White Mountains Spring Shoot - Part 2

Last week I posted part I of my spring shoot/workshop in the White Mountain National Forest in northern New Hampshire. Today I will comment on the opportunities that the back country offers - opportunities that exist off road and require more than a few minutes of walking or as I call it, ‘the shots that need to be earned’. Excursions on the road less traveled are always a gamble, especially if it is a new location. Unlike many popular shooting locals like the Great Smoky Mountains, the hidden treasures are not documented and thus treks into these regions may or may not produce WOW shots. However, since this region is well hiked, good topographic maps and waterfall guides are available but offer few pictures of what to expect since they are not written for photographers. Since I have spent a considerable time over the past few years on the easier stuff I have been exploring the lesser known shooting opportunities and this area offers many.

My recent trip began with a scouting mission prior to beginning my workshop in the southwestern region. I spent my first night camped out in Russell Pond campground, an area accessed via a private road over two miles long and off a longer pot holed road which is several miles off the main road. I was pretty much the only person there and the grounds keeper came to my site to ask me how I found this place as it is ‘the best kept secret in the region” and even on weekdays in peak season it is quiet. The following morning I was up for a sunrise shoot about a minutes one walk from my campsite to the still lake where I was able to shoot a sunrise with perfect reflections of the clouds on the water. (Note: this image just made the Finals of BetterPhoto.com's monthly contest). I also captured many long lens impressionist extractions of reflections of the trees on the ponds still surface and quickly realized how wonderful this place will be in peak foliage season - especially with no crowds. After my mornings shoot I packed up my site and drove to a new location where I hiked up to Beaver Brook Cascades, about 30 minutes up and 30 minutes back on somewhat rough trail and only saw one person in the 2+ hours I was gone. The payoff was well worth it and then later that evening started my workshop with an evening shoot in the Basin region of the Franconia Notch area.

Once the workshop was over I shot the remainder of the day in a few new locations hiking at least 5 miles. My shoots for that day included Ripley Falls, the second highest drop, 100 feet, in the state. I clearly remember my reaction when I arrived at the base of the falls. I was in total awe and loudly gasped WOW but no one was around to hear me. This is a double edged sword in that I have these places to myself but in the event I break a leg I could be stuck until found by a hiker the next morning - cell phones are useless. After a sunset shoot I drove to Maine to visit family since it was the weekend and I hate crowds. Then on Monday I returned and camped out for several more days but began this leg of my adventure with a 3-4 hour hike ending at the highest waterfall in the state, Arethusa. This was a tricky shoot since the sun was directly over the top of the falls and the bottom was in shade so to get balanced light without a white sky or flare I need to return after 4pm on a clear day for ideal shooting conditions - can’t wait.

Over the next few days I scouted and shot a few new sunrise and sunset locations for this time of year. I put plenty of time

into exploring all the waterfalls in the Crawford Notch region plus a hike to the top of Mt Willard with a wonderful view of the notch which works well on a sunny day with a super-wide lens. My crowning achievement that week was my rigorous hike on the Tuckerman Ravine trail which ends the top of Mt Washington, the highest mountain in the northeast which still has snow. I did not make it to the top, partly because the top of the trail was closed because it was snowed in. If it wasn’t snowed in I still would not have made it since my hike to about 4,500 feet and back took 6 hours and drained me. Perhaps in the future I will hike to the top of the mountain best known as ‘the home of the worlds worst weather’ if I can have someone drive me back down. That hike was rocky and near the end did have me walking on some snowy areas where I got to see melting snow change into a waterfall and form the source of major rivers that begin here and end in the Atlantic. too bad a longer lens was too heavy to lug up but carrying plenty of water was far more important. Most of the way there is no view at all but once I got to Hermit Lake and then above the tree line the view was spectacular, and I had it all to myself. Frequent rests and plenty of water were critical but the bugs were hungry and relentless and didn’t let me rest long. This was the most grueling of hikes for me and I was glad I got in great shape for this trip - I am now a P90x graduate!!!

I walked off about 5 pounds on my 10 day trip and loved every minute of it, especially camping and it was the first trip where I was able to get a good shot of a moose which I spend about 20-25 minutes following on foot one morning. Although I have been shooting here since 2004, in the past year and half I have really worked this region finding more and more wonderful places to shoot and I know there is still plenty more potential to tap. The great thing is that the area is not overrun with photographers competing for ‘the good spot’. My love for this area grows more and more with each visit and I can’t wait to return. I do hope that some of you reading this will join me in the Fall for workshop or perhaps next spring. the WM’s are known as one of the best fall shooting venues in the east. Also, you can check out some of my favorites from this trip as I slowly add some pictures to my trip to this gallery