Tag Archives: state park

The Destination

Posted by Mike on

Watkins Glen State Park

When you travel to Watkins Glen on the weekend, especially on a holiday weekend, you best be at the park early if you plan to do any photography. I arrived at 7:30am and the parking lot had a handful of vehicles so I figured my chances were pretty good I would be able to get the images wanted with minimal time waiting. I was helped by the new “rules” for exploring the gorge trail. The gorge is supposed to be walked in one direction and to return to the trailhead you use one of the rim trails. For the most part, people observed this rule.

The water level in the creek was a little low and it did hinder the impact of a few of the views within the gorge. I’ve said this before, timing is everything when you set out to photograph waterfalls. The low water didn’t necessarily reduce the impact of the iconic Watkins Glen view, Rainbow Falls. Although I was in the park before the sun would produce the reason for the name, it is still a beautiful sight. There were a few groups right behind me on the trail so I did need to wait about ten minutes but once they had passed this location I had another ten minutes to explore before the next group arrived.

I should not have been surprised when I eventually returned to the entrance of the park… there were a lot of people! The empty parking lot was completely full. As I returned along the northern rim trail, “Indian Trail”, I stopped at a few of the overlook locations and the amount of people walking in the gorge was the most I have ever seen. Granted I had never been in the park on a holiday weekend, but holy cow, it was definitely time to go.

 

MLCreations Photography: Watkins Glen &emdash; The Destination

The Destination
Olympus E-M1 Mark III, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 8s, 22mm, f/11, ISO 100

Impetus

Posted by Mike on

Chittenango Falls State Park

After a morning of weekend chores, laundry and groceries, along with a few hours of reading I needed to get out for a walk. The temperature was hovering around seventy degrees which was perfect to me. I checked the state park website and found the gorge trail at Chittenango Falls was open again, so off I headed for a little midday exploring.

The waterfalls at this state park can be tricky to photograph. The sun generally is casting shadows into the gorge as it makes its way across the sky because the creek is running south to north and the face of the waterfall is facing north. I checked the Photographer’s Ephemeris and thought my best shot was around 12:30pm. As you can see there is already a shadow dropping into the gorge. I should have been in the park about an hour earlier but I was still able to capture a good image. There was a storm approaching which provided some excellent clouds in the sky and helped to soften the midday sun.

 

MLCreations Photography: Chittenango Falls &emdash; Impetus

Impetus
Olympus E-M1 Mark III, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 1/4s, 27mm, f/11, ISO 200

Starting Early

Posted by Mike on

Buttermilk Falls State Park

As much as I love autumn, I was surprised to see leaves in the gorge in August. I don’t want to rush summer out the door. I still have more parks to visit before the changing leaves season…

 

MLCreations Photography: Buttermilk Falls &emdash; Starting Early

Starting early
Olympus E-M1 Mark III, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 8s, 17mm, f/11, ISO 100

Years in Layers

Posted by Mike on

Gorge Trail, Buttermilk Falls State Park

  

MLCreations Photography: Buttermilk Falls &emdash; Years in Layers

Years in Layers
Olympus E-M1 Mark III, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 5s, 18mm, f/11, ISO 200

 

Sunset Halo

Posted by Mike on

Delta Lake State Park

It was an on again, off again kinda day… at least as far as the rain was concerned. It wasn’t very motivating for me, but then again, maybe it was the best excuse to do nothing. I suppose I was looking for those excuses too! I jumped in the car after dinner and headed up to Delta Lake, even if there were no images to be found, the sound of the water hitting the shore would do me good.

I went earlier than necessary for the sunset but it allowed me to sit on a rock in a quiet area along the shore and soak it all in. It was good. It was the recharge I needed. The beach was a little crowded so I walked along the trails searching for unique views. I found a few but I guess the walk was what I needed more than capturing a different image. As the sun slipped closer to the horizon I worked my way along the shore back to the beach area.

I was rewarded with a great sunset of the sun peeking out from behind some clouds near the horizon. I know I have a tendency to shoot into the sun and this one was not going to be any different. Rather than do a couple of captures, one were I block the sun with my finger to remove the flare I pointed the camera right into it. If you center the sun in the view the sunspots will disappear and depending on the lens, and the conditions, you can create a halo flare around the sun. I got the halo…

  

MLCreations Photography: Blog Post Related &emdash; Sunset Halo

Sunset Halo
Olympus E-M1 Mark III, M. Zuiko 12-100mm f/4, 1/60s, 44mm, f/11, ISO 200

 

Through the Stratum

Posted by Mike on

Gorge Trail, Buttermilk Falls State Park

  

MLCreations Photography: Buttermilk Falls &emdash; Through the Stratum

Through the Stratum
Olympus E-M1 Mark III, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 5s, 16mm, f/11, ISO 200

 

Walk Up, Fall Down

Posted by Mike on

Gorge Trail, Buttermilk Falls State Park

  

MLCreations Photography: Buttermilk Falls &emdash; Walk Up, Fall Down

Walk Up, Fall Down
Olympus E-M1 Mark III, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 4s, 21mm, f/11, ISO 200