Adrift – Limited Edition Maine Creek Fine Art Photography

Capturing Stillness and Subtle Beauty in a Maine Creek

I traveled to Maine in search of vivid fall foliage, but the colors never quite arrived as anticipated. The brilliant reds and golds that draw photographers from around the world remained muted, hidden behind overcast skies and an unusually warm autumn. So I shifted my perspective—focusing instead on quieter moments, intimate textures, and the hidden beauty that exists beneath the obvious seasonal displays.

When Plans Change, New Discoveries Emerge

Sometimes the most rewarding photography happens when we abandon our original intentions and remain open to what the landscape actually offers. Instead of the dramatic autumn canopy I had envisioned, I found myself drawn to smaller scenes, more subtle compositions, and the kind of understated beauty that rewards patient observation.

A Moment of Perfect Natural Composition

That change in focus and expectation brought me to Adrift. As we walked along the banks of a small creek winding through the Maine woods, I noticed a single vibrant green leaf floating gracefully across the surface of the blue water. The leaf drifted through dark blue water reflections that captured the overcast sky above, creating a natural mirror that doubled the visual impact of the scene.

The Dance of Color and Reflection

Surrounded by the deep blue water and its inky reflections, the bright green leaf created a striking focal point—nature's own spotlight drawing attention to this small moment of beauty. Silver-toned ripples spread gently from where the leaf touched the surface, adding texture and movement to what might otherwise have been a static composition.

When Color Demands Attention

It was a fleeting moment, perfectly composed by nature itself without any intervention from me beyond recognizing its beauty and capturing it. Most of the images I captured during that Maine trip became part of my contemplative black and white "wet" series—studies in texture, form, and the subtle interplay of light and shadow on water surfaces.

A Rare Color Exception

But Adrift demanded something different. This single image insisted on retaining its color, demanded that the vibrant green of the leaf and the rich blue water reflections be preserved exactly as nature presented them. The contrast of warm green against cool blue, the interplay between the floating subject and its liquid stage, continues to draw me in each time I view the image.

Part of a Larger Creek Meditation

Adrift is one of four visual meditations captured at that same quiet stream location, each offering a different emotional note and seasonal perspective from this single bend in a Maine creek. Together with Autumn Rain, Autumn Remains, and First Frost, these images create a complete portrait of how one small place can offer multiple stories depending on timing, weather, and the photographer's state of mind.

The Beauty of Intimate Landscapes

While grand vistas and dramatic overlooks often capture our attention, there's something equally compelling about these smaller, more intimate encounters with the natural world. Adrift reminds us that profound beauty can be found in the simplest moments—a single leaf on blue water, a brief pause in our busy lives to really observe what's happening right in front of us.

Available in a Limited Edition of 25, with 2 Artist Proofs.