NOTL XMAS Photo Walk - Dec. 10, 2016

Niagara-on-the-Lake XMAS Photo Walk

Sat. Dec. 10, 2016

9:00 am to 12:00 pm

Meet at corner of Picton & King (Across from the Prince of Wales Hotel). NOTE: Parking has traditionally been free in NOTL during the month of December.

The task is to spend 2 to 3 hours touring anywhere within the Olde Town. As you tour about, attempt to make at least one image for each of the following subjects:

Architecture

Lines

Doors

Something Festive

Patterns

Ice

Multiple Exposure

Animal

Transportation

The colour "Red"

The XMAS Parade is on later in the morning and will present many more opportunities.

I will be on location at 8:30 for those wanting to get started early

If you are interested we can grab lunch at the Harp Irish Pub after we’ve exhausted our creative

Please send me a note if you are planning to attend.

The “Olde Towne” is a fascinating location. Enjoy your day!

Dave Lindey

Outings

Abandoned Aqueduct/Subway Outing

Hi Folks:

I realize this is short notice however I have arranged an amazing opportunity to visit an Abandoned Aqueduct in Rochester NY on Saturday Nov. 26. The outing is being guided by an local who has visited many times. The cost for our group is $200 US and there will be a maximum of 10 photographers who will share in the cost. If you are interested please let me know ASAP otherwise I will postpone the outing to another time.

We will meet our guide for 1:00 pm and have 3 to 3-1/2 hours underground. After we are done photographing there is a very good BBQ restaurant nearby within walking distance for dinner for those interested 

The space is very dark and HDR will likely be the technique you use along with some gentle light painting using small flashlights.

Check out this link for examples of what you can expect to shoot. 

Here is a list of prep items:

1. Wear hiking boots.  Waterproof Boots might be good in certain areas.  Not required.
2. Tripods are a must.
3. No flash but small power flashlights are a must.
4. Dress warm since it is not heated and basically.... like ....we are outside
5. Our guide will teach people how to light paint if they need it.
6. HDR is a preferred method in some areas
7. Expect to spend 3 hours there.

After I have an idea who is committed we’ll talk about carpooling.

SHORTHILLS AND NIAGARA ESCARPMENT WEEKLY FALL PHOTO WALKS

 

Once again Leigh Dayboll will be leading Nature Hikes in the Niagara Region. Read on for more.

Shorthills and the surrounding Niagara Escarpment are beautiful to photograph this time of the year!  I am once again going to be running a (mostly) twice-weekly photo meet-up and walk in the various scenic areas around Shorthills Provincial Park and the Niagara Escarpment during the Fall 2015 photography season.  We will be offering a wide range of tours this year, from easy to strenuous (but never life threatening).   We will be shooting beautiful fall landscapes, wildlife and, hopefully, lots of colour.  I guarantee that you will discover many interesting spots and subjects that you would never otherwise find on your own.  

 

New this year: This year, the mid-week hikes will occur on "non-camera-club-Wednesdays" (meaning every Wednesday except the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month).  That way, every Wednesday this fall can be devoted to improving your photography skills.  The Saturday hikes will usually take about 2-1/2 hours and the Wednesday hikes generally take around 1-1/4 hours. We have some special mid-October dates planned in and around Niagara on the two most likely colour weekends in mid-October, so those tours may be a bit longer in length .  Hopefully, we will see some members up from the other local clubs for some friendly, competitive shooting. 

 

Come and join in on the fun!  Tentatively, hikes will be held on the three listed Wednesdays as long as the light is good and it is not pouring rain, and each Saturday morning (until Nov 19th) commencing at 9:00 am sharp as long as it is not pouring rain.  Don't let cloudy or stormy weather be a deterrent.  Those are often the best days to shoot fall colours and waterfalls. 

 

Here is my tentative calendar of events (be sure to check the Welland Camera Club Events Blog each week as dates draw near, since weather conditions and last minute changes are inevitable:

 

Saturday Hikes

 

Date            Time          Activity                         Rating                   Meeting Spot

 

Sep 17         9:00am        Old locks/Secord Trail   moderate                Old Lakeview Cemetery, Townline Road, Thorold (west of the Walker Bros quarry yard)

Sep 24         9:00am        Louth Falls Gorge          moderate                Louth Conservation Area Entrance, Staff Road, Jordan

Oct 01         9:00am        Rockway Falls Gorge    advanced                Rockway Community Centre Lot, 8th Avenue, Jordan

Oct 08         9:00am        Decew Falls challenge    advanced                Morningstar Mill parking lot, Decew Road, St. Catharines 

