Reflections
2022 Reflections
2022 was an unforgettable year. I spent nine months traveling around the country - out to the great Southwest twice, and all the way up to Maine and New England, thousands of photos taken and countless miles hiked through state and national parks. That exhilirating feeling of experiencing a new place for the first time with someone special, not knowing what is around the next bend and what you might find. The awakening scent of juniper and sagebrush, the heartwarming flavor of the red and green Chile peppers, the crisp salty air blowing against your face on the edge of a cliff overlooking the vast expanse of the Atlantic. I am eternally grateful for these opportunities, memories, and experiences. I am thankful to have a job that allows for so much travel, to have my health to move and explore in this new terrain, and the freedom to do so without constraint.
Despite being in these incredible circumstances, I can’t help but notice that something is off within myself. It took a breakup, a few good books, and some serious introspection to realize that I wasn’t present in the moment, in the day to day, in my relationships. I was restless and distracted, looking at what was next instead of fully enjoying and appreciating what was in front of me. I was driven by compulsion, rather than thoughtful intent. I was rigid, impatient, and selfish. I could not relax and be still, there was always something else to do, something else to see. Although this anxiety did yield some positive results with my photography and physical health, it came at a high cost in my personal relationships and state of mind. Worst of all, I was not aware of this imbalance, at times using this restlessness as a strength, a source of energy to accomplish a goal. I thought that I was just being me…I am the way I am, why would I ever need to change?
As I get to know myself better and look ahead to 2023, I do so with a calming sense of relief. I am learning how to slow down and worry less, practice patience, empathy and gratitude, to be okay with doing nothing, and most importantly, be present. I have a long way to go, and I look forward to this journey.
Night sky at Acadia
Jupiter in the night sky at Acadia National Park.
One of the highlights of my recent trip to Maine was a night of clear skies in Acadia National Park. The best part was that it was all unexpected. The night began at Eagle Lake where I went for an evening walk after cooking dinner. Without a trace of wind the lake was completely still. I enjoyed walking around the lake occasionally stopping and getting drawn into the reflections. It was cloudy, so I wasn’t expecting to see any stars, but as it got dark the sky started to clear and a few stars peaked out. Soon after, the shape of the Milky Way began to reveal itself and stars appeared on the lake. I had never seen such bright and sharp stars on the surface of water before. I was so excited! I ran back to my car to get my camera and tripod and captured this photo of the Milky Way with the lake reflections. I was drawn into the scene…the way the tree stretched out with the mountains in the distance.
The skies remained clear and the night was still young, so I headed over to the nearby ocean path trail. I found a secluded spot along the cliffs to sit and reflect in the starlight. Looking out towards the ocean you could see Jupiter shining bright. It appeared larger than normal, captivating my attention. The waves gently brushed against the rocks below me. I am at peace.
Mountain Waves
Blue Ridge Mountains near Grayson Highlands, Virginia.
This was taken on top of my favorite mountain in Virginia earlier this month. From this special spot you can see into Tennessee and North Carolina. So many layers fading into the horizon flowing like waves. I love this place.
Mid Coast Milky Way
Maine Coast Milky Way
Had some nice clear skies last week around the mid coast of Maine. It has been a long time since I have done any night sky photography. It was refreshing to get back out under the stars, especially with the sound of the waves rolling in. Hopefully I can get some more clear skies this week. I have found a few interesting spots I’d like to photograph.
Made it
Full moon rising near Portland, Maine.
Starting my journey up the Maine coast. On the first night I was fortunate enough to watch the full moon rise from a beach south of Portland. What a beautiful beginning. I look forward to lots of hiking exploring over the next couple of weeks.
Next stop Maine!
New home for my adventures… a tag teardrop trailer!
It’s been awhile… I arrived back in Virginia recently after spending time in Colorado and made a big purchase to aid in future adventures…a T@G teardrop travel trailer! I have been busy planning my first trip with it up to Maine next month. I have never been to Maine before. I can’t wait to see all of the lighthouses, islands and rocky coasts, and eat some fresh seafood! I should be able to catch some fall colors as well. I am still working out my itinerary, so if you have any suggestions let me know. I promise to post some more pictures from this summer soon. I am going to enter a photo contest this month, so I will be going through my backlog from New Mexico and Colorado.
Beautiful San Juans
Photos from the San Juan Mountains in southern Colorado.
I spent the day hiking in the San Juan mountains in southern Colorado last weekend. I hadn’t been there before or seen many photos of the area so I didn’t know what to expect..I just knew that I hadn’t been up in the mountains in awhile and I couldn’t wait to get out there. The drive from Albuquerque was interesting…the transition from high desert to mountains happened much faster than I was anticipating. It was almost like I was day dreaming and then all the sudden I had arrived. I was blown away by the size, scale, and shapes, very dramatic, especially with the last patches of snow speckled around the ridges. That combined with the rich greens of the grass, aspen and pine trees, and emerging wildflowers created a beautiful landscape that I felt very fortunate to be in. I hiked about 6 miles into the Colorado Trail up to basin, and then looped around back to the campground for a total of 11 miles. I had never hiked at that high of altitude before. It was so much fun! I hope to return to the area again to explore some more of this truly breathtaking place. I hope you enjoy the photos!
Also, I have been getting more interest in prints lately. I am working on setting up a store where you can order directly on my website, but for now if there a photo you like, feel free to reach out to me directly via email: joshstansfieldphoto@gmail.com. I am happy to give you quotes with different sizes and options to best meet your space. Thank you!
