Category Archives: waterfall

Taughannock Falls

Posted by Mike on

On Saturday I wandered off on another early morning adventure. I made my way to Taughannock Falls State Park on the lower west side of Cayuga Lake. This park has been on my list of must see state parks and I was happy to finally make my way there. I parked the car at the lake end of the park which nestled between route 96 and Cayuga lake along the Taughannock Creek. The 3/4 mile gorge trail takes you right to the signature waterfall. It was a happy coincidence that I didn’t make it to this park until autumn. The colors in the gorge are incredible and only enhanced my images.

The Lower Falls are visible from route 89 along the lake and were a great way to start my exploration. There were numerous locations for different views of the small cascade and true to my water fascination I used them all. There was a way to get down onto the creek bed but I wasn’t positive how frowned upon that would be so I stayed on the path.

The Lower Falls Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1/8s, 22mm, f/16, ISO 100

The Lower Falls
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1/8s, 22mm, f/16, ISO 100

Crisscross Cascade Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1s, 35mm, f/22, ISO 100

Crisscross Cascade
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1s, 35mm, f/22, ISO 100

Many Falls Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1s, 62mm, f/22, ISO 100

Many Falls
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1s, 62mm, f/22, ISO 100

The end of the gorge trail did not disappoint. The 215′ Taughannock Falls was impressive, especially since you can get so close to it. The difficulty in capturing this waterfall, at least in the early morning, was the angle of the sunlight and the amount of shadows. I ended up using a two exposure blend to balance the light.

Taughannock Falls Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, (1 & 1/4s blend), 21mm, f/18, ISO 100

Taughannock Falls
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, (1 & 1/4s blend), 21mm, f/18, ISO 100

Not to distract from the beauty of the waterfalls but I truly enjoyed to creek which created the gorge. It took me about 1.5 hours to walk the 3/4 mile trail because there were so many opportunities for me to capture my beloved water images. I’ll have more on those later…

Cavern Cascade

Posted by Mike on

Fading light and too much work have kept me from exploring with the camera so here is another image from my exploration of Watkins Glen State Park.

Cavern Cascade Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, (0.8, 3, 13s bracket), 26mm f/13, ISO 100

Cavern Cascade
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, (0.8, 3, 13s bracket), 26mm f/13, ISO 100

Water Carving

Posted by Mike on
Water Carving Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 13s, 38mm, f/18, ISO 100

Water Carving
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 13s, 38mm, f/18, ISO 100

Trenton Falls

Posted by Mike on

Every year the trails along the gorge rim at Trenton Falls are open to the public for only two weekends. Typically once in the spring and then again in the fall. Every year I manage to miss the openings and my only chance to view and/or photograph the falls. This year the town of Trenton held an event on a Saturday in the middle of summer to educate people about the history of Trenton Falls. Luckily for me I had to take my daughter to a friends house close by the falls on the day of the event. Since I generally take the camera with me no matter were I go and had everything I needed to do some exploring.

Access to the falls is limited due to instability in the area and due to the fact it is privately owned. The one rim trail that is used during the open weekends allows viewing the various falls that make up Trenton Falls from limited outlooks. Just about every vantage point is from above. This really limits the photography. At least I can say I have finally been to the falls…

Sherman Falls Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1/25s, 24mm, f/16, ISO 100

Sherman Falls
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1/25s, 24mm, f/16, ISO 100

Lower High Falls Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1/8s, 70mm, f/22, ISO 100

Lower High Falls
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1/8s, 70mm, f/22, ISO 100

Upper High Falls Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1/15s, 42mm, f/18, ISO 100

Upper High Falls
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1/15s, 42mm, f/18, ISO 100

The Upper Falls

Posted by Mike on

I finally have processed the last of the waterfall images from Letchworth State Park. The Upper Falls were a short walk from Middle Falls and although not as large in size they are visually impressive due to the sky high train bridge straddling the gorge right above them.

After capturing a few images I heard a low rumble as I was breaking down the tripod to walk to the very edge of Upper Falls. It had to be a train! I quickly got everything back in position and was rewarded with a very slow moving train across the bridge. I don’t think I could have timed it better if I tried.

Upper Falls Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1/13s, 24mm, f/25, ISO 100

Upper Falls
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1/13s, 24mm, f/25, ISO 100

The Crossing Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1/13s, 28mm, f/25, ISO 100

The Crossing
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1/13s, 28mm, f/25, ISO 100

It Points to the Fall... Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1/30s, 17mm, f/22, ISO 100

It Points to the Fall…
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1/30s, 17mm, f/22, ISO 100

The Middle Falls

Posted by Mike on

I think what I enjoyed the most about my visit to Letchworth State Park were the amount opportunities within the park. I only explored the upper half of the park from one side of the gorge. Granted it was probably the most frequented areas of the park (which I can attest to at Middle Falls) but I also had no problem finding areas to explore by myself with almost no one else around.

This is the Middle Falls…

Just one of you Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1/6s, 21mm, f/20, ISO 100

Just one of you
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1/6s, 21mm, f/20, ISO 100

Floral Flow Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1/10s, 28mm, f/20, ISO 100

Floral Flow
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1/10s, 28mm, f/20, ISO 100

On Edge Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1/15s, 17mm, f/22, ISO 100

On Edge
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1/15s, 17mm, f/22, ISO 100

The Fall Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1/6s, 17mm, f/22, ISO 100

The Fall
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1/6s, 17mm, f/22, ISO 100