I often find myself disappointed with the sights in the northeast of the contiguous United States. When I think of the most spectacular places I’ve seen, Yosemite, Death Valley, and the beaches of Los Angeles and San Francisco, I feel that the west coast and Middle America truly trump the east coast when it comes to natural beauty. While I still believe this to be true, I hope that in the future I am able to explore and realize more of the beauty that exists here in the northeast. My first step in this process of realization was my trip to Maine. Maine’s beauty shocked me not only because I’d set my expectations relatively low for it, but also because its beauty was variegated: ranging from mountains to oceans and beyond. The biodiversity and sights made for a trip that was equal parts invigorating and refreshing.
I will begin with Acadia National Park:
Monument Cove
Monument Cove was one of my first stops in Acadia, and it certainly did not disappoint. Part of the thrill of exploring this spot was the challenge involved in traversing the boulders, hopping from rock to rock, all the while taking in its magnificent beauty. This location is best traveled to at sunrise or sunset (I went during sunset) as the soft light beats the rocks and water with a brilliance not often seen during the hours when the sun is at its zenith. Photographic opportunities abound here and myriad compositions can be rendered. And outside of photography, it is simply a relaxing and peaceful place to watch the sunset and to be alone with your thoughts. The trek onto the rocks is certainly worth the views you will see! The cerulean waters also juxtapose nicely with the earth-toned boulders along the shore, it is truly a unique visual experience.
Astrophotography at Cadillac Mountain
It has been a long-held dream of mine to see the Milky Way in all its glory. Being born in New York City, I seldom if ever have the chance to even see a few straggling stars, so seeing the Milky Way has always been a goal of mine. Acadia National Park was the first place I ever saw the Milky Way, and that is one of the reasons my trip there was so special—I will never forget the experience of standing under a pitch black sky and gazing up to see the Milky Way with my own naked eyes. Cadillac Mountain’s scenery provides a unique view of the stars that I believe is extremely worth visiting should you have the time.
A few basic tips for astrophotography: The closer to the new moon you can visit, the better (these images were all taken on the exact day of the new moon, so there was 0% light pollution from the moon.) Although it is generally out of our control, it is best to stargaze when the sky is clear and there is minimal cloud cover. And of course, you want to be somewhere extremely dark with as little light pollution as possible (hence the aforementioned emphasis on the new moon.)
Cadillac Mountain was easily accessible as you can drive to the mountaintop.
The Milky Way at Cadillac Mountain
Scintillating Sunsets at Raven’s Nest
A bit of an off the beaten path location, Raven’s Nest is an awe-inspiring location to see the sunset. The steep drops that plunge into the pointed cliffs below create a mysterious atmosphere. Watching the waves crash into the rocks here is memorizing. If you are lucky enough, you will catch a beautiful sunset here with blazing reds, oranges, and magentas. This is also a great location for astrophotography although I did not do any since those sunset clouds slowly became so thick as to occlude my view of the stars. I highly recommend this location.
Portland Head Light
One of my last stops in Maine was the Portland Head Light. I’d say if there is one place to see outside of Acadia, this is it. A unique location with stunningly intimate views of the lighthouse and the sounds of intense waves, it is unconventionally calming and soothing. If your goal is to photograph the lighthouse, I would say it is best to go during sunset, but beware that this park has a very strict closing schedule that is listed as “dusk.” So if your goal is to capture sunset photos, try to arrive at least 1 hour before dusk in order to have ample time to compose and take photos. If your goal is just to admire the lighthouse, anytime is generally fine.
Miscellaneous Nighttime Photographs in maine
What surprised me the most about Maine was how easily photographic opportunities presented themselves at nighttime. Because the stars are visible from so many different locations, you can really be creative with your compositions and ideas. As always with photography, you should be open to new and fun shooting styles! And a great travel buddy can make the experience all the more fun, I traveled with Xin Chen, who got me to look at night photography in a new way. I tend to be someone who packs up my camera once the sun sets, but I realized that taking photos at night can be just as rewarding as taking them during the day.
