Lake Placid Photography Information
Lake Placid, New York, is a beautiful year-round destination for photography. The Adirondack Mountains provide a stunning backdrop for nature photography, while the charming small town offers ample street and portrait photography opportunities. There is something for everyone, from scenic mountain vistas to quaint small-town streets. So grab your camera and get ready to explore the photography hot spot in the Northeast.
WHEN TO GO
If you love the outdoors and are a fan of winter sports, Lake Placid is the perfect destination. It was home to the 1980 Winter Olympics and is a popular spot for winter sports enthusiasts. You can visit during the winter when the snow-covered landscape provides a beautiful backdrop for your photography. We like the fall the best when the colors are bursting and the crowds are smaller.
HOW TO GET THERE
To get to Lake Placid, New York, take the Adirondack Northway (I-87) south from the Canadian border or west from Albany. From Saranac Lake, follow State Route 86 south for about 15 miles to reach the location.
If you’re coming from Montreal, take A-15 south to I-87 south, then follow the directions above. The drive takes about 4.5 hours.
There are also a few different bus companies that offer service to Lake Placid – Adirondack Trailways, Greyhound, and Megabus all have routes that go there.
There are plenty of places in town to take some quaint town images. There are several lakes in the region, but they can be plain sometimes, except during the fall foliage. Be sure to get up for sunrise and catch the mist on the lakes in the morning; that’s when you’ll get your dynamic images. Reflection Lake is spectacular in the fall with the reflections.
This is a dark sky area for Milky Way photography. Go at the right time! See our Night Photography Section.
PHOTOGRAPHY NEAR LAKE PLACID
Cascade Lakes, NY
Located in the Adirondack Mountains, between Lake Placid and Keene, lies a pair of breathtaking lakes right off Route 73. Imagine pulling up directly to the shore, popping open your trunk, and relaxing in nature’s embrace. This is a hidden gem you won’t want to miss. A small gravel path veers off the main road, guiding you to the heart of this tranquil spot.
Mirror Lake, as seen in the main picture above.
The path encircling Mirror Lake in the heart of Lake Placid stretches for 2.7 miles. This level, picturesque circuit is ideal for unlimited rounds. Expect to encounter joggers, strollers, and bikers along this renowned “Central Park” trail of Lake Placid.
Cobble Hill – Near Mirror Lake in Lake Placid offers a variety of experiences in a short trek. Start at the trailhead located near Northwoods School, with convenient parking available at the school’s entrance on Mirror Lake Drive. Within 0.2 miles, the path diverges: opt for a brief yet challenging 0.4-mile rock scramble or a scenic 1.1-mile walk past Echo Lake to the summit.
Take photos of different views of Lake Placid and Mirror Lake as you hike. At the summit, enjoy another vantage point showcasing the majestic high peaks, perfect for photography enthusiasts.
Henry’s Woods – Explore the trails at Henry’s Woods. This 2.5-mile path has a gentle climb and is perfect for sunny or rainy days, thanks to the protective Adirondack pines. Canine companions are welcome too!
Mount Marcy – As New York State’s tallest peak at 5,343 feet, this 15-mile adventure with a 3,100-foot ascent requires careful planning. Proper gear and provisions are crucial. Weather can vary drastically from the start at Adirondack Loj Road to the summit, so check forecasts and prepare accordingly.
LAKE PLACID, N.Y. PHOTOGRAPHY INFORMATION
PHOTOGRAPHY INFO
Dark Skies—You are in the dark sky photography area when you go here, my friends. Do not go here without doing some night photography, and try to plan your trip around the new moon to get some Milky Way photography!! See our pages on Night/Dark Sky Photography here. We have a whole how-to section on how to do Milky Way Photography, along with a resource page.
AT A GLANCE
Lens: Wide Angle, but you may find a bird or two. Not much wildlife here.
Gear List at a Glance: Circular polarizing filter, neutral density filter, tripod, shutter release, wide-angle lens.
When to Go: Fall is ideal, but there are also many winter activities.
MANUAL MODE FOR MOVING WATERS
If you have moving waters here. You can do your long-exposure running and milky water shots. You’ll need to use a tripod for this effect. Your settings will vary depending on the lighting and the neutral density filter you use. You will shoot in manual mode for the milky waters. ISO is always 100 or as low as your camera will allow. The aperture is f/22. Your shutter speed will be the only variable depending on the light. Roll your shutter speed until your meter reads zero. (In the center) Use your shutter release or your 2-second timer to prevent camera movement when exposing. You will want at least a 2-second exposure for milky water. If you don’t have a neutral density filter, you may not get more than 1/15th of a second in the sun.
APERTURE PRIORITY
Aperture Priority is often used to blur the background of your images and control your depth of field (how much from the subject to the background is in focus). It is often used for the bokeh effect in macro photography, such as flowers. This location is a good macro area. For more information on this, see our Aperture page
ISO SETTINGS
Increasing the ISO allows more light to enter when taking a photo. However, a higher ISO setting can also result in more digital noise in the image. To minimize this effect, it’s best to keep the ISO below 800 whenever possible. If you find that you need to set the ISO higher to take the shot, you can use Topaz Denoise later to reduce the digital noise.
Area Information ♦ Hotels ♦ Restaurants ♦ Camping ♦ Weather
AREA
INFORMATION
FEES:
There are no fees for this area.
CAMPING:
North Pole Campground Open May-October – Rooms & Cottages available year-round
Located 3 miles from Whiteface Mountain. Ski packages available. They are accepting reservations for Ironman 2016 by phone.
Please call 518-946-7733 to book (online reservations not available for Ironman) See more at: http://www.northpoleresorts.com/#sthash.nr0UfB8r.dpuf
RESTAURANTS:
Our healthy food recommendation:
The Good Bite Kitchen is a vegetarian lunch restaurant that creates inventive and fresh meals.
There are six available seats inside; otherwise, all food can be taken to go. Please visit our Facebook page for the most up-to-date menu, which changes frequently. 2501 Main Street—Lake Placid, NY 12946 – (518) 637-2860 Monday Closed—Open to 5 p.m.
HOTELS:
The Mirror Lake Inn Grounds and Gardens
Explore our sprawling 8-acre property situated on the shores of Mirror Lake and only a moment’s walk from Lake Placid’s famous Main Street. The outdoor amenities include: expansive gardens, an outdoor lap pool, tennis courts, and a private beach complete with complimentary boats and watercraft. If you love macro photography, the gardens are incredible. This is the perfect location to do sunrise and sunset photos at the lake.
This is our top pick for a hotel in Lake Placid.
