A Foothold in Stone

Was it a fool’s errand? I was on the search for the pink granite that holds the Acadia area.

I had hiked extensively, not seeing much this year. Granite, yes; pink no. The key to photographing a popular location like Acadia is to find special places in unusual settings away from the crowds. The Fire of 1947 burned large areas of Mount Desert Island, changing the forests. Previously full of evergreen spruce and fir, the burnt areas on the island regenerated with primarily deciduous birch, beech, and maple. I was looking for the older growth spruce, which exuded a darker and more moody atmosphere than the newer growth.

Then I found it, an older evergreen forest on the edge of the Park—alive enough to be hidden even from those who seek it out. Ledges gradually appeared as I hiked higher up. And behind a hedge of small evergreens, I found this hidden place. The atmosphere was moody, but there was a challenge: it was the light—or lack of it. I found it dark even at midday. I tried several strategies.

Finally, I solved the visual issues and found a special composition I liked. There were some dark, moody pieces, but also partial light in other areas—a nice contrast. And the granite blocks stood as rooted beings, accentuating the rare pink color.

Many Indigenous peoples view rocks as animate beings. They regard people as being in kinship with their environment—including rocks, ledges, or mountains. For a time, I felt myself in the midst of this, enveloped, calm, and grateful.