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Paria Badlands, Utah https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/cascade-mountain-winter-sunset-adirondacks/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Cascade-Mountain-Winter-Sunset-Adirondacks.jpg Floating in Fire Beautiful, glowing, and warm sunset light contrasts with snowy evergreens on the summit of Cascade Mountain in New York's Adirondack High Peaks on a frigid winter day. Adirondack Mountains, New York https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/zion-temple-of-sinawava-winter/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Zion-Temple-of-Sinawava-Winter.jpg Last Light The tip of the Pulpit in the Temple of Sinawava catches the last light of the day that will make its way into the canyon in Zion National Park, Utah. Zion National Park, Utah https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/zion-sunlit-sandstone-winter-cottonwoods/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Zion-Sunlit-Sandstone-Winter-Cottonwoods.jpg Waiting For The Light Stately cottonwood trees frame sunlit evergreens high up on a canyon wall in Utah's Zion National Park. On this winter day, I was reminded that just because the trees are bare, it doesn't mean that they are no longer beautiful. Zion National Park, Utah https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/zion-sunlit-evergreens-cottonwood-frame/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Zion-Sunlit-Evergreens-Cottonwood-Frame.jpg Bare But Beautiful Stately cottonwood trees frame sunlit evergreens high up on a canyon wall in Utah's Zion National Park. On this winter day, I was reminded that just because the trees are bare, it doesn't mean that they are no longer beautiful. Zion National Park, Utah https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/zion-sandstone-water-reflection-abstract/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Zion-Sandstone-Water-Reflection-Abstract.jpg Alchemy Of Stone The sunlit walls of Zion Canyon and the clear blue sky reflect in the shadowed surface of a river to create a beautiful, abstract composition in Utah's Zion National Park. Zion National Park, Utah https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/zion-red-streaked-sandstone-wall/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Zion-Red-Streaked-Sandstone-Wall.jpg Wounded Walls Beautiful desert varnish that's so red it resembles blood spills down a canyon wall in Utah's Zion National Park. Desert varnish is a geological and biological accumulation that's primarily composed of minerals, such as iron oxide, that sometimes gives it a bright red or orange color. Zion National Park, Utah https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/temple-of-sinawava-winter-foliage/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Temple-Of-Sinawava-Winter-Foliage.jpg The Soft Light Of Winter Soft, reflected evening light subtly brings the winter vegetation and Pulpit rock formation to life in the Temple of Sinawava section of Utah's Zion National Park. Zion National Park, Utah https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/temple-of-sinawava-sunlit-tip/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Temple-Of-Sinawava-Sunlit-Tip.jpg Bask The Pulpit rock formation and the winter vegetation below it enjoy their last light of the day. Zion National Park, Utah https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/temple-of-sinawava-black-white/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Temple-Of-Sinawava-Black-White.jpg Shadowplay The sunlit tip of the Pulpit in Temple of Sinawava, along with a few bare trees, stands out from the shadows of Zion Canyon. Zion National Park, Utah https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/sunlit-temple-of-sinawava-winter/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Sunlit-Temple-Of-Sinawava-Winter.jpg Temple Sentinel The Pulpit and bare winter cottonwoods catch the afternoon sunshine in the Temple of Sinawava section of Utah's Zion National Park. Zion National Park, Utah https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/court-of-the-patriarchs-winter/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Court-Of-The-Patriarchs-Winter.jpg The Fourth Patriarch A shadow cast by the mountains opposite the Court of the Patriarchs -the three sandstone mountains in this photo - seems to resemble a fourth patriarch. Zion National Park, Utah https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/shi-shi-beach-olympic-sunrise/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Shi-Shi-Beach-Olympic-Sunrise.jpg Roots A beautiful sea stack at Shi Shi Beach with two trees on top that have somehow managed to take root enjoys a spectacular November sunrise among the swirling seas of Washington's Olympic National Park. Witnessing and photographing this moment made waking up in the middle of the night to discover that my tent had flooded from the heavy autumn rains and that my sleeping pad was floating on top of 3 inches of water all worth it! Olympic National Park, Washington https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/white-sands-yucca-shadow-abstract/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/White-Sands-Yucca-Shadow-Abstract.jpg 90 Minutes After years of longing to explore and photograph White Sands National Park, I finally was able to make a pilgrimage to this otherworldly location in New Mexico, which I decided would make a fitting destination to cap off a month-long winter road trip through the American Southwest. Although I had originally carved out three days to give myself time to fully explore and get to know the sand dunes and mountains of White Sands, Mother Nature had other plans. With an unusually strong winter storm bearing down on the southern states - many of which I would need to drive through to get back home to New York - I made the difficult decision to spend only a brief layover at White Sands before motoring on to hopefully beat the storm home. Although I was disappointed to miss out on witnessing and photographing the dramatic light of sunrise, sunset, and the blue hour on the gypsum sand dunes, I made the most of the 90 minutes that I had by seeking out abstract compositions, largely centered around the yucca plants that dot the sand dunes. In the photograph pictured here, I captured the shadow of a yucca plant cast on the pure white sand of the dunes. Hitting the road back home earlier than anticipated proved to be a wise move as snow and ice ground much of the South to a halt during the days that I originally was supposed to be driving back home. The pull to more comprehensively photograph White Sands has only grown stronger since getting a brief taste of its splendor, and I certainly will be back! White Sands National Park, New Mexico https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/white-sands-yucca-plant-shadow/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/White-Sands-Yucca-Plant-Shadow.jpg Projection The shadow cast by a yucca plant onto the gypsum sands of New Mexico's White Sands National Park made for an interesting abstract composition. White Sands National Park, New Mexico https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/white-sands-yucca-dunes-mountains/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/White-Sands-Yucca-Dunes-Mountains.jpg World Of White Yucca plants stand out from the bright white sand dunes of New Mexico's White Sands National Park, with the San Andreas Mountains in the background. White Sands National Park, New Mexico https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/white-sands-yucca-black-white/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/White-Sands-Yucca-Black-White.jpg High-Key Yuccas Yucca plants in various life stages reside atop the ridge of a sand dune in New Mexico's White Sands National Park. White Sands National Park, New Mexico https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/white-sands-high-key-yucca/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/White-Sands-High-Key-Yucca.jpg Yucca Portrait A beautiful yucca plant stands out against the bright sands of New Mexico's White Sands National Park. White Sands National Park, New Mexico https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/sunstars-lake-ontario-abstract/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Sunstars-Lake-Ontario-Abstract.jpg Melting Sun The setting sun seems to melt into the surface of New York's Lake Ontario. Lake Ontario, New York https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/sunset-sunstars-water-reflection-abstract/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Sunset-Sunstars-Water-Reflection-Abstract.jpg Sunstars An abstract black and white rendition of sunshine reflecting in the surface of New York's Lake Ontario. Lake Ontario, New York https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/lake-ontario-sunstars-water-abstract/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Lake-Ontario-Sunstars-Water-Abstract.jpg String Theory Using a telephoto lens to isolate the light of the setting sun reflecting on the blue waters of Lake Ontario was an incredibly captivating way to pass the time while waiting for the sun to set. Lake Ontario, New York https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/lake-ontario-sunset-water-abstract/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Lake-Ontario-Sunset-Water-Abstract.jpg Liquid Light Using a telephoto lens to isolate the light of the setting sun reflecting on the blue waters of Lake Ontario was an incredibly captivating way to pass the time while waiting for the sun to set. In the end, this image ended up being my favorite from the day, even more so than the photos that I got at sunset. Lake Ontario, New York https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/lake-george-red-abstract-reflection/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Lake-George-Red-Abstract-Reflection.jpg Liquidity An abstract composition of a red and blue boathouse reflecting on the surface of Lake George in New York's Adirondack Mountains. Adirondack Mountains, New York https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/lake-george-icicles-reflection-abstract/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Lake-George-Icicles-Reflection-Abstract.jpg Blood In The Water On a subzero winter day when any sane person would have stayed inside, I found myself braving numb fingers and toes along the icy shore of Lake George in New York's Adirondack Mountains. My reward was capturing this abstract composition of icicles hanging down from the underside of a boat dock, where they glowed with the low-angled winter sunlight. The red and blue in the background is the result of a red and blue boathouse that was near this collection of icicles reflecting on the surface of the lake. Adirondack Mountains, New York https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/lake-george-frozen-sand-stripes/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Lake-George-Frozen-Sand-Stripes.jpg Illusions Of Summer The surface of Lake George flash froze overnight, giving a glimpse of summer sands below its icy surface. Adirondack Mountains, New York https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/frozen-pond-surface-sunset-snow/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Frozen-Pond-Surface-Sunset-Snow.jpg Frozen Motion Sunset light reflects on the icy surface of a pond that's striped with white streaks of snow to create an unusual and intriguing abstract composition. Upstate New York https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/abstract-water-reflection-white-blue/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Abstract-Water-Reflection-White-Blue.jpg Of A Summer's Sky White clouds and a blue summer sky reflect in the surface of a lake in New York's Adirondack Mountains. Adirondack Mountains, New York https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/abstract-water-reflection-monochrome/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Abstract-Water-Reflection-Monochrome.jpg