During our recent trip to Maine, we made a point of getting to Acadia National Park. While we had visited Bar Harbor, Mount Desert Island, and Acadia many times before, because of the relatively steep entrance fee ($25 per vehicle - up to 15 passengers -  or $12 per adult, all good for 7 days, as of fall, 2017), we don’t always go inside the park. However, now that I have (ahem) “qualified” for the Lifetime Senior Pass, it was a no brainer (and also free for me and up to 3 other adults).

There were some wonderful opportunities for short hikes, magnificent overlooks, and photos of the waves crashing on the rocky beaches, all of which will await another post. For this post, it is what came after the park that I want to describe.

One of my (several!) favorite lighthouses is Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse, in Bass Harbor, on Mount Desert Island, not far from Acadia. The lighthouse sits near the top of a rocky cliff, overlooking the straits between several islands.

The best vantage point is down on the rocks, below the lighthouse. I had prepared by studying the sunset time and direction, and they day looked to be perfect, and indeed, it was.

We arrived early, about an hour before sunset, and were startled to find ourselves third in what became a long line of cars waiting for a spot in the small parking lot. Within a few minutes we were able to park, and headed to the rocks. When we arrived, there were several photographers already set up and waiting, so I joined them, taking a seat on the rocks, and checking to see that I was not interfering with anyone else’s photograph. I also noticed, just in front of my seat, a tide pool that looked as if it might make for a great reflection. Another photographer noticed the same thing, and asked me to move for a moment so he could get that shot.

Once the sun began to set, it looked as if we would be disappointed. There was some color in the sky, but not enough for the dramatic photographs we hope to find. About that time, the selfie photobombers arrived and began walking, standing, and even sitting, in front of the now 60-plus serious photographers who were trying to capture a photograph that was, shall we say, more artistic.  The jokes began among the tripod group that Photoshop would be a necessity for this shoot, as we would need to remove photobombers from the images.

The sky began to develop, with rich reds, magentas, oranges and yellows lighting the sky beside the lighthouse. Still the photobombers arrived and acted as if they were the only ones there. I was able to get several shots that, without the photobombing selfie-shooters, would have been good, and even some that, with help from Photoshop, came out reasonably well.

The image in this post, Light at Bass Harbor, was my favorite. There was one photobomber in the original. Can you see where he was?