Thunder Hole
Thunder Hole is a narrow inlet carved into the pink granite coastline of Acadia National Park, where incoming waves compress into a tight chasm and explode upward with a thunderous boom, sometimes sending spray 40 feet into the air. The drama is all about timing: mid-tide on an incoming swell produces the most powerful surges, so check tide charts before you visit and aim for two hours before high tide. Position yourself on the viewing platform or along the railing to shoot down into the chasm, using a wide angle to capture the frothy rush of water against the pink and gray rock. A fast shutter speed freezes the spray into sharp detail, while a longer exposure smooths the water into silky motion around the rocks. Morning light hits the inlet well and the crowds are thinner; midday can work too since the open sky provides even illumination on the rock faces. Parking is available directly off Park Loop Road. (Mount Desert Island, Maine, United States)
