Category Archives: photography

Inspiration Point

Posted by Mike on

Inspiration Point, Letchworth State Park

Although I was in Letchworth State Park for 3+ hours I would consider that a rushed trip. I don’t believe you could see everything in an entire weekend of exploring. But hitting the highlights does provide some wonderful scenery. After exploring the Lower Falls the next stop is Inspiration Point.

I realized on this trip that the view from Inspiration Point is not the only photographic scene. As you walk down from the parking area this is the view as you approach the overlook. I’m betting in a few more weeks when the leaves change this will be even more beautiful.

The Approach Nikon D7100, Tokina 12-28mm f/4, 1/6s, 12mm, f/16, ISO 100

The Approach
Nikon D7100, Tokina 12-28mm f/4, 1/6s, 12mm, f/16, ISO 100

I also couldn’t help but take another selfie as I stopped to enjoy the view. On the right side of the image you can see some birds circling. I believe they are some sort of bird of prey, either hawks or possibly eagles. I wish I had switched back to my telephoto and attempted a few images of them.

Inspiration Selfie Nikon D7100, Tokina 12-28mm f/4, 1/13s, 12mm, f/16, ISO 100

Inspiration Selfie
Nikon D7100, Tokina 12-28mm f/4, 1/13s, 12mm, f/16, ISO 100

And this is the vista from Inspiration Point. Off in the distance you can see Middle Falls and farther upstream is Upper Falls (not visible in this view) below the train bridge. I had a real difficult time with the sky in these images. The haze and bright sun frustrated me in my attempt to minimize it.

Inspiration Point Nikon D7100, Tokina 12-28mm f/4, 1/15s, 26mm, f/16, ISO 100

Inspiration Point
Nikon D7100, Tokina 12-28mm f/4, 1/15s, 26mm, f/16, ISO 100

I moved toward the right of the overlook area and it allowed me to get both Middle & Upper Falls in one image. Although Upper Falls is barely visible. It is hard to get a good impression for scale in this image. The train bridge above Upper Falls is a little over a mile away in this image.

Middle & Upper Falls Nikon D7100, Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6, 1/8s, 55mm, f/20, ISO 100

Middle & Upper Falls
Nikon D7100, Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6, 1/8s, 55mm, f/20, ISO 100

And lastly a nice close up of Middle Falls. I’ll have more images of Middle Falls in another post…

Middle Falls Nikon D7100, Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6, 1/15s, 160mm, f/16, ISO 100

Middle Falls
Nikon D7100, Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6, 1/15s, 160mm, f/16, ISO 100

Letchworth State Park – Lower Falls

Posted by Mike on

Letchworth State Park

Lower Falls from Foot Bridge Nikon D7100, Tokina 12-28mm f/4, 1/13s, 28mm, f/16, ISO 100

Lower Falls from Foot Bridge
Nikon D7100, Tokina 12-28mm f/4, 1/13s, 28mm, f/16, ISO 100

Peeking Lower Falls Nikon D7100, Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6, 1/3s, 82mm, f/20, ISO 100

Peeking Lower Falls
Nikon D7100, Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6, 1/3s, 82mm, f/20, ISO 100

Lower Falls Nikon D7100, Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6, 1/6s, 135mm, f/20, ISO 100

Lower Falls
Nikon D7100, Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6, 1/6s, 135mm, f/20, ISO 100

Letchworth State Park – Before the Falls

Posted by Mike on

Letchworth State Park

I know I have said this before but New York State has some incredible landscape. I dream of traveling out West to visit our more famous national parks, but I am still impressed with these state parks. This park was voted the best in the nation for state parks with good reason… it is beautiful.

The GPS brought me into the North East end of the park. I had a good 15 mile drive to reach the more reachable scenic areas in the lower end of the park. Before I get to the three waterfalls, I thought I would show off the views of the gorge.