Swirling Light Reflections on the surface of the lake in New York's Adirondack Mountains rendered as abstract swirls of light. Adirondack Mountains, New York https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/abstract-water-reflection-bubbles/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Abstract-Water-Reflection-Bubbles.jpg Bubbling Up White clouds and blue sky reflect on the surface of a lake in New York's Adirondack Mountains, as three bubbles appear on the surface. Adirondack Mountains, New York https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/abstract-ice-shapes-on-pond/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Abstract-Ice-Shapes-On-Pond.jpg Children Of The Ice One of my favorite aspects of abstract photography is trying to make sense of what exactly a photo is representing. When I came across this scene on the surface of a frozen local pond, I immediately thought of the large formation in the ice as a mother tending over her incubating children. Upstate New York https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/colorful-rocks-cracked-mud-utah/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Colorful-Rocks-Cracked-Mud-Utah.jpg Fruity Pebbles Colorful stones washed down from bentonite badlands after a heavy rain became trapped in the cracked earth once it dried. Paria Badlands, Utah https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/land-cruiser-paria-badlands/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Toyota-Land-Cruiser-Utah-Badlands.jpg CRUUUZN In Candyland Exploring the lonely backroads at the base of the colorful Paria Badlands in Southern Utah was a highlight of a month-long road trip through the American Southwest. Paria Badlands, Utah https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/land-cruiser-badlands-sunset/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Toyota-Land-Cruiser-Badlands-Sunset.jpg Land CRUUUZN Beautiful badlands, a colorful sunset, solitude, and the thrill of exploring dusty trails in my Land Cruiser made me feel incredibly alive on this unforgettable evening in Utah. Paria Badlands, Utah https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/sunlit-bentonite-badlands-paria-utah/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Sunlit-Bentonite-Badlands-Paria-Utah.jpg The Edge A beautiful contrast of color and light in Southern Utah's Paria Badlands. Paria Badlands, Utah https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/striped-badlands-paria-utah/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Striped-Badlands-Paria-Utah.jpg Alien Lands Colorful badlands look like something not of this earth, but this is, in fact, just one of the countless otherworldly locales in Southern Utah. Paria Badlands, Utah https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/red-boulders-paria-badlands-utah/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Red-Boulders-Paria-Badlands-Utah.jpg Stuck While exploring the colorful bentonite badlands of Southern Utah, I was immediately drawn to this collection of red boulders trapped in the badlands. Paria Badlands, Utah https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/purple-badlands-paria-utah/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Purple-Badlands-Paria-Utah.jpg Good To Be Bad Morning light dramatically spotlights the colorful bentonite badlands that make Southern Utah one of the most geologically and scenically diverse locations in America. Paria Badlands, Utah https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/paria-utah-bentonite-badlands/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Paria-Utah-Bentonite-Badlands.jpg Color Canyon The presence of various minerals in bentonite clay can lead to some incredibly colorful layers of badlands, like those pictured here. Paria Badlands, Utah https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/paria-badlands-utah-layers-sunrise/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Paria-Badlands-Utah-Layers-Sunrise.jpg Morning Drama A dramatic sunrise brings even more color to the already vivid bentonite badlands of Southern Utah. Paria Badlands, Utah https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/paria-badlands-utah-hoodoo/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Paria-Badlands-Utah-Hoodoo.jpg Hammer Of The Gods While exploring Utah's Paria Badlands, I was delighted to find this dramatic hoodoo tucked away within the colorful bentonite badlands. Paria Badlands, Utah https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/paria-badlands-utah-dramatic-sunrise/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Paria-Badlands-Utah-Dramatic-Sunrise.jpg Badlands Sunrise A dramatic sunrise brings even more color to the already vivid bentonite badlands of Southern Utah. Paria Badlands, Utah https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/paria-badlands-utah-detail/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Paria-Badlands-Utah-Detail.jpg Boulders And Badlands Evening light delicately illuminates the boulders and badlands of Southern Utah. Paria Badlands, Utah https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/looking-out-land-cruiser-hatch/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Looking-Out-Land-Cruiser-Hatch.jpg Lookin' Out My Back Hatch The view out of the back hatch of my Land Cruiser from my campsite near the Paria Badlands in Southern Utah. Paria Badlands, Utah https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/colorful-paria-badlands-utah-sunrise/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Colorful-Paria-Badlands-Utah-Sunrise.jpg Color and Time Layers of color and time are revealed in the bentonite badlands of Southern Utah. Paria Badlands, Utah https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/colorful-badlands-paria-townsite-utah/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Colorful-Badlands-Paria-Townsite-Utah.jpg Mineral Madness The presence of various minerals in bentonite clay can lead to some incredibly colorful layers of badlands, like those pictured here. Paria Badlands, Utah https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/land-cruiser-bentonite-badlands-sunset/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Bentonite-Badlands-Toyota-Land-Cruiser.jpg Runaway High Beautiful badlands, a colorful sunset, and the thrill of exploring dusty trails in my Land Cruiser made me feel incredibly alive on this unforgettable evening in Utah. Paria Badlands, Utah https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/bentonite-badlands-paria-utah/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Bentonite-Badlands-Paria-Utah.jpg Psychedeliderm When I first saw the colors and textures of the badlands pictured here, I immediately thought that it resembled the skin of an elephant, if it were painted a kaleidoscope of psychedelic colors. Paria Badlands, Utah https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/snowcapped-sandstone-page-arizona/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Snowcapped-Sandstone-Page-Arizona.jpg Snowcapped Sandstone A snowcapped sandstone boulder stands out against a striped sandstone wall after a winter storm. Navajo Lands, Arizona https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/page-arizona-winter-mountain-sunrise/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Page-Arizona-Winter-Mountain-Sunrise.jpg Frozen Beauty A beautiful, snow-covered sandstone mountain near Page, Arizona catches the light on a frigid but majestic February morning after a winter storm. Navajo Lands, Arizona https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/page-arizona-hoodoos-winter-storm/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Page-Arizona-Hoodoos-Winter-Storm.jpg Meant To Be Something that never fails to amaze me whenever I'm on an extended road trip is how seemingly inconsequential events can lead to serendipitous moments that I never thought would be possible. While on a month-long winter road trip through the American Southwest, I was reminded of this on my first day in Arizona, when an unexpected winter storm passed through and made me alter my plans for the day. My initial disappointment quickly dissipated when I found this collection of snowcapped hoodoos near the town of Page, Arizona, and watched in awe as the storm began to dissipate while marveling at the fact that although things rarely go as planned on the road, more often than not, I come away with a feeling that it all was meant to be. Navajo Lands, Arizona https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/horseshoe-bend-intimate-sunset/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Horseshoe-Bend-Intimate-Detail.jpg Silence While I waited for the sun to set and the crowds to dissipate at Horseshoe Bend, I wandered away from the main viewpoint to a quieter section of the canyon rim, where I was able to finally find some silence. I also found a beautiful view of the Colorado River winding its way through the shadows of the canyon, while the rim where I was standing caught the last golden light of the day. Navajo Lands, Arizona https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/horseshoe-bend-arizona-winter-sunset/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Horseshoe-Bend-Arizona-Winter-Sunset.jpg Finally Alone After being surrounded by hundreds of tourists leading up to sunset at Horseshoe Bend near Page, Arizona, I was delighted to finally be alone and have the view all to myself when everyone else left right after sunset. A 30-second exposure was able to pick up the last glowing remnants of light, which illuminated the sky and stone with beautiful warm tones, which contrasted nicely with the cool blue of the Colorado River navigating its way through the canyon below. Navajo Lands, Arizona https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/frosty-fallen-cottonwood-leaves/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Frosty-Fallen-Cottonwood-Leaves.jpg Frosted Flakes Frosty fallen leaves that gathered against a sandstone boulder near my campsite. Photographing this collection of leaves was a perfect distraction from the cold while I waited for my freeze-dried breakfast to rehydrate. Navajo Lands, Arizona https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/clearing-winter-storm-antelope-pass/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Clearing-Winter-Storm-Antelope-Pass.jpg Clouds In The Canyon Storm clouds swirl in the canyon below a hoodoo after a winter storm graced the landscape around Page, Arizona, with a fresh blanket of snow. Navajo Lands, Arizona https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/antelope-pass-page-winter-storm/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Antelope-Pass-Page-Winter-Storm.jpg Peeking Out A snowcapped hoodoo gazes out to a sliver of canyon in the distance that's revealed as the winter storm clouds slowly begin to dissipate. Navajo Lands, Arizona https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/antelope-pass-page-arizona-hoodoos/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Antelope-Pass-Page-Arizona-Hoodoos.jpg Serendipity Snowcapped hoodoos stand out against winter storm clouds in a moment of road trip serendipity. Navajo Lands, Arizona https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/looking-glass-rock-fall-sunrise/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Looking-Glass-Rock-Fall-Sunrise.jpg Through the Looking Glass Morning sunlight strikes the steep granite face of Looking Glass Rock, which is named for the way that the rock reflects sunlight. Pisgah National Forest, North Carolina https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/zion-narrows-tree-canyon-wall/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Zion-Narrows-Tree-Canyon-Wall.jpg Life Finds a Way 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 precipitous 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 https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/yin-yang-bristlecone-pine-detail/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Yin-Yang-Bristlecone-Pine-Detail.jpg Ancient Balance An interesting pattern of light and dark bark on the trunk of an ancient bristlecone pine tree perfectly resembles a Yin-Yang symbol. Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest, California https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/wright-peak-adirondacks-winter-sunset/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Wright-Peak-Adirondacks-Winter-Sunset.jpg Always Worth It 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 https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/wildfire-burning-at-night/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Wildfire-Burning-At-Night.jpg Luna & Lucifer 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 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, 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, making the otherwise cloudless blue sky 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 continued 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 starry night sky and the moon hung over Wheeler Peak and silently watched the mountainsides burn. Great Basin National Park, Nevada https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/white-mountains-silver-cascade-autumn/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/White-Mountains-Silver-Cascade-Autumn.jpg Cradled in Color Brilliant fall foliage perfectly frames Silver Cascade in New Hampshire's White Mountains. White Mountains, New Hampshire https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/white-mountains-new-hampshire-lupine/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/White-Mountains-New-Hampshire-Lupine.jpg Lupine Lullaby Morning fog adds a touch of dreaminess to a field of beautiful purple lupines at the base of a large tree in New Hampshire's White Mountains. White Mountains, New Hampshire https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/white-mountains-fall-foliage-rainbow/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/White-Mountains-Fall-Foliage-Rainbow.jpg The Joy of Color As if this mountainside wasn't colorful enough with its striking fall foliage, a beautiful rainbow added an extra special dose of vibrancy to this scene. For a 2-hour span on the afternoon that this photo was taken, rainbows were constantly appearing and reappearing as the light filtered through a stormy sky while I explored New Hampshire's White Mountains. The experience of viewing and photographing such beauty was most certainly the highlight of a weeklong trip to the Whites - until I witnessed the most intense display of northern lights that I've ever experienced just a few hours later, that is. Talk about an unforgettable - and incredibly colorful - day in the mountains! White Mountains, New Hampshire https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/white-mountains-evergreen-autumn-foliage/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/White-Mountains-Evergreen-Autumn-Foliage.jpg Keep Me Safe An evergreen sapling seeks shelter against the trunk of a much larger relative in New Hampshire's White Mountains. I loved how the vibrant green shoots of the sapling contrasted with the fallen leaves that carpeted the forest floor on this wet October day. White Mountains, New Hampshire https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/white-mountains-autumn-rainbow/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/White-Mountains-Autumn-Rainbow.jpg Chasing Rainbows A beautiful rainbow arcs over a mountain boasting peak fall foliage. For a 2-hour span on the afternoon that this photo was taken, rainbows were constantly appearing and reappearing as the light filtered through a stormy sky while I explored New Hampshire's White Mountains. The experience of viewing and photographing such beauty was most certainly the highlight of a weeklong trip to the Whites - until I witnessed the most intense display of northern lights that I've ever experienced just a few hours later. Talk about an unforgettable - and incredibly colorful - day in the mountains! White Mountains, New Hampshire https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/white-mountains-fog-fall-foliage/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/White-Mountains-Fog-Fall-Foliage.jpg Labyrinth Fog mingles with the forest at sunrise on a beautiful October morning in New Hampshire's White Mountains. White Mountains, New Hampshire https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/tuolumne-river-yosemite-sunset-waterfall/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Tuolumne-River-Yosemite-Sunset-Waterfall.jpg Gold Rush Rapids of the Tuolumne River sparkle like gold at sunset, in the backcountry of California's Yosemite National Park. Yosemite National Park, California https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/tree-roots-fallen-autumn-leaves/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Tree-Roots-Fallen-Autumn-Leaves.jpg Lifecycle Fallen leaves collect among the roots of a tree in New York's Adirondack Mountains, where they will slowly decay and give life back to the very tree that once gave themselves life. Adirondack Mountains, New York https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/thors-well-oregon-sunrise/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Thors-Well-Oregon-Sunrise.jpg Go Ask Alice Surf pours down a hole in the shelf of volcanic rock at Cape Perpetua known as Thor's Well while in the background the next wave rolls in. Getting to this vantage point requires good timing and steady nerves, and on the last morning that I camped in the area, the low tide coincided with sunrise, and I lucked out with some beautiful light. Cape Perpetua, Oregon https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/sunlit-tree-trunks-ice-reflection/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Sunlit-Tree-Trunks-Ice-Reflection.jpg The Dream Within Sunlit tree trunks reflect on the frozen surface of a pond in Upstate New York. Upstate New York https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/sunflowers-red-barn-summer-sunset/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Sunflowers-Red-Barn-Summer-Sunset.jpg Simple Times Are The Best Times There's nothing quite like an evening drive down lonely country roads, with the windows down and some classic rock pumping, to make you feel alive. Stopping at a beautiful destination for the sunset doesn't hurt either, and on this warm August evening, my lingering thoughts about work and responsibilities melted away as I watched the sunset glow hang in the humid air and bring life to the just-bloomed sunflowers that surrounded me. Upstate New York https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/sugar-hill-autumn-sunrise/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Sugar-Hill-Autumn-Sunrise.jpg Layers of Light Clearing fog, autumn colors and sunrise light combined to create an enchanting scene in New Hampshire's White Mountains. This was our first autumn trip to the White Mountains, and we were blown away by the seemingly endless array of hikes, scenic drives, and phenomenal views that this exceptionally rugged and beautiful mountain range has to offer. White Mountains, New Hampshire https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/smoky-mountains-red-barn-sunrise/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Smoky-Mountains-Red-Barn-Sunrise.jpg Appalachian Homestead A red barn stands out from the autumn landscape on a misty morning in Tennessee's Great Smoky Mountains. Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/small-island-tree-adirondacks/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Small-Island-Tree-Adirondacks.jpg Be Different Two evergreen trees poke through the fog and keep watch on an evergreen sapling on a tiny island, much like two parents keeping an eye on their child as it blazes new trails and establishes its own unique identity. Adirondack Mountains, New York https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/schoodic-peninsula-fall-foliage-sunrise/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Schoodic-Peninsula-Fall-Foliage-Sunrise.jpg Burning Bush The blueberry bushes along the coast of the Schoodic Peninsula turn brilliant red in October, and on this morning the rising sun burst through the clouds just enough to set the bushes ablaze. Acadia National Park, Maine https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/sandstone-cave-campfire-starry-night/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Sandstone-Cave-Campfire-Starry-Night.jpg Primal Man Mankind's greatest discovery. That's how my friend Evan and I often refer to fire when gathered around its warm, inviting glow when 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. Utah https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/rollins-pond-adirondacks-sunrise-canoe/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Rollins-Pond-Adirondacks-Sunrise-Canoe.jpg Morning Mirror Calm, foggy mornings are the perfect time to be out in a canoe, and sometimes the water is so still it feels like you're floating in a giant mirror. Adirondack Mountains, New York https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/red-sea-stack-pei-canada/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Red-Sea-Stack-PEI-Canada.jpg Still Standing The ceaseless movement of the ocean carved a massive hole in the center of this sea stack, with the early stages of a second one visible in the bottom left of the sea stack. By the time you read this, it's likely that the red, iron-rich stone pictured here has succumbed to the sea, but with each rock formation that is lost, new ones are gained as the cold waters of the Atlantic carve up the coast of Canada's Prince Edward Island. Prince Edward Island, Canada https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/red-oak-tree-winter-snow/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Red-Oak-Tree-Winter-Snow.jpg Harmonious Dichotomy Although trees are a very familiar sight, how often do you stand right under one and look up? After a heavy snowfall, the thick, snow covered limbs of this oak tree caught my eye from a distance, but it wasn't until I leaned right against its massive trunk and craned my head back that the full splendor and complexity of the tree revealed itself. The maze of snow covered branches, large and small, seemed simultaneously chaotic and in perfect harmony, just as our own lives can often feel. Upstate New York https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/red-autumn-maple-sunstar-reflection/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Red-Autumn-Maple-Sunstar-Reflection.jpg The Land of Two Suns The rising sun bursts through a beautiful maple tree not once, but twice, thanks to the draping branches of the maple tree stretching all the way down to the water where the sun was reflecting. Upstate New York https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/rainbow-falls-adirondacks-winter-ice/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Rainbow-Falls-Adirondacks-Winter-Ice.jpg When Rainbows Freeze Beautiful blue ice hangs from the cliff beside the last unfrozen veils of Rainbow Falls. Adirondack Mountains, New York https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/quirpon-island-newfoundland-iceberg-sunset/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Quirpon-Island-Newfoundland-Iceberg-Sunset.jpg Just the Beginning An iceberg parked off the shore of Newfoundland's Quirpon Island enjoys a beautiful sunset to conclude a perfect June day. Quirpon Island, Newfoundland https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/quirpon-island-newfoundland-icebergs/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Quirpon-Island-Newfoundland-Icebergs.jpg Tower of Power The chiseled face of a large iceberg floating in the icy waters off Quirpon Island, Newfoundland, looks out towards a fellow comrade floating on the horizon. Quirpon Island, Newfoundland https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/port-clyde-maine-sunrise-boats/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Port-Clyde-Maine-Sunrise-Boats.jpg After You A lobster boat, named After You, navigates its way through the harbor of Port Clyde, Maine on a foggy summer morning at sunrise as the lobstermen on board ready for a day at sea. Port Clyde, Maine https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/port-clyde-lobster-boats-fog/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Port-Clyde-Lobster-Boats-Fog.jpg Slowly Vanish A group of lobster boats stand out from the thick morning fog on a summer morning in Port Clyde, Maine.  