. If you travel here and come across a starfish, please resist the urge to pick it up to get a closer look. Saona Island, Dominican Republic.
    Hi There
  • A skiff floats in the turquoise Caribbean waters off of palm tree-fringed Saona Island.
    Escape Plan
  • Denuded Aspen trees reach toward the heavens in a pristine forest in Jasper National Park, Alberta. The lines and patterns in this abstract composition remind me of the branching structure of a nerve, hence the title.
    Nerve Center
  • The snowy landscape picks up a brilliant sunset glow high in the Adirondack Mountains.
    Ice in the Veins
  • 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
  • Towering Mount Marcy pokes through the clouds and catches the warm light of sunset. Adirondack Mountains, New York.
    Layers of Marcy
  • 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
  • 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
  • The setting sun broke through the clouds just enough to bring the snowy landscape to life. Adirondack High Peaks, New York.
    Renewal
  • Soft sunset light spreads across the sky and adds some warmth to the snowy winter mountains. Adirondack Mountains, New York.
    A Winter Friend
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • Beautiful, glowing, and warm sunset light contrasts with snowy evergreens on a frigid winter day. Adirondack High Peaks, New York.
    Floating in Fire
  • 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
  • A pileated woodpecker admires its handiwork on a snowy winter day.
    Knock on Wood
  • Bluebird days following a big snowfall don't happen nearly as often as I wish they could in winter, but it's always a special treat to tramp through the fresh and fluffy snow when the conditions align. Adirondack Park, New York.
    Snowshine
  • 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
  • Day transitions to night high in the Adirondack Mountains as the final faint glow of sunset yields to the sparking stars.
    Transition
  • Soaking in a cold and beautiful winter sunset from just below a mountain summit in the Adirondacks.
    Energy
  • Warm sunset light contrasts with frigid temperatures and illuminates snow-covered evergreens and distant mountains. Adirondack High Peaks, New York.
    Closing Time
  • 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
  • Snowy evergreens on a mountain summit bask in an incredible post-sunset glow. Adirondack High Peaks, New York.
    Frozen in Place
  • My dad snowshoes through a snowy winter forest in the Adirondack High Peaks.
    Bonding
  • 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
  • Interesting patterns in a partially frozen pond in the forest. Adirondack Park, NY.
    Amorphous
  • 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
  • Beautiful cheery blossom flowers bloom in Upstate New York.
    Porch Times
  • Krummholz covered in rime ice catches the brilliant sunset light on a perfect winter day in the Adirondack High Peaks.
    Warp Speed
  • As if this treehouse in Vermont's Northeast Kingdom wasn't enchanting enough on its own, the fire ring down by the verdant creek took the experience to another level.
    All That One Needs
  • In Vermont's Northeast Kingdom, a treehouse in the pristine forest proved to be the perfect sanctuary for escaping the modern world and reconnecting with what's most important - nature and each other.
    Forest Sanctuary
  • Is there anything more "summer" than making s'mores by a campfire?
    S'mores Season
  • A treehouse in Vermont's Northeast Kingdom was the perfect escape on a drizzly summer day.
    Three Best Friends
  • Welcome to the treehouse, in the heart of Vermont's Northeast Kingdom.
    Welcome to the Kingdom
  • A beautiful treehouse in the lush Vermont forest looks out over a creek adorned with moss-covered boulders.
    Homestead From a Dream
  • A beautiful field of lupines soaks up the last light of the day in New Hampshire's White Mountains. A nearly full moon added a special touch to the already serene scene.
    Catharsis
  • Sunset light strikes the face of a massive sea stack along the Olympic Coast on a moody November evening, just steps away from one of my all-time favorite backcountry campsites. Olympic National Park, Washington.
    We Three Kings
  • The Roaring Plains Wilderness is the epitome of West Virginia's state slogan: Wild and Wonderful.  Located on the rim of Long Run Canyon, far from any official trail,  the depressions in the rock in this photo gather spruce needles and fallen leaves, staining the rock and water red as they decay. The challenging terrain, remoteness, and beauty of the Roaring Plains made it my favorite backpacking destination in West Virginia, where I would often escape while living in Baltimore for grad school. Roaring Plains West Wilderness, West Virginia.
    Spruce Tea
  • Palm fronds soak up the warm tropical sun on Saona Island.
    Under the Canopy
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • Colorful fall foliage surrounds the bare trunk and branches of a birch tree. Adirondack Mountains, New York.
    Skeleton Crew
  • 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
  • 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 tree-studded island reflects in an Adirondack pond as sunrise marks the beginning of another glorious day on the water.
    Make it Count
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • Warm sunset light and greenery on the trees gave this early September evening a summer feel, but a chill in the air that required a flannel and winter hat be worn for the sunset paddle made it clear that autumn was just around the corner. Adirondack Mountains, New York.
    There's Something About a Boat
  • A boardwalk leads into the lush and ancient forest on British Columbia’s Meares Island, home to some of the largest and oldest Western Red Cedar trees in the world. The island was almost forever changed in the 1980s, but thanks to protests by the Nuu-chah-nulth and Tofino locals, logging and development of the island was blocked.
    Path of the Righteous
  • Birch trees catch the sunrise light on a calm and foggy autumn morning in the beautiful Vermont countryside.
    Be Still
  • 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
  • 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
  • Self-portrait from a rocky ledge overlooking pure autumn wilderness in the Adirondack Mountains.
    Wide-Eyed Wilderness
  • Cascades on Gill Brook on a warm June day. Adirondack High Peaks, New York.
    Cooling Off
  • Towering, whimsical evergreens caked with snow made it feel like I was hiking to Whoville. Adirondack High Peaks, New York.
    Hiking to Whoville
  • 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
  • A rocky little island reflects in a still pond before sunrise on a late-summer morning. Adirondack Park, New York.
    First Blush
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • Delicate morning fog glows with the soft light of sunrise over a mountainside bursting with every fall color imaginable. Adirondack Mountains, New York.
    Radiance
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