Niagara Falls - Ontario - Canada

[Marko]

Hi everyone,

I've set aside half a day for shooting. I'm looking for ice, water, frosty trees, basically cool scenes to shoot.

I've NEVER been to Niagara falls...but I don't know if that's a good place. I do NOT want to get stuck standing in the same spot as the other tourists for more than 15 minutes. I want to explore. Can you do that at Niagara falls or is everything fenced off so crazies like me won't get killed?

Many thanks in advance - Marko

[casil403]

I believe Rinkdaddy is from the Niagara Falls area...perhaps PM him with some ideas in case he doesn't see this?
Just a thought....

[edG]

Niagara in winter - Google Search

Googled this up, it will take all of 90 minutes or longer to get from downtown Toronto Niagara Falls in February (especially if the weather is bad). Typically this is when we will see our coldest temps (has a tendency to slow the tourist influx down) and there is always the potential of ice storms.

Most of the trees along the parkway will have some ice on them as the falls produce a constant mist (as long as the temperature is below freezing). The "Gorge" would also present some interesting opportunities but the walk is long and can be very treacherous in the winter ( we fish for Steelhead all winter long down in the gorge and wear steel spiked boots to help with the footing).

The Toronto waterfront and some of the local parks with streams and rivers might afford a very similar opportunity without the drive (no water falls though).

Hope this helps.

Edouard

[Marko]

Thanks so much!

This treacherous "Gorge" that you speak of...excuse my ignorance but is this walking down one of the 'sides' of the waterfall to the base of the waterfall?

and do you see other photographers doing this.?
Basically I'd like to weigh the great shots versus likelihood of death ratio.

Thx!

marko

[Rinkdaddy]

Hi Marko
Got your email.
Niagara Falls would be worth the trip from Toronto down the QEW highway to Niagara Falls approx 90 minutes. Presently we are going through a mild spell so the trees may not be coated with ice but this changes from day to day in our neck of the woods. If the temperature is below freezing and the wind is blowing towards the Canadian side of the falls, you will get ice coated trees at the brink of the falls. It becomes a little hard to take good pictures then as the mist is quite strong. If the air is still or blowing to the American side of the falls, you can get in tight to the brink without getting wet. If you can time your trip right to be able to take some late afternoon shots and then stick around for the illumination of the falls at night, it allows you to get some spectacular night shots of both the Canadian Horseshoe Falls and the American Falls. There are plenty of good vantage points to take some great pictures and the tourist population is down at the time you will be here so there will be no waiting at the rail to view the falls. We did have a pretty long cold spell in early January so there would be some ice buildup at the base of the American Falls. The rapids above the falls presents itself with some nice shots also depending on the level of the Niagara River do to the draw of water from the hydro dam gates. If you are into taking pictures of ducks and geese, there is an area called Dufferin Islands just above the falls that you can almost reach out and touch these birds as they are so used to humans feeding them. Makes for some great closeups. The gorge is a ways down from the falls and only gives you views of the whirlpool rapids. It is a nice hike in the summer but could be tough going now. If you plan on being here, give me a shout and I can be your personal tour guide if you like as I am retired and have all the time in the world to do what I please.

[Marko]

Wow - thanks so much for that info Rinkdaddy and for your generous tour-guide offer. I may well take you up on it and I'll email you in the next few weeks.

If anyone also knows cool places that will offer good frozen watery shots near Toronto... I'd love that info as well.

many thx!! I feel like a group hug now.

[Marko]

Just in case anyone is interested I'll be presenting a seminar at Ryerson in Toronto this weekend on which camera to buy. It's part of Podcamp Toronto. It's a free event. Over 1100 people have already registered.

If you have any interest in social media - blogging or podcasting, podcamp Toronto is Awesome (my session might be too basic for some of you guys). It will be a busy weekend for me but if you are in Toronto, feel free to PM me or email me. If you are willing to pass by Ryerson we can have a coffee or beer....if it's after 5pm we can surely have beer.

ALSO - I have deliberately set aside a few hours for shooting near Niagara Falls this Friday at around 2:30. Rinkdaddy (Brian) has graciously offered to play tour-guide and show us some cool shooting spots around the falls. We both don't mind if anyone else wants to join in. Please email me at
photo gra pHy (D O-t) CA a t Geeeeeeemail dot com (please use the CORRECT email formatting though) if you do want to join.
Thx - Marko

[gwood]

bah. missed this. would have liked to have gone.

Niagara falls looks crazy in the winter...I didn't expect this.
took these last winter. Not sure if it's frozen like this at the moment. probably not actually because it's been pretty mild this year.

[KnowBetterPhoto]

I love this photos...