Photographers Guide: Niagara Falls

[friesr]

I am planning a trip that will take me thru Niagra Falls the first week in June. Will be flying into Detroit then driving from Detroit thru Canada and then back. 4 days round trip.

Few questions:

What is the best time of day to photograph the falls?
Where are the best locations to photograph from?
Are there other areas worth seeing?
Anything along the route or worth a detour?
Will i need anyting wider than 17mm on a crop?

Thanks,
Rod

[rdenney]

What is the best time of day to photograph the falls?
Where are the best locations to photograph from?
Are there other areas worth seeing?
Anything along the route or worth a detour?
Will i need anyting wider than 17mm on a crop?

I've been there several times, and every time it has been cloudy or even rainy, so I don't know what time of day is best.

I think you can find good subjects from any direction, but don't miss going out onto Goat Island.

http://www.rickdenney.com/images/maid-of-the-mist-lores.jpg

http://www.rickdenney.com/images/niagra-brink-lores.jpg

From the American side, you can take closeup pictures from the falls. From the Canadian side, you can take panoramic pictures of the falls.

http://www.rickdenney.com/images/maid-american-falls-lores.jpg

Don't miss the drive to the other end of the Niagra River where is spills into Lake Erie at Fort Niagra.

http://www.rickdenney.com/images/fort-niagra-keep-lores.jpg

And there are a number of parks and overlooks between the two on the American side.

You'll find uses for whatever lenses you bring. The images I've linked were made with a 50/2.5 Compact Macro, a 70-200/4L, and a Sigma 12-24, and all on a 10D. Only the keep of Fort Niagra used a focal length shorter than 17 (12, in this case).

But if you have wider, you'll find opportunities to use it, too. Here's one with a Zenitar 16mm fisheye, also on the 10D:

http://www.rickdenney.com/images/rock-outcrop-lores.jpg

Getting pictures without the people is a challenge, unless you like making pictures of people, heh, heh.

Rick "who was there about five years ago" Denney

[Harm]

A CLP is a must for Niagara. It'll cut through most of the glare from the mist. Canadian side will give you better views too.

http://harm.smugmug.com/photos/471926132_higrn-L.jpg

http://harm.smugmug.com/photos/467167430_mxHaG-L.jpg


12 stitched panoramic:
http://harm.smugmug.com/photos/489353430_4sGCY-XL.jpg

http://harm.smugmug.com/photos/374604208_CFBBM-L.jpg

http://harm.smugmug.com/photos/460219611_jWVNN-L.jpg

A wide lens is decent. My shots were taken with the 17-85mm kit lens so you don't really need anything too large. All shots were taken around noon and afterwards, so the sunlight was pretty strong, but forgiving as the sun wasn't in any shots!

[rdenney]

A CLP is a must for Niagara. It'll cut through most of the glare from the mist. Canadian side will give you better views too.

Did you photoshop in the blue sky?

I've been there or through there a number of times on my way to and from Toronto and I never seem to be there on a clear day. I have decided that it never happens, so you must have added it in PP.

By the way, the polarizer will only help if you are lucky enough to be there on a sunny day. Overcast light is too diffused to benefit from polarization.

Rick "who knew?" Denney

[Harm]

nope, the skies were as you see them. We went there in Sept, and were very lucky for a clear sunny day. I wish i had the PP ability to put in blue skies and make the reflections in the water as such!!

[friesr]

From the orentation, it looks like it might be better in the morning for America Falls and Bridal Falls but the direction of Horeshew Falls either morning or eveing.

Google Map (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Niagara+Falls&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=51.621706,113.90625&ie=UTF8&ll=43.08254,-79.072208&spn=0.011362,0.027809&t=h&z=16)

[rdenney]

From the orentation, it looks like it might be better in the morning for America Falls and Bridal Falls but the direction of Horeshew Falls either morning or eveing.

Google Map (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Niagara+Falls&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=51.621706,113.90625&ie=UTF8&ll=43.08254,-79.072208&spn=0.011362,0.027809&t=h&z=16)

Frankly, I would say just the opposite. If you are on the Canadian side and photographing the American and Bridal Veil Falls, you'll be pointed into the sun in the morning.

I would say that shooting from the American side in the morning and the Canadian side in the afternoon will keep the sun at your back. And if you are looking upriver (south) at the Canadian falls, either morning or afternoon would be better than mid-day.

Rick "who likes to keep the sun behind the film plane for most landscapes" Denney

[rdricks]

the widest I had was 28mm. I wished I had a little wider, but I was able to make it work.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2005/1506784035_71fa51e64b.jpg

A lot of "Rainbow" opportunities too.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2255/1507643986_729dbac03c.jpg

And of course, the night shots. The rails may be packed with people, but you should be able to find a place.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2382/1507641670_6e3acc9f9e.jpg

[friesr]

Frankly, I would say just the opposite. If you are on the Canadian side and photographing the American and Bridal Veil Falls, you'll be pointed into the sun in the morning.

I would say that shooting from the American side in the morning and the Canadian side in the afternoon will keep the sun at your back. And if you are looking upriver (south) at the Canadian falls, either morning or afternoon would be better than mid-day.

Rick "who likes to keep the sun behind the film plane for most landscapes" Denney


Your are right. Got my directions mixed up. Thanks for straighting me out.

[James P]

On the Canadian side their is an observation deck right at the falls that you can access for free. Make sure to bring something to cover the camera and lens, as there is a constant spray coming from the falls that is just like a light rain. As for other places, you can get right down to the rapids at a spot just down from the falls. Just ask a local for directions. Don't bother trying to get any pictures from the boat tours, as it's just too misty. You can also go behind the falls, but you'll need to cover the camera again because of the mist. To see the major attactions in the area, there are plenty of bus tours available. One of the busiest tourist areas is called Clifton Hill, less than ten minutes from the actual falls. There's lots to see and do there. Enjoy and welcome to Canada.

[Harm]

This observational deck?

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3239/2831695119_dbfb868115.jpg

You'll get pretty wet from it!

[kradigan]

haha i love it when people ask about niagra falls, ive lived there my whole life and its still pretty cool. In my opinion the Canadian Fall are way cooler, the American Falls are nice but just not as big, defiantly the observation decks are nice and the park on the Canadian side give you a lot of good views, if you can get to the Gorge go! its Beautiful especially on a nice summer day. And beware of mist! the Skylon tower gives you good aireal shots too. Ive yet to take my camera there but will be doing that as soon as it get nicer up here in Buffalo. Make sure to post them when you get back and ENJOY!

[BigStig]

There are also some Rapids and a Whurl Pool further down the River you can get to.

[friesr]

Thinking of renting a wide prime to take along.

I was looking at the canon 14mm but it won't take a cp. Or there is the 24L

http://www.lensrentals.com/rent/canon-14mm-f2.8-l-ii/for-canon
http://www.lensrentals.com/rent/canon-24mm-f1.4-l-ii/for-canon

Possibly
http://www.lensrentals.com/rent/canon-16-35mm-f2.8-l-ii/for-canon
http://www.lensrentals.com/rent/canon-ts-e-17mm-f4-l/for-canon

Any suggestions?