We never did figure out what type of fish/whale photobombed us. Send us an email if you know.
A top ten photography location
Start at Acadia National Park and travel up to Fundy Trail, Canada. Are you ready for a Maine and Canada Travel Photography Adventure? This is an incredible photography trip to take in the spring, summer, or fall months. We like summer best, so we can photograph our puffin friends.
Remember that our trip was in 2012, so some minor details may have changed.
Maine is the least densely populated U.S. state east of the Mississippi River. It is called the Pine Tree State; about 83% of its land is forested. It has several unique geographical features. Machias Seal Island and North Rock is off its easternmost point. Also in this easternmost area in the Bay of Fundy is the Old Sow, the largest tidal whirlpool in the western hemisphere.
We could not travel as far as Fundy National Park, but we highly suggest that if you can, you do not skip this location.
Milky Way Photographers – These are some of the darkest skies on the planet. Try to plan your trip around the new moon.
One final tip. You will see one image where we had a dirty sensor. Can you spot it? If you live near Canon in Jamesburg, New Jersey, you can stop by and have your sensor cleaned in about an hour. You will see a circle in the images when dirt gets on the sensor.
The first incredible photography location you must see is Acadia National Park. Plan on a good full three days to photograph this fantastic location. If your family is with you and they are not photography buffs, plenty is still going on here.
Acadia National Park is our number two pick on the continent for a photography location. For more details, you can also visit our Acadia National Park Photography Hot Spot Locations. Acadia – Jordon Pond – Acadia Thunder Hole – Acadia Bass Harbor Lighthouse – Maine Photography Hot Spots
Fees & Reservations: All entrance fees are valid for seven days. Everyone visiting Acadia National Park needs to pay entry fees other than visitors who are 15 years or younger; they can enter the park free of charge. Fees for the Park
Don’t be fooled by the Acadia N.P. General information page. It has a moose on a web page. Don’t plan on seeing any moose here. You have to go north for that.
Bangor International Airport is 48 miles from Acadia National Park. You can rent a car and head out on your journey. You can also fly into Hancock County, Bar Harbor, Maine, but you will pay more. Plan on spending a few days in Acadia National Park to cover all the photography. We covered every last spot in four days. But we are obsessive photographers staying in one place for hours. Be sure to do all of the islands. Route 102 goes around the west side of the aisle in a loop, and there are many spots along the way to photograph. This is the spot the sun hits first in the USA in the morning. You have to be somewhere on the east side of the park on the water for an incredible experience and photography. We sometimes use HDR for sunrise/sets.
After Acadia National Park head northeast to set sail on a puffin tour near Machias Seal Island. A great stop on your travel photography adventure!
In the easternmost town in the USA, Lubec, Maine, you will see The Quoddy lighthouse. Plan a quick visit here; it’s just a short distance to the Canadian border over The Roosevelt International Bridge. Campobello Island has two lighthouses, eagles, and whales. Plan to stay in Campobello for a day.
We stayed in the Pollock Cove Cottages, which we loved. A beautiful family runs it, and it’s on the water for sunrise photography. Nine Eagles flew by in the morning, among other birds. The next night we camped at Herring Cove Provincial Park, where we had a rustic cabin on the water at a meager price. A good day here and an overnight stay are worth your while so as not to miss sunrise and sunset photography. Don’t forget to hit Roosevelt Provincial Park. It is just beaming with beautiful flower colors. You can take a ferry over to Deer Island and take another boat to the mainland, where you can head to your next stop, St. Martin and Fundy Trail.
Campobello Island – You can photograph lighthouses, eagles, whales and more.
All of the boat docks and rugged coastal points are worth seeing. The colors seemed to be dynamic everywhere that we explored on this particular sunny day.
All of the winners will have their photo featured in our Magazine Lots of Prizes
Be sure to bring your zoom lens to all of these areas on Campobello Island. There were several eagles and many seals to photograph along the bay at the foot of the lighthouse. Roosevelt’s House is excellent for macro photography. As the pictures show, there are ma y flowers to photograph. The red building is not only educational on the inside but a dynamic photography subject with its bright red outside. A general rule of thumb in photography is to shoot anything red. (East Cody Head Lighthouse Image above)
Parc international Roosevelt de Campobello
459 NB-774, Welshpool, NB E5E 1A4, Canada
The Park is open for the season from mid-May until mid-October. From sun-up to sundown.
