Spring Reflections.
Spring is a time of reflection and renewal. A time to reflect on what has been. The year gone by. The Winter season that treated you well, but needs to be put to rest. And renewal. A season of new growth. Of new experiences. Of life returning to the Adirondack woodlands. And with it brings new promise.
Truth told, I enjoy all four of the seasons in the Adirondacks. They are all special and I honestly don’t have a favorite among them. There are pieces I adore about all four and some I’d rather not deal with. Blackflies in the Spring. Grey doldrums of late Fall. But there is beauty within those seasons, you just have to look a bit harder and be better prepared.
In terms of Spring photography in the Adirondacks, though, there is much to latch on to. In this region of the Adirondack Park it lasts several weeks some years. In other years it is brief. It’s not unheard of to have it come on strong across the forest only to be beaten back by another few weeks of Winter. But the inevitable wins out every time and eventually the days and evenings stay warm.
The Spring colors in the Adirondacks are not as showy as the Fall colors, but they can be equally beautiful. As the deciduous trees start responding to long daylength and warmer temperatures the bare forest canopy begins to shift colors. The bark of some shrubs begins to shift, too. Willows can take on beautiful hues of yellow, green, and red depending upon the species. Maples can become vibrant red, especially when they set flower for their short bloom. Even the nearly dead-looking tamarack take on a beautiful shade of light green when they set new needles. Capturing this beauty in photographs is really a challenge, but it is one I look forward to each year. It’s subtle for sure. And finding the right conditions of atmosphere, light, and subject is a genuine challenge.
Spring subjects are bountiful
Spring in the Adirondacks and greater Northeast forest is full of unique subjects to photograph. Color is absent in many areas, but the subject matter is actually pretty deep. Fog, for instance, is often a common occurrence if you can get warm air moving in over the cold and snow-covered ground. Your best chances of finding this elusive subject is in the mornings, but afternoon rains can produce some dramatic conditions as well. Pay close attention to low-lying wetlands or lakes, if there is a large difference between water temperatures and air temperatures in the morning you can get some beautiful fog and mist developing. A light breeze can sometimes help, too, in fog generation.
“The Spring colors in the Adirondacks are not as showy as the Fall colors, but they can be equally beautiful.”
“Kind of Blue.” Winter giving way to Spring thaw.
“Breath.” The early Spring forest awakens along the shores of Lake George.
“Adirondacks at Spring.” ed. 1. Ephemeral conditions between the grip of Winter and the emergence of Spring.
When seasons collide
One of the subjects I am constantly on the lookout for in the transition between seasons is when they run into each other in visually obvious ways. The situation is very ephemeral and rare. The rarity or oddity of it has the potential creating unique images. Snow on colorful Fall foliage is often beautiful when you can find it, but Fall often ends before the snow sets in. Spring snow on an awakening forest is also quite rare, but I have been fortunate to view it multiple times. A heavy wet Spring snow can blanket subjects really nicely, simplifying scenes. You will want to act quickly when it occurs as the conditions tend to change fast.
“while the canopy is open the opportunity for light to penetrate the Spring forest is really unique.”
Exploring Spring Waters
Water is a really integral feature of the Adirondack wilderness and it also should not be overlooked for its potential for image making in the Spring. The water temperatures can actually be dangerously low, so take extreme caution. The water is often void of plant and algae growth so your opportunity to take more clear images of it is significantly higher. Waterfowl often migrate through in April and May, so be alert to their movements.
I often find myself really enjoying these more open waters and the release of ice. The calm, obstruction-free reflectivity of it along with occasional ice forms can be really interesting and compelling to work with. I should also add that while the canopy is open the opportunity for light to penetrate the Spring forest is really unique. Streams will be at their highest flow rates for the year in many cases, so take those opportunities into consideration. I featured a Spring stream image in this year’s Images of Wilderness calendar — I cannot wait to return to that stream for another round of image making!
custom photography Workshops & Lessons
Spring is a truly is a special time for photography in the Adirondack forest. I hope this brief guide and discussion was helpful to you. If you are interested in a personal photography workshop, a guided Adirondack photography tour or even a photography lesson dealing with Spring subjects, I am available most weekends and afternoons across the season. I specialize in designing custom photography workshops for clients which bring them to the exact types of subjects they are interested in photographing or learning about. Reach out any time, I’d be honored to put something special and unique together for you!
Custom Adirondack photography workshops also make terrific, unique gifts and can be offered through my Art Certificates.
All the best to you! Enjoy Spring and all that it promises for a new season of growth!
Spring time in the Adirondack waters is truly special, a sign of life returning to this wilderness.