Help - Niagara Falls Night shoot

[johnms88]

I was invited to go on a shoot tonight at Niagara Falls. Specifically the Cave of the Winds. The cave of the Winds is (partly) a trail that goes down to the base of the falls.
Aparently, from what ive been told, the State doesnt even let National Geographic down these trails at night. So, as you might expect, I dont want to screw up this once in a lifetime opprotunity. The Falls is illuminated at night by a pleathora of lights of all different colors....its beautiful.

As a...to put it bluntly....noob.....I would really like some advice as to what i should do to prepare for this trip. I dont want to look like a dumbass in front of the pros.

As of now I have a 350d , kit lens, a Sigma 70-200 2.8 and a 2x tele.

I know im going to go get some more cf space.

---Some things Im wondering---
should i shoot in raw or jpeg? (or both)

should i try and get myself a fast lens to cover my 10-70 range? (i dont really count the kit lens since this is a night shoot and the kit is slow)

What are some good (makeshift) ways to protect my camera from the water?

Any other advice that you could give would be great.
I know im going to go get a waterproof bag and a remote later today..


Thanks in advance for your help.

[cfcRebel]

I have had a chance to shoot Niagara Falls at night. I don't think you need a fast lens to shoot Niagara Falls. Kit lens will work just fine. Bring the 70-200 in case you are far from the falls. I would shoot in RAW, ISO100 or 200. Also, bring a tripod and cable release.
Oh, don't use the 2x TC if you don't have too.

[lungdoc]

Some recent threads on water protection in the "Accessories" forum. Worth doing a search to see just how wet it might be where you are specifically, but usually at the falls it's pretty wet (like heavy rain wet). I'd bring some towels, lens tissues, tripod and release if allowed. I'd check out these http://www.stormjacket.com/(thanks to the accessories threads)

[Roach711]

I recently had to shoot in the rain and used a clear trash bag to protect the camera. I basicly put the camera in the bag body first then put a rubber band around the bag at the lens hood. It was a bit clumsy to make adjustments and zoom the lens but there wasn't anything I couldn't have done without the bag.

[jimox]

Dont mention Niagara *@!£$ing Falls round here our kid,back in 1976 my wife to be and me shot 3 rolls off 36 exposure Fuji slide films on our "once in a life-time holiday" and sent them off to Fuji in Toronto for processing - we're still waiting for them! (My theory is that they arrived at the wifes Uncles house after we returned to England and he binned them - he didnt like my Curtis Mayfield and Jerry Butler 8 track we used to play in his car)Sorry this is off track but as soon as I saw "Niagara"....AAAGGHH!!

[johnms88]

Well....I finally got my images uploaded and such. Thought you might like to see a couple. I ended up at the Canadien Maid of the Mist docks this night...not the cave

criticism very welcome (as long as the fact that i was using the kit lens for most of these is kept in mind :P)
im still not happy with the quality as it shows up on the internet...i just wish i knew how to make it look as good as everyone else does.
any tips?
im resizing at best quality .jpg directly from the full size .tiff which was converted from the raw.

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b35/johnms88/IMG_1315resize.jpg

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b35/johnms88/IMG_1345resize.jpg

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b35/johnms88/IMG_1350resize.jpg

[ZekaG]

They look pretty good for the first time...
I like the first one best.