Acadia National Park
This article is about Acadia National Park Maine · 49,075 acres
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Acadia National Park Video Synopsis

ACADIA is the culmination of several weeks spent exploring Acadia National Park during peak fall color. This film was, in part, a celebration of Acadia’s centennial. It’s dedicated to George Dorr. Sculpted by Glaciers and landscaped by beavers, Acadia is full of wonderfully unique features. Rounded mountains, tranquil ponds, rocky coastline, & some of the most beautiful trails in the world comprise this marvelous wonder.


pattiz brothers at acadia national park
Here we are in Acadia National Park (Will – left, Jim – right) during the making of this film

The Making of Our Acadia Film

This Acadia National Park video was the 5th film in our award-winning video series which will eventually encompass every single national park in America. To make this film we spent 15 days in Acadia National Park during peak foliage (typically the first two weeks of October).

The making of this film was really fun but arduous. Freezing cold early morning wake up calls to catch sunrises and the fear of the dreaded winter tick (Jim got some) made things interesting to say the least.

We camped for most of the time and did not have proper sleeping bags for the low temperatures. One critical error we made was the firs two days of the shoot our (new) camera was set to record in JPG instead of RAW. Editing those star lapses was especially fun.


Favorite Memories From Acadia

One of my favorite memories from the trip was showing up to Bass Harbor lighthouse at sunset. Upon arriving we beheld a massive crowd of fellow photographers taking up what seemed like every square inch of space to get the famous sunset shot.

jim pattiz filming at acadia national park
Jim filming a frog

It was treacherous. We’re talking jagged, slick, seaweed covered rocks while the tide was rising. Our only option was to cross in front of the lined up photographers (super popular move) to a position that was up to our ankles in the frigid Atlantic. As we crossed “the line” another photographer yelled in a thick New England accent, “you can’t do that!”

Later on as the sun was closing in on the horizon another photographer showed up to the party late and tried to set up right in front of everyone. A cannonade of jeers and angry calls erupted but the photographer showed indifference. Then, the photo gods interceded. Moments later he slipped, busting it hard on the aforementioned jagged slippery rocks. His lens was smashed, camera fell into the salt water – ruined. It was painful to watch.


Our Equipment

Here’s some quick picks from our current camera kit that we use to create all of our national parks films. For those interested, we created an article that details our full camera kit including all the support equipment etc.


Fun Statistics About the Filming

Crew Members: 3
Time: 15 days
Distance: 100mi+
Photos/Videos: 15,000+
Digital Memory: 1.1TB

blackwoods campground at acadia national park
Our campsite at Blackwoods Campground

Acadia National Park Filming Locations

Some of the Acadia National Park filming locations we captured include:

  • Jordan Pond
  • Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse
  • Otter Cliffs
  • Cadillac Mountain
  • Beaver Ponds
  • Schoodic Peninsula
  • Sand Beach
  • The Tarn
  • Acadia All-American Road
  • South Bubble
  • The Bowl
  • Beehive Trail
  • Precipice Trail

Learn More About Acadia National Park

From the making of this film and subsequent trips, we’ve learned a lot about Acadia National Park. So, we wrote about it! Here’s some of the things that might be helpful for you in case you’re planning a trip to Acadia:

bass harbor lighthouse photographers at acadia national park
Here’s the pack of wolves at Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse
  • Acadia National Park (Guide)
  • Best Acadia National Park Activities
  • Best Hikes at Acadia National Park
  • Hiking the Precipice Trail
  • Interesting Facts About Acadia National Park
  • Acadia in Winter
  • Acadia in Spring
  • Acadia in Summer

Watch More of Our National Parks Videos

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