Feb 25, 2015

WCC - Niagara Butterfly Conservatory Outing Update

All is set for our visit to the Butterfly Conservatory on Saturday Feb. 28, 2015. We have exclusive access to the facility from 8:00 am until 10:00 am. During this time you can use your tripods. At 10:00 am the Conservatory opens to the general public and they ask that we put our tripods away. We are welcome to spend the day at the conservatory however.

We ill meet in behind the main conservatory parking area. This area is designated ast the Buses and Overflow Parking Area. We will meet in this parking lot at 7:45 am SHARP as we will be brought into the Conservatory together as a group.

The Conservatory is very humid so you should talk a few precautions to prevent your lenses from fogging. Limit the amount of time that your camera bag is in the cold. Keep it sheltered in your warm vehicle for as long as possible before entering the building. It is good practice to wrap or pack your lenses and camera body in zip lock plastic bags before putting them in your camera bag. When you get inside of the conservatory, open your camera bag but do not remove the camera or lenses from the zip lock plastic bag until it has had time to acclimatize to the humid environment. The colder that your equipment gets before entering the building, the longer it will have to acclimatize in the bag before being removed.

Please be respectful of other photographers during the outing. Be aware to not position yourself or your gear in another persons background. Allow others opportunity to photograph a subject by not hijacking a particular butterfly. There are over 2000 butterflies within the Conservatory so there will be plenty of opportunities for all of us.

Don’t be shy to ask an experienced member for help on photographing or composing a subject. Outings are intended to educate and help those who wish to learn more about our hobby.

Above all have fun!

See you on Saturday.

Dave Lindey

Outings

Feb 19, 2015

Hamilton Waterfalls Update

Hello Folks:

You are receiving this email because you have signed up for our Hamilton Waterfalls Outing.

The weather forecast for out waterfalls outing in Hamilton/Ancaster looks promising. The forecast is
not indicating any early sunlight so there will be no advantage to get started too early.

I plan to drive myself. If you would like a ride or to caravan together we will meet at the QEW Car Pool
parking lot in Vineland (Victoria Ave) and plan to leave the lot at 6:45 sharp! This will put us at our first
location at 7:45 am.

We will visit Tiffany Falls first and then take the short drive to Sherman Falls after 2 to 2-1/2 hrs.

If you are planning to drive directly yourself, lets plan to meet at the Tiffany Falls Conservation Area
Parking lot on the side of Wilson St. East, Ancaster for 7:45 am. Please make sure you have coins handy (Loonies / Toonies)
as we need to pay for parking at this location. There is an automated parking kiosk at the trail head.
Two hours is more than enough time at this spot. Total cost for 2 hours of parking is in the order of 
$3 to $4.

These falls will either be iced over providing for interesting frozen compositions and the possibility of ice
climbers. The trail is easy and about 5 minutes from the parking area. Wide angle, macro and telephoto
lenses will serve you well. When I last shot this location on Feb. 8 these falls were totally iced over and the
ice climbers were out in force making for some very interesting action images.

We will then travel the 2-3 km to Sherman Falls. You can literally see these falls from the road where
we park. The trail again is easy and is about a 2 minute hike. There is a greater possibility that these falls
will have flowing water. These falls offer both wide view and tight / interesting / detailed compositions.
Ultra wide angle to telephoto lenses are in order.

Tiffany Falls
GPS Coordinates - 43.2382 N / 79.9581 W

Tiffany Falls Conservation Parking Area is located at 921 Wilson St. E Ancaster


Directions to Tiffany Falls CA:
1.     Queen Elizabeth Way
2.     Take exit 88-89 for Red Hill Valley Parkway toward Centennial Parkway/Ontaria 20
3.     Keep right, follow signs for Red Hill Valley Parkway
4.     Continue onto Red Hill Valley Pkwy S
5.     Continue onto Lincoln M. Alexander Pkwy W
6.     Take the exit on the left toward Rousseaux Street
7.     Rousseaux becomes Mohawk
8.     Turn right onto Wilson St E
9.     Tiffany Falls Conservation Area Parking is on the right hand side approx. 1 km after turning
Right on Wilson St. E.

Sherman Falls

GPS Coordinates - 43.2381 N / 79.9729 W

Directions to Sherman Falls from Tiffany Falls CA:

1.     Head west on Wilson St E
2.     Turn right at the 1st cross street onto Montgomery Dr
3.     Turn left onto Old Dundas Rd (signs for The Ancaster Old Mill)
4.     Turn right onto Millcreek Ct
5.     Park on side of road.

There is a small sign at the road side at this location indicating “Sherman Falls” and the Bruce Trail.

NOTE: The trail to these falls is part of the Bruce Trail and is on private land. The owners have allowed
public access to this trail and these falls. Please respect this agreement by observing posted signs regarding
the use of this land.

Please be sure to dress warm and in layers.

Looking forward to seeing you there and an awesome outing!

Feb 4, 2015

February Outings - Sign-up Now

We have 2 exciting outings schedule in February.

Hamilton Area Waterfalls

Saturday Feb. 21, 2015

We will be visiting 2 easily accessible and beautiful waterfalls in the Dundas-Ancaster-Hamilton Area. We will first visit Sherman Falls to take advantage of the lovely morning light. We will next travel to Tiffany Falls where we will have an opportunity to photograph the open water or perhaps Ice Climbers scaling the falls.

There is a small fee for Parking at Tiffany Falls.

The walk to each waterfalls is very easy to moderate.

We will plan to start shooting at 8:00 am sharp. 

Sign-up sheets will be available at the next 2 regular club meetings or contact me if you would like to attend.

Butterfly Conservatory

Saturday February 28, 2015.

We will again visit the Butterfly Conservatory in Niagara Falls. Our group will be allowed exclusive early access with full use of our tripods for 2 hours before the doors are opened to the public. We must have a minimum of 20 participants.

Cost is $15.00 per person. Please bring your fee to the next club meeting.