(Image above)Mulholland Point Lighthouse was built in 1885. Although the lighthouse is not open to the public, you can walk around where there is a marine Life exhibit in old fishing shed, many harbor seals, and some great colors for dynamic photography.
Location: On the west side of Campobello Island, about 1/4 mile north of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Bridge near Welshpool, NB
St. Martin is a charming little town along the Bay of Fundy coastline, which is your next stop on your travel photography journey. You can explore the sea caves and photograph a covered bridge and a small lighthouse on land while passing through this little town. They have some cute little inexpensive cabins with TVs, beds, and heat to stay in if you are on a budget. There are two campgrounds on the beach, which is also an excellent location for sunrise photography.
After that, it’s time to head up to Fundy Trail.
You can photograph Campobello Island for a day, then head to St. Martin and Fundy Trail. You can save some time by taking a Ferry to Deer Island and then driving north to the next ferry to the mainland. The island has boat docks along the way, and we only passed one little country corner store. When we got to the ferry, we did find some new photography material as we wandered around the backside of the restaurant while waiting for the boat.
There is a lighthouse to photo along the boat ride that you will pass. You can’t miss the sea caves when you roll into Main Street in St. Martin. There is a restaurant here, but we did not stop. It’s such a small town that it closes at five, so be sure to eat. We stayed in a small cabin with a bed, tv, and heat on the beach for about 40 bucks before driving to Fundy Trail the following day.
Don’t miss this incredible spot just a short distance from the suspension bridge on Fundy Trail. This stop is towards the back of the park on your travel photography journey. You will see a big parking lot. You will recognize the area from our slideshow pictures below. There are a lot of colors and textures along this short walk near the stream that leads to The Bay of Fundy. One of the best spots in the Park. The slideshow has several images from this central area in the park.
When you get to the bridge area on Fundy Trail, head over to the coast to see the incredible view. There are a lot of colors and angles to photo along a very short walk. Be careful. There are lots of rocks and limbs.
The Fundy Trail is a 12-kilometer scenic route along the coastline of New Brunswick. The trail offers stunning views of the Bay of Fundy and a chance to see some of the local wildlife.
The Fundy Trail is a beautiful place to take photographs. The scenery is stunning, and the wildlife is fantastic. There are a few things to remember when taking photos in the area. First, the light can be very harsh, so it is essential to use a filter or shoot in the early morning or late evening to do silky water shots. Second, there are a lot of bugs, so it is essential to wear organic bug spray. Third, the trail can be very muddy, so it is essential to wear appropriate footwear. Lastly, have fun and enjoy the experience.
There are many beautiful spots inside Fundy Trail to photograph. Here are a few of our favorites:
1. The Headlands: These cliffs offer stunning views of the Bay of Fundy and its dramatic tides. Be sure to bring your tripod to capture the best shots.
2. The Beaches: Whether you want to photograph the crashing waves or the tranquil tide pools, the beaches here are perfect for photography. Just be careful not to get too close to the edge.
3. The Coastal Forest: The dense forest provides a unique contrast to the ocean views. Be on the lookout for exciting fungi, mosses, and lichens.
4. The Wildlife: There is an abundance of wildlife on Fundy Trail, including deer, bald eagles, and ospreys. Keep your camera ready so you don’t miss a shot.
The best time to visit Fundy Trail is during the summer when the weather is warm and the trails are open. However, fall and spring are also great places to see as the temperatures are cooler and the leaves change.
If you’re looking for a scenic drive in New Brunswick, Canada, look no further than the Fundy Trail. This beautiful coastal route takes you through some of the province’s most stunning scenery, including the Bay of Fundy. Here’s how to get there:
Take Route 1 from Moncton to Alma. This will take you through some of New Brunswick’s picturesque farmland.
At Alma, take a right onto Route 114 and follow it until it dead-ends at the Fundy Trail Parkway.
Follow the Fundy Trail Parkway until it ends at the Bay of Fundy. This is where you’ll find some of the most incredible views in all of New Brunswick. Be sure to stop at one of the many lookout points along the way to snap some photos!
