Acadia Photo Workshop Trip Report for Tom Bol Photo Workshops

Acadia's Fall Color

Acadia National Park draws photographers from all over the country for it's celebrated maple trees and wild coastline. Maine was experiencing a drought this year. Even though colors were not as vibrant as in some years, there were pockets of color all over the park. We spent our scouting time making sure our group was in all the right places for fall leaves.

David and Karen at Jordan Pond
Fall leaves at Sieur de Mont
Macro lens for the Winterberries

Slow Shutters

The weather kept changing on this workshop. We had gigantic storm waves (cover photo), misty clouds at Jordan Pond and clear skies for sunrise at Otter Cliffs. We took advantage of all of the conditions to try different techniques. We used ND filters with very long shutter speeds when it was overcast and went out early to shoot stars when it was clear.

A clear morning at Otter Cliffs
Storm surge on the rocks
Pre dawn star shoot

Creative Choices

In our classroom sessions we emphasized using creative approaches to Landscape Photography. Tom talked about shooting landscapes at f2.8 and using intentional shake to blur a scene. We want everyone to have something new to try on each of our workshops.

Dave trying ICM on fall leaves
Mixed colors in the maples
Investigating the leaf litter on the boardwalk

Coastal Towns

Lobster fishing is big business near Acadia. We visited local businesses and small towns to capture colorful maritime scenes covered in traditional lobster buoys. Boiled lobster dinners and Elaine's Blueberry Pie competition were memorable parts of the workshop when we were not shooting!

Traditional lobster buoys
Karen excited about new techniques
Using depth of field to create mood in an image

Small Scenes

Aside from Acadia's sweeping views at locations like Otter Cliffs and Cadillac Mountain, there are more intimate scenes in the park where photographers can get off the beaten path. Our group enjoyed shooting creeks, reflections and boulders in areas where we could get away from the day travelers.

Long exposure in a small stream
Kim taking her time to find an intimate scene
Colorful maples at Jordan Pond

On the Water

For the final photo session of the workshop, we headed out onto Frenchman's Bay to photograph Acadia from the water. Our sunset tour took us by Egg Rock Lighthouse, Porcupine Islands and past the mansions at Bar Harbor. We also had a chance to photograph a Peregrine Falcon, Bald Eagles, Seals and seabirds. Being on the water was invigorating and inspirational for our group. We can't wait to head back to Acadia in 2026!

Frenchman's Bay by boat
Gary and Doreen taking in the evening light
Pink skies at the harbor

Thank you to the 10 photographers who joined us for our Acadia National Park Workshop!

Acadia National Park Workshop 2025

We are full for our Acadia Workshop in 2026. Want to join us for landscapes in another National Park?

Explore Kenai Fjords National Park: July 7-12, 2026 Space Available

Explore Capitol Reef and Bryce National Parks October 2027, just 1 Space left

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Tom and Cree

CREATED BY
Cree Bol

Credits:

Tom Bol and Cree Bol