Soft Niagara Sunrise
Monday (Presidents Day-Family Day) sunrise view of the Horseshoe-Canadian side of Niagara Falls. The colors were brilliant as there wasn't a cloud in the s...
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Monday (Presidents Day-Family Day) sunrise view of the Horseshoe-Canadian side of Niagara Falls. The colors were brilliant as there wasn't a cloud in the sky and the sun was nicely diffused by the rising mist. I know this shot is probably a very cliche view of the Falls but it never ceases to impress. Every visit is different.
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Feb, 2017Views
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Behind The Lens
Location
This photograph was made on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls. This location is a common sunrise gathering spot for photographers and at that time of day nearby parking is readily available and free (a rarity at Niagara Falls). There is a shoreline walkway that goes right up to the edge of the water.Time
Sunrise images of the Falls are common from this general area. It is truly an iconic image for most local photographers. Every morning is a little different, with sky, season, wind and weather all entering into the mix. I am pretty sure that you could make a photograph from here every day and have no two alike.Lighting
With any landscape image lighting is a matter of timing and location knowledge/experience. The rising mist from the Falls diffuses the sun's light but that plume moves with the breeze. That diffused light accentuates the orange tones throughout the image. That same light reflects just enough to lightly illuminate the depths of the waterfall.Equipment
I used my Nikon D810 and Tamron 15-30mm lens for this image. The shot was made at 20mm and the camera was resting on a Really Right Stuff tripod and ball head. I also used Lee Filters 6 stop "Little Stopper" ND filter as well as their .6 hard ND Grad. This combination allowed for a 4 second exposure at iso 100 and balanced the lighting between the light and dark components of the image.Inspiration
I live a few miles south of Niagara Falls and it is one of my favorite places to make photographs. Typically locals take for granted the natural wonders on their doorstep. Not me. As a Nature, Wildlife and Landscape photographer, I see on a daily basis the changing world around me. I want to celebrate that beauty and fragility with every image I make. Despite this being an iconic image and the location being an often photographed spot, I want to capture that changing look throughout the seasons and put my own artistic vision on the photograph. Traveling to new and exciting locations is great and always an exciting opportunity, but getting to record the various changes to my own beautiful backyard is what makes me grow as a photographer.Editing
I use Lightroom, Photoshop and NIK software to catalog and process my photos. In the case of this image I was able to control a lot in camera, with set-up and filters but I did do a bit in computer. I brightened up the shadows to further the balance between light and dark, warmth and cold. This is a winter shot but all of that orange sunlight makes the shot appear year round.In my camera bag
Being local and parking near the location allows my vehicle to be my camera bag. That being said, the Nikon D810, 15-30mm, 24-120mm, 70-200mm and 150-600mm lenses (all Tamron except the 24-120 which is from Nikon) plus tripod (RRS) and filters (Lee) are the contents of the backpack. I have recently added a Sony a7R II and Sony Zeiss lenses to my landscape arsenal. I will still carry the D810 and Tamron 150-600mm when I travel as they are my preferred bird and wildlife setup. The Sony certainly s a great camera and it lightens the backpack when traveling, but the Nikon is better for wildlife.Feedback
Waterfalls are a favorite subject for many photographers. Do your homework and prepare ahead for lighting, timing and location. Make an image that is your own. Find that one angle, or lighting choice that makes your photograph stand out from the rest. If you take your time, find the right composition and lighting, you will usually be happy with the results. Don't just take a picture, record what you feel at your location.