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What you will need:
Light pollution map – light pollution map
Camera – You will need a camera to manually control your ISO, shutter speed, and aperture.
Lens – A fast wide-angle lens of 1.4 – 2.8 is ideal. If you use a 3.5 or higher (slower lens), you will have to increase the ISO. The higher the ISO, the more grain or digital noise or grain will appear in your photos.
Tripod – A good sturdy tripod is essential for night photography. If it gets windy, you will need a sturdy one. Remember, when you buy one, it should be sturdy enough to withstand the wind but small enough to fit in your suitcase.
Sky Map – Sky Guide is available through the iTunes Store for $1.99. It has a 5 out of 5-star rating on both the current (3.2) version (1200+ ratings) and all previous versions (8600+ ratings).
Flashlight – Our choice is Coast brand for flashlights. The ideal flashlight will have high lumens, and you can zoom in and out on the amount of light emitting from the flashlight. Get the HP7, PX45, or the G50. Ideally, go with the HP7.
Moon Phaze Map – The best time to go is during a new moon, and you want to be in the darkest area possible. The week before the new moon, when the moon has not risen, is a perfect time to go, so be sure to check the moonrise chart to see when the moon will be up.
Remote Shutter Release – When painting with light and you want to go over a 30-second exposure, you must have a shutter release to use your bulb mode. When exposing your pictures in general, you can use the remote release, or you can use your camera’s built-in two-second timer.
Use a Tripod – First of all, you must be on a tripod. A good sturdy tripod is necessary if it is windy. If the tripod moves, your picture will blur.
Focus – Use live view. To focus in the dark, use your camera’s live view, hit the zoom button, and focus on a bright star. You can also use the infinity setting on your lens but do several test shots to see if it is accurate. It can be off a little on some lenses. You can also light it up with a flashlight, focus, then gently, without touching the focus ring, put the camera in manual focus so it will not search for the focus. You must do this each time you move your camera to take your next angel.
ISO – Start with ISO 1600 – 3200. This is just a common starting point, and you will adjust from here.
Shutter Speed – Remember, the earth is rotating. If you leave the shutter open for too long, you will see star trails that will not make for a crisp image. We want crisp non-star trail images. Here is the formula to avoid star trails. The 500 rule – Divide 500 by the focal length of your lens. So, if you have a 24mm lens on a full-frame camera, you will set your shutter speed to 20 sec. (500/24 = 20.83). If you are using a crop sensor camera, first do the math of the crop sensor to find the focal length. Cannon is 1.6, and Nikon is 1.5. Convert to full-frame focal length, then use the formula. Nikon 18mm x 1.5= 27mm – 500/27 = 18.51 seconds.
Aperture – Depth of field isn’t critical in these shots, but letting the light into the camera is; therefore, you should shoot wide open. If the depth of field is essential to you, try not to go too high. (wide open =the lowest aperture your camera will allow). You will have to increase the ISO, giving you digital noise.
You can change your white balance settings when in live view mode and see what it will look like. You can shoot in shade or cloud mode as a standard setting and adjust things later.
The best images are usually of the dense part of the Milky Way. We can see this part of the milk way in the southern sky. During March, April, and May, the milky way rises above the horizon in the pre-dawn hours. In June, at about 10:00 p.m., you will see the milky way. From July until October, you can see the milky way as soon as the sunsets, and it becomes dark enough to see, about an hour after sunset. In November, the milky way no longer comes above the horizon. You will have to wait until March if you want to stay away really late or get up early to see her again.
See our Milky Way Hot Spot Locator and our Night Photography Information.
Machias Seal Island is an island in the Gulf of Maine, about (9.9 mi) southeast of Cutler, Maine. This area is a popular place to go on Puffin tours. The season starts in May and runs through mid-August. There is also a great lighthouse to photograph constructed there in 1832.
Maine has almost 230 miles of coastline (and 3,500 miles of tidal coastline). West Quoddy Head is the easternmost piece of land in the lower 48. Along the famous rock-bound coast of Maine are lighthouses, beaches, fishing villages, and thousands of offshore islands, including the Isles of Shoals, which straddle the New Hampshire border. There are jagged rocks and cliffs and many bays and inlets. Inland are lakes, rivers, forests, and mountains.
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