I just returned from another wonderful and rejuvenating trip to Acadia National Park and Bar Harbor, ME. I cannot tell you how much that place feels like home to me. All that’s missing is my fur babies. Okay, maybe it’s a wee bit more complicated than that, but you get the drift – I love it there!

I decided to photograph the Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse at sunset. It’s a popular spot; in fact, its probably one of the most frequently photographed areas at Acadia. For proof, consider today’s Nat Geo’s “Sunday Stills” email which links to an article showing Bass Harbor as the third of 59 best sunrise and sunset shots from our national parks.

Wednesday was unexpectedly beautiful and sunny all day, but the forecast called for showers to begin right before sunset. It wasn’t clear I’d actually get sunset shots but I felt certain about getting good shots regardless.

I arrived about an hour before sunset, managed to find parking in the undersized lot, and made my way down to the rocks where the best images could be composed. All the best spots were already taken; clearly I should have planned better and arrived much earlier.

There were about six people with cameras and tripods squeezed onto the highest rock. Then more people positioned below the rock, and more people on the rocks to the side, with a slightly obstructed view, and so on and so forth. Roughly 30 people in a location that might comfortably hold five.

On top of that, the rocks were sharp, and a challenge to maneuver especially with a camera and backpack, not to mention all the people determined to get a good spot.

But I had made the drive to the “other side” of the island, and I was determined to get some pictures. It was harder than I thought!

First I positioned myself below the highest rock. One of the men with the tripods told me I was obstructing his view. I bent lower; he still said his view was obstructed. I told him to give me a few moments, that I’d move. I didn’t tell him what I was thinking: “Umm, hello! It’s not sunset yet, the sun’s not shining, and you’re only talking at the moment!” That really wouldn’t have helped anything, lol.

Then I tried another spot – the rocks were too angled for comfortable balance, and the view was obstructed.

In the third spot, I was to the immediate right of the rock with all the photographers and their tripods. But I was behind a tall man and I couldn’t get a shot around him. I asked him to move momentarily but the shot wasn’t anything to write home about.

Meanwhile, the storm clouds were gathering and before too long I felt a drop of rain, then another, and another.

Resigning myself to the inevitable, I made my way off the rocks, took a few shots of the storm clouds and returned to my car. I was off the rocks before it really started to pour, no slipping or falling, no broken bones or cameras, lol.

I realize now that I’ll need to get that shot some other time. Likely in November, after the leaf peepers are gone but before the first snow fall. I can’t imagine trying to move around on those rocks if they’re snow-covered!!

In the meantime, though, I’m not totally displeased with my shots. They weren’t a sunset, nor perfectly composed, but the storm made them unique anyway. Take a look for yourself — what do you think?