New York, Forever Wild

Fall color is peaking in a vast park larger than Yellowstone, Yosemite, Grand Canyon, Glacier, and Great Smoky Mountains National Parks combined—Adirondack State Park in, yes, New York.

| Published Sep 11, 2013 6:53 AM EDT

Inspiration

The iconic mist of the region rises in Chris Tennant's shot made with a Canon EOS 5D Mark II and 24–105mm f/4L Canon EF IS lens with circular polarizer. Exposure: 1/15 sec at f/10, ISO 640. A Feisol tripod was used for all photos in this feature. Chris Tennant

Cascade Waterfalls, N. Elba, NY

Tennant used a Canon EOS 5D Mark II and 24–105mm f/4L EF IS lens and polarizer; 4 sec at f/18, ISO 100.

Round Pond, St. Huberts, NY

5D Mark II, 100–400mm f/4.5–5.6L EF IS lens and polarizer; 1/60 sec at f/11, ISO 400.

Mt. Van Hoevenberg, Lake Placid, NY

From the mountain’s summit, the “forever wild” aspect of the park is evident. Tennant made the image with a Canon EOS 5D Mark II, 24–105mm f/4L Canon EF IS lens, and polarizer at 1/40 sec and f/13, ISO 320.

Elk Lake, North Hudson, NY

Tennant made four overlapping exposures of 1/80 sec at f/14, ISO 320 with a Canon EOS 5D Mark II and 24–105mm f/4L EF IS lens fitted with a polarizer. He later stitched the exposures into a panorama in Adobe Photoshop.

Forest Floor, High Peaks Region

The same gear as above was used to make this study in autumn colors; a polarizer helped intensify the hues. Exposure: 1 sec at f/16, ISO 320.

Round Pond, St. Huberts, NY

A polarizer helped bring out both the blue-gray of the rock face and the reds and golds of the foliage. Tenant used a 5D Mark II and 100–400mm f/4.5–5.6L lens; 1/8 sec at f/11, ISO 320.