We never, if we can help it, miss a chance to walk the loop of trails around Jordan Pond in Acadia National Park on any visit. It is sometimes the only hike we have time for, but if we have time for only one, it is it. This last visit we got rained on a lot (see Acadia from under and Umbrella: shooting in the rain) and we hiked around Jordan with rain gear on and umbrellas in hand…but still we did it. The subdued light and the rain wet woods provided interesting variations on our normal views. I always find the Atlantic Cedar forest at the south-west corner of the pond fascinating…dark and deep and dense and mysterious (even though in reality it is only a narrow remnant strip of trees in the semi flooded area next to the pond itself). The park service has built a raised “log-walk” (as opposed to “boardwalk”) the length of the habitat to keep hikers’ feet dry…and off the delicate roots and mosses.

This image captures the leaning Cedars right a the water’s edge, the log-walk, and a whole range of interesting textures and forms, from the ripples of the water to the grain of the wood in the logs, to the bark of Cedars, to fine green of the grasses and the feathery green of the Cedar foliage and the brown riot of fallen pine needles. I like the way the log-walk leads off, pulling the eye deeper into the image and the mystery of the forest.

Nikon Coolpix P500 at 23mm equivalent field of view, f3.4 @ 1/250th @ ISO 160. Programmed auto with Active D-Lighting and Vivid Image Optimization.

Processed in Lightroom for Clarity and Sharpness.