Tea Table Nikon D7100, Tokina 12-28mm f/4, 1/20s, 17mm, f/16, ISO 100

Tea Table
Nikon D7100, Tokina 12-28mm f/4, 1/20s, 17mm, f/16, ISO 100

Looking Back at Tea Table Nikon D7100, Tokina 12-28mm f/4, 1/125s, 19mm, f/16, ISO 100

Looking Back at Tea Table
Nikon D7100, Tokina 12-28mm f/4, 1/125s, 19mm, f/16, ISO 100

Great Bend East Nikon D7100, Tokina 12-28mm f/4, 1/20s, 12mm, f/16, ISO 100

Great Bend East
Nikon D7100, Tokina 12-28mm f/4, 1/20s, 12mm, f/16, ISO 100

Great Bend South Nikon D7100, Tokina 12-28mm f/4, 1/125s, 12mm, f/16, ISO 100

Great Bend South
Nikon D7100, Tokina 12-28mm f/4, 1/125s, 12mm, f/16, ISO 100

Great Bend Overlook Nikon D7100, Tokina 12-28mm f/4, 1/100s, 12mm, f/16, ISO 100

Great Bend Overlook
Nikon D7100, Tokina 12-28mm f/4, 1/100s, 12mm, f/16, ISO 100

Great Bend Selfie

Posted by Mike on

Letchworth State Park

I started the summer with a few visits to New York’s state parks. My plan was to explore more as the summer progressed. As you probably can tell from my posts I did not succeed. Labor Day did afford me an opportunity for an adventure and I made the most of it. I left the house before 5am to make the 3 hour trip to Letchworth State Park. There is a reason this park was voted the best in the nation… it is gorgeous!

My first trip a few years ago (see posts here) was fantastic but this time I made sure to get to the park early enough to capture the morning sun. The morning was wonderful but as the sun traveled toward apogee I could feel the warm air rising from the canyon below.  Not to sound a little whiny but I wish I had picked a day that didn’t reach 90 degrees to make this trip. lol

I’ll be posting more images later but I wanted to get this selfie out first. I took the time to enjoy the park and not just run from one photo opportunity to the next. There are an almost unlimited supply of benches scattered throughout the park with amazing views of the canyon. No need to bring a camera. Just pick a bench, sit down and enjoy…

Great Bend Selfie Nikon D7100, Tokina 12-28mm f/4, 1/60s, 28mm, f/16, ISO 100

Great Bend Selfie
Nikon D7100, Tokina 12-28mm f/4, 1/60s, 28mm, f/16, ISO 100

Monorail Monday: Resort Monorail – Teal

Posted by Mike on

Monorail Monday

On my last trip to Walt Disney World I discovered the joy of going to the parks lite. There were numerous times I just grabbed the camera, a single lens and headed out for adventure. No long lines to have my bag checked by security. No worrying if the backpack will fit in a locker along with the tripod and everything else I normally haul into a park. It was a game changer for me.

This image of the Monorail Teal leaving the Magic Kingdom station is a result of that lite mode of operation. I had the camera on its strap and as soon as I noticed the monorail leaving the station as I was walking up to the park entranced I started firing away. Normally the camera would still have been its backpack for the eventual search at bag check.

Resort Monorail - Teal Nikon D7100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1/800s, 58mm, f/11, ISO 400

Resort Monorail – Teal
Nikon D7100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1/800s, 58mm, f/11, ISO 400

Flying Gauntlet

Posted by Mike on

Rayhill Memorial Trail

I have not walked the Rayhill Memorial Trail at all this year. Last night was looking like it was going to be a good sunset and I needed to get outside after a long week at work. I started at the opposite end of the trail than I normally do, figuring walking into the sunset would provide better image opportunities. It did, but boy did I have to walk through an onslaught of bugs! Those big patches of light specks in the image are the bugs!

Flying Gauntlet Nikon D7100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1/100s, 70mm, f/8, ISO 200

Flying Gauntlet
Nikon D7100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1/100s, 70mm, f/8, ISO 200