I wanted to share an article of mine that was published on the Outdoor Photographer Magazine website.  

National Parks Pro Guide

Tips and insights on where to go inside some of our most popular national parks

Acadia National Park, Maine
John Munno
www.johnmunnophotography.com 
 

Magic Of Acadia

Magic Of Acadia
Summer is my favorite time to visit Acadia National Park. Air temperatures are warm and the days are long, providing for many hours of photo shooting and recreation. Acadia is famous for its seascapes. While there are many elements of nature to photograph in Acadia, the seascapes are out of this world. Many shots are easily accessible via a short walk or drive, yet speak of timeless places and raw beauty untouched by the hand of man. Plan your trip using moon and tide charts. A full moon adds a dynamic and magical element to your photos. "Magic of Acadia" is a photo of the moon rising over the Atlantic. Taken the day before the full moon, the time is right for the moon and surrounding light to be in the same tonal range. This shot was taken with a Nikon D7000 with a Nikon 12-24mm ƒ/4 lens and 800 ISO. Exposure was 30 seconds shot at ƒ/16. This photo was taken almost at full darkness. With such a long exposure, you can capture the moon beams on the water and motion blur of the water. Shooting at such times, one is on the cusp of daylight and darkness, and one can shoot in almost total darkness. It's a magical time to be taking photos and experiencing life! 
 

Awakening

Awakening
Summer is the most popular time to visit Acadia so be prepared for lots of people. At the same time, I do most of my shooting in the early mornings and early evenings when the coast and roads are quiet. Often, it's just me, the sea and sound of the waves crashing upon the rocks. This photo "Awakening" is an example of the amazing sunrise seascape photos that can be taken at Acadia. The Park Loop Road between Sand Beach and Otter Point provides unlimited seascape shots and sunrise photos. This shot was taken at approximately 5:00 a.m. For these morning shots, I usually get up at 4:00 a.m. to get the coast by 4:30 in the dark and ready to shoot as the sky just starts to turn light. Make sure to have a flashlight. You'll need it to scramble over the rocks to the coast in the dark. 

Accommodations can be made at the Blackwoods Campground for a short drive to the coast or at hotels in Bar Harbor. This photo was taken with a Nikon D7000 and a Nikon 12-24 ƒ/4 wide-angle lens. Exposure time was 1 second at ƒ/18 with ISO 100. Split neutral-density filters are a must, as well as polarizing filters, a tripod and a cable release or remote.