acadia national park

A National Parks Journey - Acadia National Park

Having been established in 1916, this 100+ year old park was one of the older parks that I had visited in my National Parks Journey. Due to its age, I had envisioned a Park that captured rustic New England culture in a region that faced long harsh winters and lush summers. I also knew that, similar to other parks in the North East of the country, the area the Park preserved was not a place to escape away from civilization to nature, but to protect a region where the the two coexisted and even when humanity encroached on nature. And just like those other Parks, Acadia was replete with beautiful parkways that wound their way through the island offering plenty of turnouts to stop and enjoy the scenery. But in addition, Acadia also featured carriage trails preserved from the age of romanticism, along with hiking trails that wound through the forests and around lakes.

I had timed my visit for the autumn, hoping to capture some of the fall color magic that permeates this Park during this season. However, neither the colors nor the weather was cooperative. Nevertheless I still managed to find moments of zen in the crowded season in this small park.

Acadia National Park
ME USA

Colored Reflections

Every year, the Pacific Northwest gets blanketed by clouds like clockwork during the winter, leading to an long period of colorless grey skies. These unending gloomy conditions, coupled with the short days, can take a toll on personal happiness. My escape out of this is to reminisce the past by looking at my colorful archives of photography, and enjoying the play of light that I see for my images.

After all, as is often said, “What good is the warmth of summer, without the cold of winter to give it sweetness.”

Here, I attempted a cinemagraph from an old clip I had shot in Acadia, during the peak of its fall foliage.

Acadia National Park
ME USA

Election Day

Tomorrow is election day in the US. It is a Constitutional right, nay, privilege to be able to shape the future of the nation. While your contribution may be a drop in the ocean, it is an important one.

In the past two years, the elected officials on one side have put party over policy, religion over science, bigotry over decency, war-mongering over diplomacy, fear over hope, and chaos over peace. That is not, and should not be the norm. The country deserves better.

I am not a citizen. I am an immigrant. But I have been fortunate enough to avail many opportunities this country had to offer. I have spent enough time to call this nation home. And yet I worry about the future of the democratic principles that was the basis of this nation-state and seem to be eroding away.

I cannot vote yet, but I wish I could. For after all I have seen in my travels through the continent, I still believe in the power of the people.

Go Vote.

Image is from a country road in Acadia National Park in the midst of fall.