Port Clyde, Maine https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/pisgah-national-forest-sunset-overlook/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Pisgah-National-Forest-Sunset-Overlook.jpg The Sun Sets on 34 The final sunset of my 34th year was thankfully an incredible one! Pisgah National Forest, North Carolina https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/phelps-mountain-adirondacks-winter-sunset/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Phelps-Mountain-Adirondacks-Winter-Sunset.jpg My Fingers Hurt Beautiful sunset light makes the snowy winter landscape at the summit of Phelps Mountain in New York's Adirondack High Peaks come alive. The solitude and dramatic beauty of winter makes it my favorite time of year to explore the mountains. Adirondack Mountains, New York https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/phelps-mountain-adirondacks-sunset-winter/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Phelps-Mountain-Adirondacks-Sunset-Winter.jpg Renewal The setting sun broke through the clouds just enough to bring the snowy landscape at the summit of Phelps Mountain to life. Adirondack Mountains, New York https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/phelps-mountain-adirondacks-snowy-trees/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Phelps-Mountain-Adirondacks-Snowy-Trees.jpg The Road That I Must Choose Snow-covered trees frame a distant mountain on a cold and moody evening in the Adirondack Mountains. Adirondack Mountains, New York https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/osmore-pond-vermont-fall-foliage/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Osmore-Pond-Vermont-Fall-Foliage.jpg Perfect Symmetry One of the best parts of an autumn canoe camping trip to Vermont's Osmore Pond was the ability to be onsite and at the ready to capture the beautiful foliage reflecting in the pond when the wind was calm. On this particular afternoon, the water was so glassy calm that it yielded some of the best reflections I've ever seen. Groton State Forest, Vermont https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/oneida-falls-ricketts-glen-spring/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Oneida-Falls-Ricketts-Glen-Spring.jpg Tiers of Joy A cascading waterfall spills down over the rocks below fresh spring foliage in Pennsylvania's Ricketts Glen State Park. Ricketts Glen State Park, Pennsylvania https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/olympic-sea-stack-sunset/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Olympic-Sea-Stack-Sunset.jpg Where The Spirits Glow The rugged wilderness coast of Washington's Olympic National Park is home to some of the most stunning coastal landscapes on the planet, and on this spring evening I was treated to one of the most intense sunsets I've ever witnessed. The moment was made even sweeter by the fact that I was in true wilderness, with no trace of civilization in sight. Olympic National Park, Washington https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/olympic-national-park-colorful-pebbles/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Olympic-National-Park-Colorful-Pebbles.jpg Pebble Treasure A collection of colorful pebbles, rounded over time by the action of waves, that I found one morning while exploring the coast near my backcountry campsite in Washington's Olympic National Park. Olympic National Park, Washington https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/northeast-kingdom-vermont-birch-boulder/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Northeast-Kingdom-Vermont-Birch-Boulder.jpg Overcome A large boulder was no match for this tenacious tree in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont. Northeast Kingdom, Vermont https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/noah-bud-ogle-cabin-autumn/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Noah-Bud-Ogle-Cabin-Autumn.jpg Where I'd Like To Be Sunrise illuminates the beautiful fall foliage that surrounds the historic Noah "Bud" Ogle cabin in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/new-london-pei-colorful-lobster-boats/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/New-London-Colorful-Lobster-Boats.jpg Gloom Be Gone On a cold, cloudy, and blustery spring day on Prince Edward Island, bright fishing shacks and fresh foliage add some welcome color to the landscape. Prince Edward Island, Canada https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/newfoundland-glacial-striped-rock/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Newfoundland-Glacial-Striped-Rock.jpg Who Dey Colorful stones on a rugged beach on the Newfoundland coast surround a boulder striped like a tiger. Newfoundland https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/mount-robson-canada-autumn-sunrise/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Mount-Robson-Canada-Autumn-Sunrise.jpg Behemoth Majestic Mount Robson, the tallest peak in the Canadian Rockies, towers over the foggy autumn forest as sunrise light kisses the summit of the glaciated peak. Mount Robson Provincial Park, British Columbia, Canada https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/mount-marcy-adirondacks-winter-sunset/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Mount-Marcy-Adirondacks-Winter-Sunset.jpg Layers of Marcy Towering Mount Marcy pokes through the clouds and catches the warm light of sunset. Adirondack Mountains, New York https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/mount-jo-summit-view-autumn/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Mount-Jo-Summit-View-Autumn.jpg Fire on the Mountain Frost coats flaming red berry bushes on the summit of Mount Jo in New York's Adirondack High Peaks as the first snow of the season graces the top of Algonquin Peak on a cold October dawn. Adirondack Mountains, New York https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/mount-jo-heart-lake-autumn/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Mount-Jo-Heart-Lake-Autumn.jpg Icing On The Cake Peak autumn foliage spreads out below the snow-capped summit of Algonquin Peak, as morning fog drifts off the surface of Heart Lake on a cold October morning a half hour before sunrise. Adirondack Mountains, New York https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/mount-jo-adirondacks-foggy-foliage/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Mount-Jo-Adirondacks-Foggy-Foliage.jpg Head In The Clouds Thick fog mingles with the trees just below the summit of Mount Jo on an autumn morning in New York's Adirondacks High Peaks.  Adirondack Mountains, New York https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/mount-jo-adirondacks-autumn-hiker/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Mount-Jo-Adirondacks-Autumn-Hiker.jpg Soak It In Yours truly 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 Heart 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 Mountains, New York https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/marshall-point-lighthouse-maine-sunset/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Marshall-Point-Lighthouse-Maine-Sunset.jpg Keeping Watch In a state filled with some of the most beautiful lighthouses in the country, Maine's Marshall Point Lighthouse - complete with a walkway that leads from land to the lighthouse - is undoubtedly one of the most unique lighthouses of the 57 active ones in the state. Marshall Point Lighthouse, Maine https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/machias-seal-island-maine-puffins/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Machias-Seal-Island-Maine-Puffins.jpg Sharing Secrets Two Atlantic Puffins have a chat on Machias Seal Island off the coast of Maine. The island offers incomparable seabird viewing in the summer months, and is home to the largest puffin colony on the coast of Maine. Observation blinds located on the island allow for close-range viewing of these magnificent creatures, with puffins often landing just feet away. Machias Seal Island, Maine https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/lynn-camp-prong-waterfall-foliage/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Lynn-Camp-Prong-Waterfall-Foliage.jpg Light Tunnel Warm morning light filters through the autumn forest and reflects on a cascading creek in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/lower-ausable-lake-autumn-reflection/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Lower-Ausable-Lake-Autumn-Reflection.jpg Infinity Sunshine, bright foliage, breaking morning fog, and unusually calm winds all combined to create an enchanting autumn scene. Adirondack Mountains, New York https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/little-hunters-beach-acadia-kelp/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Little-Hunters-Beach-Acadia-Kelp.jpg Seek and You Shall Find Overcast days on the coast are perfect for wandering the shore in search of interesting colors, patterns, and textures to photograph. On this rainy day in Acadia National Park, I happily spent the afternoon doing just that, and this collection of kelp and stones was one of my favorite finds of the day. Acadia National Park, Maine https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/lake-ohara-canada-autumn-sunset/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Lake-Ohara-Canada-Autumn-Sunset.jpg Crown Jewels The last light of the day strikes the summit of Mount Huber, as seen from the rocky shore of Lake O'Hara in British Columbia's Yoho National Park. Yoho National Park, British Columbia, Canada https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/lake-george-adirondacks-snowy-mountainside/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Lake-George-Adirondacks-Snowy-Mountainside.jpg A Snowy Dream A group of evergreens stand out from a snowy and misty mountainside on a dreamy winter day in New York's Adirondack Mountains. Adirondack Mountains, New York https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/lake-durant-adirondacks-autumn-sunrise/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Lake-Durant-Adirondacks-Autumn-Sunrise.jpg Don't Be Late There are few moments more anxiety inducing for a photographer than having the sky burst with color before they're in position to capture it. On this fall morning in the Adirondacks, I thought that I had budgeted enough time to get to my desired location before sunrise, but as I drove to the trailhead, hints of magenta and purple began to appear in the cloudy sky far earlier than I had anticipated. Fortunately, after 10 minutes of speed walking after I parked, I was able to set up shop just as the vibrant sunrise light began to skim the face of Blue Mountain. Although I got lucky that I wasn't too late for the light show, next time I'll set my alarm 15 minutes earlier to avoid the unnecessary stress and anxiety! Adirondack Mountains, New York https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/lake-ann-camping-mount-shuksan/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Lake-Ann-Camping-Mount-Shuksan.jpg Camping in a Dream After a day of backpacking through misty summer rain, the clouds cleared just in time to reveal the glaciated Mount Shuksan massif at sunset. Look closely and you'll see two tents (mine is the yellow one on the left) perched above Lake Ann, ready to spend the night camping in a mountain dream. Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, Washington https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/kootenay-rockwall-numa-pass-larches/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Kootenay-Rockwall-Numa-Pass-Larches.jpg North Of The Wall A fresh dusting of snow graces the jagged spires of the Rockwall, which rises over 3,000 feet above the turquoise, glacial waters of Floe Lake. The larch trees seen here at Numa Pass and the valley below turn a beautiful golden color in September and were the perfect complement to the dark mountains and skies on this moody morning. Kootenay National Park, British Columbia, Canada https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/kalaloch-beach-blue-waves-abstract/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Kalaloch-Beach-Blue-Waves-Abstract.jpg Sea Dreams An abstract rendition of ocean waves, created by moving my camera from side to side during the exposure. Olympic National Park, Washington https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/irridescent-frozen-ice-bubbles/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Irridescent-Frozen-Ice-Bubbles.jpg Iridescence on Ice When viewed at just the right angle, these bubbles trapped in the frozen surface of a pond demonstrated incredible aqua and magenta coloration via a phenomenon called iridescence. When light hits a bubble, part of it reflects off the front surface, while another part enters the bubble's soapy film and reflects off the back surface. Depending on the viewing angle and the thickness of the bubble, different colors will be visible at different viewpoints due to the interactions between the reflected light. While I was photographing these bubbles, it was fascinating to experience this firsthand, and if I moved just a few inches to either side, the colorful iridescence captured here vanished entirely. Upstate New York https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/illuminated-nubble-lighthouse-at-night/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Illuminated-Nubble-Lighthouse-At-Night.jpg Christmas on the Coast The Nubble Lighthouse in Maine is one of New England's most beautiful coastal attractions any time of year, but it becomes truly magical each winter when the lighthouse gets lit up with Christmas lights. I especially loved how the reflection of the lights in the sea became more prevalent as the sky grew darker. Cape Neddick, Maine https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/heceta-head-lighthouse-oregon-sunrise/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Heceta-Head-Lighthouse-Oregon-Sunrise.jpg Beacon A soft pastel sunrise illuminates the sky and ocean surrounding Heceta Head Lighthouse on the Oregon coast. Heceta Head, Oregon https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/harris-lake-adirondacks-autumn-sunrise/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Harris-Lake-Adirondacks-Autumn-Sunrise.jpg The Unexpected Incredible clouds that seemed to form out of nowhere, peak fall foliage, and calm conditions that facilitated a perfect reflection combined to make this one of the most memorable mornings I've had in the Adirondacks. Adirondack Mountains, New York https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/great-horned-owls-inside-tree/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Great-Horned-Owls-Inside-Tree.jpg The Watchers Two great horned owlets peek out from behind their mother in a hollowed-out tree.  Western New York https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/great-horned-owl-new-york/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Great-Horned-Owl-New-York.jpg Always Watching A great horned owl looks directly at you from the branches above. Western New York https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/glen-leigh-ricketts-spring-waterfal/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Glen-Leigh-Ricketts-Spring-Waterfall.jpg Glen of Green Sunlight filtering through the lush forest canopy imparted a beautiful yellow-green glow on one of the many picturesque waterfalls in Pennsylvania's Ricketts Glen State Park. Ricketts Glen State Park, Pennsylvania https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/frozen-ice-bubbles-monochrome-abstract/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Frozen-Ice-Bubbles-Monochrome-Abstract.jpg Frozen Origins I've always been fascinated by the intricate and abstract world of ice during the winter months, and one of the most intriguing findings I've ever had was a collection of bubbles trapped in the frozen surface of a local pond. When I zoomed in on the selection of bubbles captured here, my brain ran wild as I processed the various shapes and attempted to determine what they looked like, similar to staring up at the clouds and seeing animals and faces. I settled on what I imagine the "primordial soup" - a hypothetical liquid that existed on Earth billions of years ago that was rich in organic compounds and favorable for the emergence of life - looked like, albeit frozen. Adirondack Mountains, New York https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/driftwood-flowers-tofino-canada/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Driftwood-Flowers-Tofino-Canada.jpg Me & You Two small white flowers found their own little oasis inside a hollowed out piece of driftwood on Long Beach, in British Columbia's Pacific Rim National Park. Pacific Rim National Park, British Columbia https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/covehead-lighthouse-full-moon-pei/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Covehead-Lighthouse-Full-Moon-PEI.jpg Guiding Lights Covehead Harbor Lighthouse mimics the bright full moon in Canada's Prince Edward Island National Park. While not nearly as relied upon for navigation aids as they once were, lighthouses and celestial objects such as the moon have aided countless sailors in explorations across the globe over the centuries. Prince Edward Island, Canada https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/coffin-pond-fall-foliage/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Coffin-Pond-Fall-Foliage.jpg Veil Of Dawn Fog and foliage reflect in a calm pond in New Hampshire's White Mountains. White Mountains, New Hampshire https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/cataloochee-valley-fall-foliage/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Cataloochee-Valley-Fall-Foliage.jpg Fall In The Valley Fog mingles with a colorful autumn mountainside in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Great Smoky Mountains National Park, North Carolina https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/cataloochee-bull-elk-fall-foliage/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Cataloochee-Bull-Elk-Fall-Foliage.jpg Purely Carnal Morning fog and beautiful fall foliage added an extra special touch to our morning spent watching elk roam the meadows of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Do you notice the white mark on the face of this bull elk? That's a battle scar from fighting for its harem. Great Smoky Mountains National Park, North Carolina https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/cascade-mountain-adirondacks-winter-sunset/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Cascade-Mountain-Adirondacks-Winter-Sunset.jpg Ecstasy One of my personal favorite photography subjects is the gnarled and hardy evergreens that occupy tree line and the beginning of the alpine zone of the Adirondack High Peaks, especially when they become covered with snow in the depths of winter. After climbing the surprisingly deserted trail to the summit of Cascade Mountain, I was greeted with a windchill that approached -30 degrees Fahrenheit, and a fantasyland 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. Adirondack Mountains, New York https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/cape-cod-beach-winter-sunrise/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Cape-Cod-Beach-Winter-Sunrise.jpg The Ocean Called Low-angled winter sunrise light accentuates ripples in the sand on a Cape Cod beach as waves crash in the distance. Cape Cod National Seashore, Massachusetts https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/buoy-lobster-trap-abstract-maine/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Buoy-Lobster-Trap-Abstract-Maine.jpg Tools of the Trade Buoys and lobster traps rest on a dock in Port Clyde, Maine, before getting loaded onto a boat and brought out to sea. Port Clyde, Maine https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/boulder-beach-summer-sunrise-acadia/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Boulder-Beach-Summer-Sunrise-Acadia.jpg Life In Between Periwinkles and kelp adorn a boulder along the rugged coast of Maine's Acadia National Park as an incredible sunrise emphatically marks the dawn of a new day. Acadia National Park, Maine https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/blue-mountain-adirondacks-fall-foliage/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Blue-Mountain-Adirondacks-Fall-Foliage.jpg The Lives We Used to Live Long-gone trees silently observe a mountainside glow with peak fall foliage at sunset as they contemplate the lives they used to live. Adirondack Mountains, New York https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/black-bear-cubs-climbing-tree-smokies/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Black-Bear-Cubs-Climbing-Tree.jpg Time Stood Still 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, nature 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. But 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 caused me to ask aloud "is this real?" because it's unlike anything that my eyes had seen before. This was indeed real, and was a moment we'll never forget. Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/big-sur-purple-sand-beach/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Big-Sur-Purple-Sand-Beach.jpg Purple Mascara A rock and seaweed rest on the purple sands of California's Pfeiffer Beach. The unique purple sand at Pfeiffer Beach comes from manganese garnet found in the nearby hills, which gets washed down to the beach below after heavy rains. Big Sur, California https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/big-sur-crashing-waves/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Big-Sur-Crashing-Waves.jpg Power Waves crash and spray in a rocky chasm at California's Pfeiffer Beach. Big Sur, California https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/beaver-meadow-falls-adirondacks-rainbow/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Beaver-Meadow-Falls-Adirondacks-Rainbow.jpg Gold Under the Rainbow 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. Adirondack Mountains, New York https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/beached-sea-lions-abstract-california/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Beached-Sea-Lions-Abstract-California.jpg Sleeping Giants An abstract composition of slumbering sea lions on the coast of California.  