A Scenic/Landscape Photographers Life….day 2

Well, up again at 4:30, to be out the door at 5:30, in hopes of some sunrise color along the Kancamagus Highway and Swift River. Today was going to be a very long, and hopefully productive day. I had scouted some trees the evening before, and drove to the spot to set up my tripod and camera along the river bank. I took a couple test shots, to make sure I was ready for the coming sun. And then waited. Unfortunately there were no clouds to create some color in the sky. So I bailed, and headed for the Albany Covered Bridge spanning the Swift River, further along the Kanc’.

I have photographed this bridge so many times, in so many seasons, yet I wanted a fall image with low water, so I could photograph from the middle of the river, with lots of rocks and flows. And I wanted the sun to be high enough for good lighting. I pulled into the near empty lot, and decided to scout the best spot, before dragging all my camera gear with me.

I cut through the trees to the river bank, to the spot where I might venture further out into the river. I popped out of the trees about 20 feet in front of two other photographers, already set up with their tripods along the river bank. Their scowls revealed they were not happy that I was in front of them, and in their camera’s viewpoint. I didn’t even get a chance to explain, when one said “I hope you’re not setting up there”. I quickly assured them, replying “oh no, I’m just looking to see where I can set up, and will be either behind you, or out in the middle of the river”. Their scowls turned to skeptical acceptance, which was fine with me, as I agree with them. They earned the spot. If you take the time to get up the earliest, and set up at a location first, no decent photographer would attempt to set up in front of the other photographer, or in the lenses field of vision. You want the shot, you have to get up the earliest, and be the first one there. Which was all good with me, since my plan was to set up mid-river parallel to them anyway, out of their field of view.

So I trekked back through the woods to the car, pulled on my new Muck boots, for just this purpose, and headed back to the river with my gear. I passed the two gentlemen again, but this time, just behind them, and gradually walked out into the middle of the river. With my gear on back, using my tripod to balance, I ventured further out to a flat rock I saw ,that I could set my gear up and stand on to get a higher vantage point of the scene. I set up my tripod with the camera, and then put a polarizing filter to reduce the glare off the water and leaves, for a richer scene. The water level was just right, and the sky had some nice blue skies with some clouds to accompany the scene. I took two compositions, one wide showing more of the river, and a closer one featuring the bridge more prominently. Satisfied with my results, I scrambled back to my vehicle, to make opening at my gallery.

I worked the gallery until 1pm, with plans to drive up the Mt. Washington Auto Road to the summit, to get a new picture of the Cog railway in fall. And if the light was good, a picture of the Crawford Path, and possibly Wildcat Mountain (Yes, I’m cheating’ now by driving up for my views, as my spine and a heavy pack with camera gear, are no longer tolerable on long hikes). Closing the door, I jumped in the already packed car, and headed to the Auto Road. The colors in the notches were just at peak, if not maybe 1 day beyond. I arrived at the Auto Road, payed my fee, put it in low gear, and headed on up. Thankfully traffic wasn’t heavy, and I marveled at the scenery all the way up. Arriving at the top, I parked in the lower lot to hike out a bit to photograph the Crawford Path that runs from the summit along the southern Presidential’s, all the way to Crawford Notch.

The skies were perfect, blue with some nice clouds, and the surrounding valley foliage was beautiful. I composed the vertical shot I wanted, and quickly moved on to another lower lot, to photograph the Cog. I walked out along the ridge towards the railway, being careful to step only on the granite rocks, avoiding any damage to the fragile high alpine tundra. I got into position just as the first of three trains came up over the ridge. I took a couple compositions of each, framing the Great Gulf cirque with the ridges of Mt. Clay and Jefferson behind. Satisfied again, I drove a bit further down and walked out to the opposite ridge, to get a photo of the Wildcat Range. When I got out to the edge of the rim, I could see the foliage was wonderful along the whole Wildcat Range, The Carters, all the way to Moriah. Just spectacular:)!

