Images of Mount Desert Island and Acadia National Park photography by SUE ANNE HODGES
When I first started this blog I intended to keep it separate from my business blog, but as it turns out my business blog is about Acadia and MDI too. So I have found that all my new posts have been going there. It includes a second Gatehouse visit, The Lantern Stroll at Asticou Azalea Gardens, and more. Please check it out at http://www.sueannehodges.com/blog
And for more photos check out my site at http://www.sueannehodges.com
This weekend Acadia National Park hosted an Open House at the Brown Mountain Gate Lodge. For the first time the public got to tour the building and the grounds. Read about it and see more images at http://www.sueannehodges.com/blog
The new west side of the Asticou Azalea Gardens is just about finished and already it’s starting to bloom! These images are from last weekend, May 22 & 23, so this Memorial Day weekend should be a great time to see the gardens in full bloom. Usually it is just beginning to bloom on Memorial Day but this year I think it will be peak!
new stone path leads to water's edge
stone path circles back stone.................................................. bench and view
The new gardens are on the left side of this view
Of course the original garden area is as beautiful as ever!
One of the most interesting bridges in the Carriage Road system in Acadia National Park is the Cobblestone Bridge. Built in 1917 as part of John D Rockefeller Jr.’s carriage road system it was the first bridge to be built and the only one to be made with this type of stone. I have photographed it often, it is one of my favorite destinations on my walks along the carriage roads. It is actually just outside the park boundry on land still owned by the Rockefellers but it is open to the public. However bicycles are not allowed on this part of the carriage road system.
Images from one of my early summer series have recently been published in a couple of places. I am proud to have my work featured again in the Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce 2010 Guidebook. If you have never been to Acadia you should check out the Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce Guide book and web site.
The Bar Harbor visitors guide can be downloaded here or you can visit www.barharborinfo.com and request the printed version.
Here are a few more images from that day.
To see more check out my web site at www.SueAnneHodges.com
In March the lakes begin to thaw and the ice fishing shacks come ashore. Melting begins, and Carriage Roads close due to mud. Spring arrives but not to stay the possibility of snow lingers till the month of May.
Main Street Bar Harbor
It may be the off season but there’s lots going on in Bar Harbor, especially next weekend…
33rd Annual Arts Christmas Craft Fair
December 4, 2009; 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
December 5, 2009; 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Atltantic Oceanside, 119 Eden Street Bar Harbor
Holiday Craft Fair – Maine handcrafts, raffle, lunches and fun! Free admission and free parking. For more information call, (207) 288-5246.
Sea Coast Mission Holiday Open House
December 4, 2009; 5:30-7:30p.m.
Sea Coast Mission, 127 West Street, Bar Harbor
Come enjoy hot mulled cider and wine, savory hors doeuvres, and live music byJessie Holladay. There will be door prizes. Your donation to this event will help provide gifts for the island and coastal children. For more information call: 288-5097
Village Holidays & Midnight Madness Sale
December 4, 2009; 5:00 p.m to Midnight
Help us welcome Santa to Bar Harbor on the Village Green at 5pm. Plenty of activities for adults and children, including having pictures taken with Santa immediately following at the YMCA, 21 Park St. The 10th Annual Midnight Madness Sale will be held from 8pm-midnight. There will be great discounts, music, food, drink and midnight raffles! Check our website for a list of participating stores.
For more information call, 288-5103 x112
‘Light a Candle’ Holiday Festival
Saturday Dec.5, 10am to 8 pm. Sunday Dec. 6, 11am to 7 pm.
Bar Harbor Municipal Building, Cottage Street
OUR BIGGEST EVENT OF THE YEAR! Live Entertainment all day, both days: music, magic, belly dancing, theater!! HUGE SILENT AUCTION! FOOD, FOOD, FOOD! Children’s activities, ‘Global Mama’s’ products for sale: clothing, jewelry, tablecloths,aprons,and bags and more!
Proceeds to benefit: Island Connections, Maine Seacoast Mission,MDI YWCA, Wat Opot AIDS orphanage in Cambodia, Faith in Action in Ellsworth, MDI Campfire Coalition, Doctors without Borders.
For more information call or visit: (207) 266-0674 or http://www.unitedworldcitizens.org
It’s A Wonderful Life
December 4, 2009 at 7:00 p.m.
Criterion Theater
Acadia Community Theater presents It’s A Wonderful Life. Tickets will be $8 for Adults, $4 for children and Senior Citizens. $2 extra for all if you want to sit upstairs. For more information, call 288-5103.
December evening in Bar Harbor
Today marks the end of the 2009 cruise ship season for Bar Harbor. When the Queen Mary 2 departs tonight there are no more cruise ships scheduled until next year. Over the past 10 years the cruise ship schedule has grown to make September and October, once considered the “off season”, quite busy for Bar Harbor.
Queen Mary 2 in Frenchman Bay, Bar Harbor, Maine
visitors view the Queen Mary 2 from the shore path Bar Harbor, Maine
Autumn color and cruise ship in Bar Harbor
wet leaves on windsheild
In Fall, rain saturates the color of leaves, cattails, and grass in the meadows. It is a great time for photos. Many people assume this is a Photoshop collage but it is not. After many days of shooting in the rain I was about to go run errands, but upon jumping in the car, fractions of a second before my hand hit the windshield wiper switch, I saw that my windshield was covered with the best leaves of the season. On the opposite side of the street there was a trail into Acadia. I carefully turned my car without turning on the wipers. The trail was visible through the windshield and I began shooting. I needed more depth of field so I set up my tripod between the seats, it was hard to see through the view finder at the extreme angles, so I also moved to the back seat for other angles. On a day when I had no plan to take pictures I ended up spending an hour, in my car, taking these photos. You never know when you’ll see the most interesting things. Stay open to seeing. And as Jay Maisel likes to say…“Always have your camera with you, it’s easier to take pictures that way”
So though it looks like this weekend of peak foliage might be a rainy one, don’t let the weather get you down. Go out and take pictures. Interesting weather makes interesting pictures.
Long Pond, Acadia National Park
On these cold mornings the lakes and ponds are still warm and if you are up and out early you will see steam rising from the surface of the water. It’s a great time to be up at dawn!
Little Long Pond, Seal Harbor
Last year, National Geographic listed Acadia National Park as an area having one of the Darkest Nights.
The spots listed offer excellent conditions for stargazing. Most people enjoy stargazing most when there is no moon or new moon. But I enjoyed doing some shooting this summer during full moon. I was not shooting the moon but it added some nice fill light to the landscape. See Photo above.
This weekend is the Acadia Night Sky Festival. You can learn more at http://www.nightskyfestival.org/Festival/Home_.html
ISLAND LIGHT 