THE TARN
Acadia National Park, ME
Image by Darron Franta @ www.frantaphotography.com
The Tarn lies in a steep valley between two peaks — Mt. Dorr, the third tallest peak on the island, lies to the west and the knob of Huguenot Head to the east. The Tarn is probably one of Acadia’s more under-appreciated ponds due to its smaller stature.
Many people overlook it because it’s not as well-known as some of Acadia’s larger bodies of water, such as Jordan Pond, Long Pond, and Eagle Lake. Yet, I believe it is one of its most picturesque. If you arrive at the right time, when the sun is providing picturesque reflections, you'll be rewarded with a beautiful view and likely agree with my assessment.
Photos and location summary by Darron Franta
Trail Difficulty - EASY
This trail is a 1 on a scale of 1-5 (with 5 being the most difficult). The shooting location is a walk of 100 yards or less after a six-minute drive from downtown Bar Harbor.
What Lens(es) Do You Need
When photographing The Tarn Short - you can use lenses ranging from wide-angle to telephoto (24-70 and 70-200).
The image above was shot @ 150mm
Nuances of Shot
As mentioned, this is a morning shot, but not necessarily sunrise. The best approach, in my estimation, is to wait for the sun's direct light to clear Huguenot Knob and light the side of Dorr Mt., which is covered with beautiful color-bearing trees. Depending upon the time of year, this will usually occur mid-morning. Shooting westward, Mt. Dorr's trees will provide beautiful reflections amidst the lily pads and water grasses that dance on the shallow body …
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GPS Coordinates & Elevation
101 Ft. Elevation
Directions
CLICK HERE to get driving directions to The Tarn
From Bar Harbor - take Route 3 south out of town for 2.5 miles. On your right, you will see the shallow pond known as The Tarn. There is no parking area so you will need to pull off and park on the side of the road. There is room to do this on the south end of The Tarn. Make sure you are completely pulled off the road and not in a position to slow or hamper traffic. I’ve seen other photographers not do this, and I think it is bad press for our kind. We want to make sure we are not causing issues for others.
Equipment Needed
Other than a sturdy tripod, there is no need for special equipment. A polarizing filter is also helpful to reduce the glare off of the pond.
Weather
The weather in Acadia is often pleasant in the fall and spring. Mild in the summer and brutally cold in the winter. This October morning was slightly chilly with no breeze.
Download KMZ Trail File
Click Here to download the KMZ file for this location.
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