I knew I was packing too much into one day, as my spine does not like sitting or driving for long hours, yet the timing and skies were perfect, so my plan from there was to drive further northeast to the Rangeley Lakes region. In fact, I had attempted a photograph there last year, and while I was there at peak foliage, the clouds came in and took out the scene at the last moments of sunset. So I called the local Chamber of Commerce that morning from my gallery, to explain I was driving 5 hours RT to shoot in the same spot as I did last year, but was concerned peak may have past. She assured me it was at “total peak”…….. well, after driving another two hours beyond the Auto Road, I arrived at the scene I had in mind, and foliage was clearly a couple days past peak.

A bit miffed, I set up my tripod and took a couple pictures anyway, knowing my pics from last year were better and I had wasted a 1/2 day, an extra 4 hours on my spine in the car, and $60 bucks in gas. It was early evening and I debated hanging around for sunset, but was annoyed enough with the conditions, so I figured I’d turn around and go back the long way, along Rte 16, and try to catch the Androscoggin River at sunset instead. This way I’d be able to get home at a reasonable hour too, instead of 930pm if I stayed in Rangeley for the sunset and afterglow. So I grabbed my camera put it in my backpack, threw it in the car and bolted for the Andro’.

Now about an hour from Rangeley, I saw what I thought was a dog on the side of the road, but upon closer inspection was an adolescent bear. I slowed, and watched him quickly cross the road in front of me. As I continued driving, I saw the moon rising over the Androscoggin, and looked for a peak foliage reflection to incorporate with the moon. I found the perfect spot, and pulled over. I went to the back of my car to get my camera gear and tripod out, and upon opening the hatch, something was missing…….in my annoyance and haste, I had left my tripod in the field back in Rangeley, ugh:(!

My spine was killing me, and I seriously thought about leaving it and buying a new one, rather than add two more hours, to my already very long day. But it’s a carbon fiber tripod with top end ball head, so I turned the car around and headed back.

I knew I would be arriving in the dark, and wondered it it would still be there when I got back. I figured if anyone honest saw it, they would wait until dark to see if someone came back for it, but if it got dark and no one showed, I expected someone might then take it with them. So, I somewhat risked it in prime moose/bear/deer country, by speeding back trying to get there before it might be gone. I was a half hour in, there were still some rough roads due to last winters frost, and all of a sudden I heard a thud’, followed by the loud rumble of a non muffled muffler……are you kidding me? Today? Now? Wtf.

I pulled over on the soft shoulder, turned off the car, and crawled under the back end to assess the situation. Sure enough, the muffler had snapped off at it’s connection point and was now gingerly hanging from just one rubber grommet. Fortunately, I carry wire in my car, as this has happened before. So I dug out the spool, crawled under the car with it, and attempted to better secure the muffler until I get home. Twenty minutes and a couple muffler burns later, it was locked in place with my make shift hanger. Dirty, sweaty, tired, sore, and burnt, I climbed back in the car to scream on to Rangeley.

Funny, I passed the same adolescent bear, this time crossing the road again in the same exact place, but only in the other direction. And while I had seen a dead deer on the road side, just minutes earlier (obviously hit by a car), I was thankful and praying I wouldn’t hit something in the way back. With my foot on the peddle, darkness closed in, and I now knew I would be arriving after dark.

I finally could see the pull off I had set up at, and no one was there except a single car 50 feet or so away. I pulled up to edge of the field I had set up my tripod in, and put the cars high beams on it, only to discover it was gone:(. I got out of the car and started looking around the spot, mumbling to myself with disgust at my mistake, knowing I still had a 2 1/2 hour ride home. I was just about to leave, when the nearby car rolled down the window, and a young gentlemen yelled out “looking for something?”, to witch I sadly replied, “yes, my tripod”. He responded with the most wonderful words, “I put it over there hoping whoever lost it might come back”. I pivoted around to see it standing just 20 feet away. I rejoiced and thanked him profusely. I then put my tripod back in the car, with the rest of my gear, and turned around to drive home. Again. Aside from the painful back and neck I had attained with all the driving and sitting, the long night drive home was thankfully uneventful. I finally pulled into my driveway at 10pm……to start all over again tomorrow at 4:30