California https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/basin-cascade-spring-white-mountains/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Basin-Cascade-Spring-White-Mountains.jpg Jewel of the White Mountains Basin Cascade spills into its beautiful rocky plunge pool on a wet spring day. White Mountains, New Hampshire https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/bash-bish-falls-autumn-foliage/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Bash-Bish-Falls-Autumn-Foliage.jpg Honey Hole Golden autumn foliage surrounding Bash Bish Falls in the Taconic Mountains glows in the evening light after a rainstorm. Taconic Mountains, Massachusetts https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/bare-aspen-trees-reaching-skyward/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Bare-Aspen-Trees-Reaching-Skyward.jpg Nerve Center 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. Jasper National Park, Alberta https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/baldface-mountain-indian-lake-autumn/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Baldface-Mountain-Indian-Lake-Autumn.jpg Autumn Riches Spectacular fall foliage blankets the mountainsides surrounding Indian Lake, as seen from the summit of Baldface Mountain. The many incredible paddling and hiking options at Indian Lake quickly made this one of our favorite areas of the Adirondacks. Adirondack Mountains, New York https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/bald-eagles-sand-dunes-pei/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Bald-Eagles-Sand-Dunes-PEI.jpg Three's Company A bald eagle swoops in to join two of its friends atop a sand dune in Canada's Prince Edward Island National Park. When most people think of a bald eagle, they picture a classic bright white head and tail with a dark brown body, which is the bald eagle's adult plumage. It typically takes about five years for a bald eagle to reach this state, though, and as bald eagles mature, they incrementally morph from having all brown feathers to their more regal adult state. One of the reasons I find this photo so interesting is that it captures several of the stages of bald eagle maturation. The bird in the center is the youngest of the three and has a completely brown head with blotchy brown and white feathers. I like to refer to this stage as the "dirty bird" stage of an eagle's maturation. The bird that's in flight is closer to adulthood, but some white feathers can still be found on its chest, indicating that it's still a year or two away from full maturity. The bald eagle all the way to the right is the closest out of the three pictured here to adulthood, with a fully white tail and dark brown body, with just a hint of brown remaining on its head to indicate that it has just a bit more growth to go before it reaches adulthood. Prince Edward Island, Canada https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/badlands-national-park-sunset-lightning/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Badlands-National-Park-Sunset-Lightning.jpg Lucky Strike A squiggly bolt of lightning touches down at sunset in the colorful and tortured earth of South Dakota's Badlands National Park. Badlands National Park, South Dakota https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/badlands-national-park-south-dakota/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Badlands-National-Park-South-Dakota.jpg Timeline Rippled badlands in South Dakota's Badlands National Park look more like a scene from a foreign planet than the Midwest. The badland formations within the park were formed millions of years ago by tiny grains of sand, silt, and clay being cemented together into sedimentary rock over time. Exposed badland formations within the park provide a fascinating glimpse into the past, and fossil from animals such as alligators and sea reptiles have been found within the park. Badlands National Park, South Dakota https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/olympic-coast-backpacking-tent-at-night/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Backpacking-Tent-Olympic-Coast-Twilight.jpg Spirit of Adventure Starry skies over my tent along the beautiful coast of Washington's Olympic National Park. Olympic National Park, Washington https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/autumn-sunrise-hiking-path-fence/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Autumn-Sunrise-Hiking-Path-Fence.jpg Journey to the Light The rising sun illuminates a hiking trail covered with fallen leaves in Upstate New York. Upstate New York https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/aspen-leaf-water-droplets-detail/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Aspen-Leaf-Water-Droplets-Macro.jpg Intricacy An abstract view of rain droplets on a fallen autumn leaf in the Adirondack Mountains. Adirondack Mountains, New York https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/arches-prickly-pear-mules-ear/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Arches-Prickly-Pear-Mules-Ear.jpg A Lifetime of Discovery On the final evening of an unforgettable week exploring Arches National Park and the greater Moab area, my dad and I took one last ride into the park for sunset. Having driven every inch of the park road several times over in the previous days, I was beginning to think that I had already learned all the secrets that Arches had to reveal. As we nonchalantly cruised through the park with the breeze in our hair and sun on our skin, I was more focused on enjoying a final joyride in the Mustang convertible that had been our trusty steed all week than finding something new to photograph. I was quickly reminded, though, that in places as magical as Arches, there's always more to discover, and that 100 lifetimes would never be enough to truly see and appreciate all that Arches has to offer. As we motored down the road, a line of vibrant, freshly bloomed cottonwood trees that I somehow hadn't noticed before caught my eye, and I decided to pull over to check things out. Once I stepped out of the car and surveyed the scene, though, it wasn't the cottonwoods that grabbed my attention. It was the clutch of yellow wildflowers - the first such flowers we had seen all week - just off the road that held my gaze. I was so giddy about the flowers that at first, I didn't even notice that right in front of the flowers was a group of prickly pear cactus. Wildflowers, cacti, lush spring cottonwoods, sandstone towers, and a gorgeous sunset? Talk about saving the best for last! As my dad and I savored the moment while my camera clicked away, we talked about how serendipitous this parting gift from Arches was. As we chatted and savored a final sunset in our new favorite place, I began to wonder - what other yet to be discovered treasures are out there tucked between the arches and buttes? We'll just have to go back to find out. Arches National Park, Utah https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/ancient-bristlecone-pine-forest-sunset/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Ancient-Bristlecone-Pine-Forest-Sunset.jpg Father Time 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 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 under a brilliant sunset sky, the right side has succumbed to exposure and erosion, while the upper left reaches are still clinging to life. White Mountains, California https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/algonquin-peak-summit-adirondacks-winter/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Algonquin-Peak-Summit-Adirondacks-Winter.jpg Euphoria Wind-carved snow and trees covered in rime ice created a magical winter scene on 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 Mountains, New York https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/adirondacks-lake-fireworks-full-moon/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Adirondacks-Lake-Fireworks-Full-Moon.jpg Celestial Fireworks Fourth of July fireworks and the full "Buck Moon" light up the sky and reflect in the calm waters of Great Sacandaga Lake. Adirondack Mountains, New York https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/adirondacks-heart-lake-red-maple/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Adirondacks-Heart-Lake-Red-Maple.jpg The Tree 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! Adirondack Mountains, New York https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/adirondacks-frozen-waterfall-ice-abstract/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Adirondacks-Frozen-Waterfall-Ice-Abstract.jpg Invasion Bizarre, otherworldly details in the blue ice formed from the spray of Rainbow Falls take on the form of aliens and ghouls. Adirondack Mountains, New York https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/adirondacks-foggy-small-islands-reflection/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Adirondacks-Foggy-Small-Islands-Reflection.jpg An Autumn Haunting 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 https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/adirondacks-amr-fall-foliage-cliffs/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Adirondacks-AMR-Fall-Foliage-Cliffs.jpg Fall Or Nothing At All Fog and foliage is one of the most mesmerizing combinations for photography. As the fog mingled with the precipitous mountains on this autumn morning, I was fortunate to have a flock of geese fly through the mist just as I pressed the shutter, adding a special sense of scale and drama to the already mystical scene. Adirondack Mountains, New York https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/adams-falls-ricketts-glen-spring/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Adams-Falls-Ricketts-Glen-Spring.jpg Gorges Glen Adams Falls slices through a rocky gorge in Ricketts Glen State Park on a wet and quiet spring morning. Ricketts Glen State Park, Pennsylvania https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/acadia-pebbles-pink-kelp/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Acadia-Pebbles-Pink-Kelp.jpg Coastal Bouquet Pink and white kelp adorn a cobblestone beach in Maine's Acadia National Park on a wet summer day. Acadia National Park, Maine https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/monument-cove-sunrise-acadia/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Acadia-Monument-Cove-Boulders-Sunrise.jpg Alone With Your Thoughts A beautiful sunrise glow bathes a rugged cobblestone beach in warm, soft light in Maine's Acadia National Park. Watching the sun slowly creep above the horizon while listening to the cobblestones clink with each incoming wave was the perfect way to begin the new day. Acadia National Park, Maine https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/mojave-preserve-lenticular-wave/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Mojave-Preseve-Joshua-Trees-Lenticular.jpg Mojave Wave Dramatic lenticular clouds fill the sky above the Joshua trees and mountains of California's Mojave National Preserve. Mojave National Preserve, California https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/moja-preserve-joshua-tree-mountains/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Mojave-Preserve-Mountains-Joshua-Tree.jpg Mojave Joshy Two large Joshua trees stand out from the crowd below the mountains of the Mojave National Preserve. Mojave National Preserve, California https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/kofa-queen-canyon-arizona-sunrise/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Kofa-Queen-Canyon-Arizona-Sunrise.jpg All That Prickles Is Gold Pretty yet prickly cholla cacti made for a perfect foreground to capture the sunrise on a beautiful winter morning in the Kofa Mountains. Cholla cacti are notorious for their uncanny ability to latch their spikes into the skin of distracted photographers, but on this morning, I was able to fortunately capture this scene unscathed. Kofa Mountains, Arizona https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/kofa-mountains-cholla-morning/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Kofa-Queen-Canyon-Arizona-Cholla.jpg Kings & Queens Cholla cacti soak up the morning sun below the rocky spires of the Kofa Mountains. Kofa Mountains, Arizona https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/kofa-mountains-sunset-cholla-cactus/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Kofa-Mountains-Sunset-Cholla-Cactus.jpg Creatures Of The Sun Cholla cacti glow with the light of the setting sun while the sky explodes into a symphony of color in Arizona's Kofa Mountains. Kofa Mountains, Arizona https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/kofa-queen-canyon-sunrise/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Kofa-Mountains-Sunrise-Cholla.jpg Touching's Gonna Cost You Pretty yet prickly cholla cacti made for a perfect foreground to capture the sunrise on a beautiful winter morning in the Kofa Mountains. Cholla cacti are notorious for their uncanny ability to latch their spikes into the skin of distracted photographers, but on this morning, I was able to fortunately capture this scene unscathed. Kofa Mountains, Arizona https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/kofa-mountains-backlit-cholla-cactus/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Kofa-Mountains-Backlit-Cholla-Cactus.jpg Pricklier By The Dozen The setting sun illuminates a family of cholla cacti in Arizona's Kofa Mountains. Kofa Mountains, Arizona https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/kofa-mountains-arizona-sunrise/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Kofa-Mountains-Arizona-Sunrise.jpg Rise & Shine Morning glow begins to find its way over the mountains and down to the cacti on the desert floor below in Arizona's Kofa Mountains. Kofa Mountains, Arizona https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/mather-point-snow-island/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Mather-Point-Snow-Island.jpg Fade To White Blowing snow obscures the depths of the Grand Canyon, adding a sense of mystery to an already majestic winter scene. Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/isis-temple-winter-sunrise/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Isis-Temple-Winter-Sunrise.jpg Stormy Isis Storm clouds swirl above Isis Temple and the snowy North Rim of the Grand Canyon after a February snowstorm. Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/isis-temple-arizona-winter-sunrise/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Isis-Temple-Arizona-Winter-Sunrise.jpg Mystical Morn' Sunrise light and clearing storm clouds combined to yield this dreamy scene on a truly mystical morning in the Grand Canyon. Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/grand-canyon-winter-tree/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Grand-Canyon-Winter-Tree.jpg Snowcatcher Snow coats a juniper tree at the edge of the Grand Canyon on a glorious winter day. Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/grand-canyon-winter-sunrise/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Grand-Canyon-Winter-Sunrise.jpg Awestruck A phenomenal winter sunrise illuminates the Grand Canyon. Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/grand-canyon-winter-storm/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Grand-Canyon-Winter-Storm.jpg Grand Pulpit A snow-covered peninsula seems to levitate over the Grand Canyon as a winter storm clears. Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/grand-canyon-winter-snowy-juniper/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Grand-Canyon-Winter-Snowy-Juniper.jpg Front Row Seat A snowy juniper tree gracefully frames a view of the Grand Canyon on a glorious winter day. Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/grand-canyon-winter-snow/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Grand-Canyon-Winter-Snow.jpg The Grand Divide A sea of darkness divides snowy evergreens at the edge of the Grand Canyon from the sunlit rock formations far in the distance. Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/grand-canyon-winter-rainbow-snow/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Grand-Canyon-Winter-Rainbow-Snow.jpg Snowing And 'Bowing A highly unusual combination of snow and a rainbow was one of the highlights of an unforgettable winter day at the Grand Canyon. Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/grand-canyon-winter-mather-point/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Grand-Canyon-Winter-Mather-Point.jpg Reverence A clearing winter storm reveals the grandest of canyons far below a snowy promontory near Mather Point. Watching the Grand Canyon transform from a sea of white clouds with the visibility stretching only about 10 feet to the dramatic scene pictured here was one of the most amazing things I've ever witnessed in nature. Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/grand-canyon-winter-layers/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Grand-Canyon-Winter-Layers.jpg The Grandest Of Mornings Layers of shadow, light, and ancient stone made for a beautiful morning the day after a winter storm at the Grand Canyon. Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/grand-canyon-moody-winter-sunrise/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Grand-Canyon-Moody-Winter-Sunrise.jpg Dark and Stormy There are few conditions more favorable for photography than a clearing winter storm, especially when you find yourself in a location as beautiful as the Grand Canyon. On this February morning, my dad and I watched in awe as the rising sun gradually illuminated the canyon, bringing a warm glow to the otherwise dark and stormy morning. Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/grand-canyon-isis-temple-winter-sunrise/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Grand-Canyon-Isis-Temple-Sunrise.jpg Winter Temple Isis Temple and the snowy North Rim of the Grand Canyon bask in the morning sunlight as a winter storm dramatically clears. Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/grand-canyon-dramatic-winter-sunrise/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Grand-Canyon-Dramatic-Winter-Sunrise.jpg Stormbreaker A sliver of light at sunrise illuminates the Grand Canyon the morning after a dramatic winter storm. Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/grand-canyon-black-white-snow/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Grand-Canyon-Black-White-Snow.jpg Precipice Beautiful snow graces the edge of the Grand Canyon as the storm begins to clear and gradually reveal the canyon below. Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/grand-canyon-winter-storm-sunrise/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Grand-Canyon-Winter-Storm-Sunrise.jpg Breath Of Light Soft morning light diffused by the clearing snowstorm clouds breathed life into the Grand Canyon on this unforgettable February morning. Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/land-cruiser-monument-rocks/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Monument-Rocks-Kansas-Twilight-Car.jpg This Is Kansas? The title of this photo stems from the fact that a singular question kept racing through my mind on an unforgettable evening at Monument Rocks - this is Kansas? If, like me, you've been led to believe that Kansas is a flat, featureless expanse of Midwestern plains, I highly encourage you to go discover the many natural wonders that this incredibly underrated state has to offer. Monument Rocks, which are chalk formations that rise up from the surrounding prairie as if they were transported from a different world, was my final stop for photography as I drove back home after an incredible two weeks of photographing peak autumn colors in Southwestern Colorado, and even though I only spent one evening at Monument Rocks, it was an absolute highlight of my trip. Monument Rocks, Kansas https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/land-cruiser-monument-rocks-kansas-twilight/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Monument-Rocks-Kansas-Road-Trip.jpg Prairie Portal The headlights of my Land Cruiser shine through a keyhole in the beautiful rock formations of Monument Rocks, Kansas, on a clear October night. Monument Rocks, Kansas https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/land-cruiser-kansas-twilight/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Monument-Rocks-Kansas-Night-Drive.jpg Lunar Cruise The headlights of my Land Cruiser illuminate the bizarre and beautiful chalk formations of Monument Rocks, in a scene that seems more reminiscent of taking a cruise on the moon than in Kansas. Monument Rocks, Kansas https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/land-cruiser-kansas-arch/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Monument-Rocks-Kansas-Keyhole-Car.jpg Cruiser Keyhole A keyhole arch in the chalk formations at Monument Rocks perfectly frames my Land Cruiser and the soft pink glow in the sky after sunset known as the Belt of Venus. Monument Rocks, Kansas https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/land-cruiser-cimarron-colorado/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Cimarron-Mountains-Colorado-Road-Trip.jpg Cimarron CRUUUZN Exploring the backroads of Colorado's Cimarron Mountains during peak fall foliage season was one of the many highlights of a two-week-long road trip I took to Colorado to experience and photograph it in all its autumn splendor. Cimarron Mountains, Colorado https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/saguaro-cactus-hot-air-balloon/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Saguaro-Cactus-Hot-Air-Balloon.jpg Imitation A hot air balloon with a cactus design on the balloon floats through the sky above a large cactus next to my campsite in the Sonoran Desert. Sonoran Desert, Arizona https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/thors-hammer-colorful-sunrise/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Thors-Hammer-Colorful-Sunrise.jpg That's Where The Fun Is A dramatic winter sunrise lights up the hoodoos of Utah's Bryce Canyon National Park, including Thor's Hammer, arguably the most famous hoodoo in the world. Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/thors-hammer-bryce-canyon-sunrise/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Thors-Hammer-Bryce-Canyon-Sunrise.jpg Thor's Hammer Sunrise Thor's Hammer, the icon of Utah's Bryce Canyon National Park and quite possibly the most famous hoodoo in the world, glows with the soft light of a winter sunrise. Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/bryce-canyon-sunrise-small-tree/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Bryce-Canyon-Sunrise-Small-Tree.jpg Watch Me Shine A small, tenacious tree atop a hoodoo in Utah's Bryce Canyon National Park soaks up the morning sunshine during a phenomenal winter sunrise. Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/bryce-canyon-sinking-ship-moon/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Bryce-Canyon-Sinking-Ship-Moon.jpg Rising Moon, Sinking Ship A winter moonrise in Utah's Bryce Canyon National Park above a prominent rock formation in the midground known as the Sinking Ship. Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/bryce-canyon-orange-hoodoos-sunrise/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Bryce-Canyon-Orange-Hoodoos-Sunrise.jpg Fantasy Forest Soft and warm morning light Illuminates a beautiful collection of hoodoos at the edge of a pine forest in Utah's Bryce Canyon National Park. Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/bryce-canyon-hoodoos-tree-sunrise/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Bryce-Canyon-Hoodoos-Tree-Sunrise.jpg Rise & Shine A small, tenacious tree that has managed to take root atop a hoodoo in Utah's Bryce Canyon National Park soaks up the morning sunshine on a cold winter day. Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/bryce-canyon-hoodoos-tree/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Bryce-Canyon-Hoodoos-Tree.jpg Hanging On Wherever I am in the world, I'm always on the lookout for tenacious trees that have somehow managed to eek out a living in the most improbable locations, and during a winter trip to Bryce Canyon, I was amazed to discover this small tree barely hanging onto life atop the jagged folds of the canyon. Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/bryce-canyon-hoodoos-sunrise-vertical/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Bryce-Canyon-Hoodoos-Sunrise-Vertical.jpg Hoodoo Glow Hoodoos and the surrounding pine tree forest glow with the soft morning light of winter in Utah's Bryce Canyon National Park. Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/bryce-canyon-hoodoos-moody-sunset/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Bryce-Canyon-Hoodoos-Moody-Sunset.jpg Bryce's Beauty A dramatic winter sunset brings the many hoodoos of Utah's Bryce Canyon National Park to life. Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/bryce-canyon-hoodoo-fin-sunrise/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Bryce-Canyon-Hoodoo-Fin-Sunrise.jpg Hoodoos Sunrise Beautiful sunrise light illuminates fins and hoodoos in Utah's Bryce Canyon National Park. Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/bryce-canyon-blue-hour-hoodoo/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Bryce-Canyon-Blue-Hour-Hoodoo.jpg Blue Hour Hoodoo A beautiful sandstone fin seems to glow in the faint light of blue hour after the sun had set in Utah's Bryce Canyon National Park. Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/blue-canyon-sunset-hopi/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Blue-Canyon-Sunset-Hopi.jpg Geologic Wonder A wonderland of stone deep within the Hopi Lands of Arizona glows under the post-sunset sky. Hopi Lands, Arizona https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/blue-canyon-hopi-white-stripes/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Blue-Canyon-Hopi-White-Stripes.jpg Appaloosa Canyon Otherworldly rock formations seem to resemble the patterns of an Appaloosa horse, deep in the Hopi Lands of Northern Arizona. Hopi Lands, Arizona https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/blue-canyon-hopi-sunset-colorful/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Blue-Canyon-Hopi-Sunset-Colorful.jpg Creation A beautiful sunset lights up a fantasyland of striped stone in one of the most beautiful and surreal places I've ever been. Hopi Lands, Arizona https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/blue-canyon-hopi-stripe-detail/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Blue-Canyon-Hopi-Stripe-Detail.jpg Brushstrokes Of The Ancients A detailed view of the striped stone deep within the Hopi Lands of Arizona. Hopi Lands, Arizona https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/blue-canyon-hopi-arizona-detail/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Blue-Canyon-Hopi-Arizona-Detail.jpg XX While the bright white stripes on the stone may at first glance appear to be the work of a vandal, this is, in fact, just Mother Nature showing off her creativity. Hopi Lands, Arizona https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/blue-canyon-arizona-hopi/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Blue-Canyon-Arizona-Hopi.jpg Fantasy Canyon Warm, post-sunset light glows above a canyon so surreal, it looks like something from a fantasy. Hopi Lands, Arizona https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/blue-canyon-hopi-sunset/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Blue-Canyon-Hopi-Sunset.jpg Ancient Arrowheads A phenomenal sunset lights up the sky above a group of otherworldly rock formations that resemble ancient arrowheads. Hopi Lands, Arizona https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/blue-canyon-hopi-striped-rock/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Blue-Canyon-Hopi-Striped-Rock.jpg The Art Of Stone In a state that is home to some of the most unusual and surreal rock formations in the world, I have yet to find anything that compares to the collection of red and white monoliths that reside deep within the Hopi Lands of Northern Arizona. Hopi Lands, Arizona https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/blue-canyon-hopi-colorful-sunset/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Blue-Canyon-Hopi-Colorful-Sunset.jpg Checkered Past Incredibly beautiful and unique rock formations deep within the Hopi Lands of Northern Arizona are complemented by a spectacular sunset to cap off one of the most memorable days of my life. Hopi Lands, Arizona https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/blue-canyon-hopi-arizona-sunset/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Blue-Canyon-Hopi-Arizona-Sunset.jpg Speechless Certain places in the natural world fill me with so much awe and wonder that they leave me in speechless reverence, and this location in the Hopi Lands of Northern Arizona was certainly one such place. Hopi Lands, Arizona https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/blue-canyon-arizona-hopi-sunset/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Blue-Canyon-Arizona-Hopi-Sunset.jpg Unforgettable The title says it all. This photo captures an unforgettable moment from one of the most unforgettable days of my life. Hopi Lands, Arizona https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/utah-sandstone-canyon-spring-foliage/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Utah-Sandstone-Canyon-Spring-Foliage.jpg Spring To Life Cottonwood trees at the base of a canyon spring to life in Utah's Bears Ears National Monument. Bears Ears National Monument, Utah https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/sandstone-beehive-arches-utah/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Sandstone-Beehive-Arches-Utah.jpg The Beehive State A sandstone formation that, to me, seemed to resemble a beehive basks in the evening sunshine in Utah's Arches National Park. Arches National Park, Utah https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/fiery-furnace-pinnacles-arches-utah/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Fiery-Furnace-Pinnacles-Arches-Utah.jpg At Peace Puffy white clouds, a perfectly blue sky, and the beautiful rock formations of Fiery Furnace all combined to leave me with a feeling of peace and serenity on this spring evening in Utah's Arches National Park. Arches National Park, Utah https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/double-arch-utah-sunset/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Double-Arch-Utah-Sunset.jpg Double Arch Sunset A colorful sunset lights up the twin spans of Double Arch in Utah's Arches National Park. Arches National Park, Utah https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/devils-garden-campground-arches-sunset/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Devils-Garden-Campground-Arches-Sunset.jpg Devils Delight Snowy Mount Peale, in the La Sal Mountain Range, towers above the sandstone formations within Devils Garden Campground - hands down one of America's most scenic campgrounds - in Utah's Arches National Park. Arches National Park, Utah https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/deadhorse-point-juniper-tree-bonsai/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Deadhorse-Point-Juniper-Tree-Bonsai.jpg Desert Bonsai A twisted and tenacious juniper tree was my favorite discovery of the day while exploring the rim of Utah's Deadhorse Point State Park with my dad on a sunny April afternoon. Deadhorse Point State Park, Utah https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/castleton-tower-moab-spring/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Castleton-Tower-Moab-Spring.jpg Castleton Spring Castleton Tower near Moab, Utah, on a beautiful spring afternoon. Moab, Utah https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/canyonlands-utah-needles/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Canyonlands-Utah-Needles.jpg Moody Needles The Needles of Utah's Canyonlands National Park stand out against a dark and moody sky. Canyonlands National Park, Utah https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/arhces-utah-fiery-furnace-pinnacles/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Arhces-Utah-Fiery-Furnace-Pinnacles.jpg FIERY FURNACE The rock formations of the Fiery Furnace section of Utah's Arches National Park enjoy some afternoon sunlight under a beautiful blue sky filled with puffy white clouds on a glorious spring afternoon. Arches National Park, Utah https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/arhces-garden-of-eden-moon/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Arhces-Garden-Of-Eden-Moon.jpg Moonlit Garden Moonlight faintly illuminates the rocky pinnacles of the Garden of Eden in Utah's Arches National Park. Arches National Park, Utah https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/arches-utah-wall-street/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Arches-Utah-Wall-Street.jpg My Kind Of Wall Street Evening light graces the sandstone fins of the Wall Street section of Arches National Park. Arches National Park, Utah https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/arches-mules-ear-sandstone-sunset/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Arches-Mules-Ear-Sandstone-Sunset.jpg Flourish Mule's ear wildflowers and fresh spring greenery perfectly complemented the sandstone formations and soft sunset light on the last evening of an unforgettable trip to Utah's Arches National Park. Arches National Park, Utah https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/arches-garden-of-eden-dusk/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Arches-Garden-Of-Eden-Dusk.jpg Mood Of Eden Beautiful rock formations in the Garden of Eden section of Utah's Arches National Park pick up the faint, post-sunset light on a moody spring evening. Arches National Park, Utah https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/antelope-canyon-vertical-glow/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Antelope-Canyon-Vertical-Glow.jpg Iishch'id (Womb) Hiking through Antelope Canyon oftentimes felt like walking in the womb of the earth. Navajo Lands, Arizona https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/antelope-canyon-sky-swirl/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Antelope-Canyon-Sky-Swirl.jpg Swirling Stone A sliver of blue sky is cradled by the swirling sandstone of Antelope Canyon. Navajo Lands, Arizona https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/antelope-canyon-arizona-seal-seahorse/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Antelope-Canyon-Seal-Seahorse.jpg Seal Or Seahorse? Which one do you see first in this view from Antelope Canyon? Navajo Lands, Arizona https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/antelope-canyon-arizona-orange-glow/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Antelope-Canyon-Orange-Glow.jpg Inner Glow Warm, reflected light glows in the depths of Antelope Canyon, revealing shades of orange, red, and purple in the ancient, swirling sandstone of the canyon. Navajo Lands, Arizona https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/antelope-canyon-arizona-striped-walls/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Antelope-Canyon-Orange-Blue.jpg Dancing Stone This swirling section of stone within Antelope Canyon seemed to dance as faint reflected light from above made it glow. Navajo Lands, Arizona https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/antelope-canyon-arizona-glowing-walls/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Antelope-Canyon-Glowing-Walls.jpg Heaven's Gate With each passageway that I hiked through in Antelope Canyon, it felt like passing through the gates of Heaven. Navajo Lands, Arizona https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/antelope-canyon-arizona-blue-sky/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Antelope-Canyon-Blue-Sky.jpg Jaws Of The Earth Sandstone formations at the rim of Antelope Canyon seem to resemble jaws about to close. Navajo Lands, Arizona https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/antelope-canyon-arizona-panorama/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Antelope-Canyon-Arizona-Panorama.jpg Eye of Antelope Swirling stone and reflected light made this section of Antelope Canyon appear as a giant, glowing eye keeping watch. Navajo Lands, Arizona https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/antelope-canyon-arizona-glow/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Antelope-Canyon-Arizona-Glow.jpg Lightwaves There is perhaps no better place to experience the perfect union of light and shape than within the depths of a sandstone slot canyon. Navajo Lands, Arizona https://www.joeypriola.com/photo/antelope-canyon-arizona-eagle/ https://www.joeypriola.com/images/xl/Antelope-Canyon-Arizona-Eagle.jpg Eagle Canyon A sliver of blue sky lets light into Antelope Canyon above a rock formation that resembles the head of an eagle. Navajo Lands, Arizona https://www.joeypriola.com/news/ https://www.joeypriola.com/contact/