Journey within Niagara

It’s been nearly a year since my last post.  I didn’t want to write about the same topic after a nearly a year sabbatical.  Yet, my photographic excursions have been either of waterfalls or cherry blossoms.

I’ve taken plenty of images with the Jefferson Memorial, Washington Monument and other types of photos.  This year I challenged myself to incorporate the MLK Memorial into the cherry blossom photos.  This image is the result of that labor and creativity.

Last year my good friend and fellow photog, Abu, and I traveled to Bushkill Falls to photograph the ‘Niagara of Pennsylvania’.  I always find it interesting when a place takes the name of another to represent itself.  When I traveled to Bruges in Belgium, they called it the ‘Venice of the North’, a name actually given to several cities in Europe.  Such a moniker only entices one to visit the city by which those places are named.  So, I made it my business to visit Venice, Italy later that year.  A year after visiting PA’s version of Niagara Falls, I went to Niagara Falls in Canada.

The first weekend in May was a good time to visit.  Throngs of summertime visitors haven’t arrived.  Temperature high’s in the 50’s fail to melt all the snow.   Favorite attractions such as “Maid of the Mist” boat ride that takes passengers to the bottom of the falls are not in operation due to the snow and ice still prevalent.

I visited an attraction called, “Journey Behind the Falls”.  Underground tunnels lead visitors to the edge of the falls.  As you walk through the tunnel, the sound of rushing water get louder.  As you approach the tunnel opening, the sound becomes a thunderous roar.  It is surreal to stand only feet away from such power and force of the falls.

Another tunnel leads viewers to the edge of the falls.  Located near the bottom, viewers get an up close view of the water with the midst spraying the onlookers.  The snow and ice on the ground would take some time to melt.

As beautiful as the falls are during the day, photographing them at night is more rewarding.  A number of spotlights illuminate the falls.  With the midst at night and a slow shutter speed, I captured a dreamy photo of this landmark.

There are two separate falls.  The smaller one viewed from the Canadian side has Niagara Falls, NY in the background.

Capturing the Falls is an amazing experience.  No matter how many times I photographed them, I’d find a new angle or condition that I wanted to capture.  I’m pleased with my results and I look forward to writing about something else other than Cherry Blossoms or Water Falls.  Stay tuned and stay focused.

-Roger