Oct 15         9:00am        Secret Fall Waterfalls     moderate                Shorthills, Wiley Road Entrance, Thorold

Oct 22         9:00am        The Pipeline                   advanced                Lions Club Parking Lot, Hwy 20, Fonthill 

Oct 29         9:00am        Final Fall Colours I        advanced                St. John's Outdoor Centre, Holland Road, Thorold 

Nov 05        9:00am        Final Fall Colours II       moderate                Shorthills, Eller Road Entrance, Thorold 

Nov 12        9:00am        Niagara Glen trails         advanced                Glen trails parking lot, (Niagara Parkway lot by spiral staircase), Niagara Falls 

Nov 19        9:00am        Woodend Cliffs             moderate                Woodend Conservation Area, Taylor Road, Niagara Falls 

 

Wednesday Hikes

 

Date            Time          Activity                         Rating                   Meeting Spot

 

Sep 21         6:00pm       Woodend ponds            easy/moderate       Woodend Conservation Area (outer entrance), Taylor Road, Niagara Falls

Oct 05         5:45pm       Canal Sunset                  easy                       Welland Canal access road and Holland Road, north of Allanburg bridge on Hwy20, Thorold

Oct 19         5:30pm       Lake Gibson Sunset       easy                       Morningstar Mill parking lot, Decew Road , St. Catharines

 

 

As always (especially for the moderate and advanced hikes) good water-resistant hiking boots are a must.  It is always advisable to carry a small backpack with a drink, a snack, spare socks/gloves, and a few first aid items. 

 

Feel free to email me anytime at jld-law@xplornet.com to receive any updated information and intel.   

 

I hope to see everyone out to at least a  few sessions!  

 

J. LEIGH DABOLL

Adirondacks Fall Photo Tour 2016

We are planning a Fall Photo Tour to the Adirondack Park for Oct. 14, 15, 16, 2016. The peak fall colours will be slightly past prime at this time however the Tamarack population should be at their peak in displaying vibrant Golden colours. The lighting at the edges of the day also tends to be vibrant and further enhanced by mystical mist and fog at this time of the year.

The Night Sky is also magical in this region however with a Full Moon on Oct. 16 the Milky Way will most likely not be visible. While the Milky Way may not be a prime subject, the stars in the West to North to East skies however will be vivid and abundant and when combined with the influence of the bright moon the astro-landscape promises to be compelling ... clear skies permitting. 

Wildlife subjects that we may encounter could be Bear, Turkey, Deer, Otter and Beaver.

To help with planning and recommending accommodation options, please send an email to Dave Lindey stating your interest in attending. One of the options will be to rent housekeeping cottages however not for co-ed habitation if you get my drift!

Please contact me by August 13, 2016, if you are interested in joining us.

Thanks

Dave Lindey
Outings

Bruce Peninsula – Tobermory Photo Tour

Once again this year we are planning our annual excursion to experience one of Ontario’s photographic gems. We are planning our Annual Photo Tour to Tobermory, ON for June 2 to 5, 2015. This trip will provide opportunities to expand your nature image portfolio. Some of the subject material that can be expected are sunrise/sunsets, grand scenic land/seascapes, wild flowers (several varieties of Orchids, Lakeside Daisies, Indian Paintbrush, Columbine, etc), lighthouses and old stuff. Among the usual techniques we will attempt landscape focus staking, long exposures, and night photography for those interested. I’ll have a couple of Nikon IR-Converted bodies with me for loan if you want to try your hand at digital IR.

As always this will be an unguided tour however several of the participants have visited the area many times in previous years so there will be plenty of experience to draw upon to plan each days agenda.

If interested, please sign-up using the sign-up sheet or send me an email by April 27, 2016. I have blocked out 12 rooms at the Coach House Inn so that we can make your own arrangements.

We will check weather forecast as the date draws near.

Base of Operations:

Coach House Inn

7189 HWY 6

Tobermory, ON

N0H 2R0

(519) 596-2361

info@coachhouseinnresort.com (email)
www.coachhouseinnresort.com (website)

Room rates are $55.00 per night single or double occupancy if you choose to save expenses. We can also arrange car pooling to offset costs and consider conservation.

Don’t delay in letting me know if you are interested.

Dave Lindey

dave.lindey@gmail.com

Outings

Spring Wildflowers Outings – April 2015

It’s that time of the year again when spring Wildflowers are starting to emerge from the long winter sleep. You are welcome to join me in search of spring beauties in local known locations with possible opportunities to add to your Nature-Botany and Nature-General portfolios.

The following is our intended schedule which may be subject to change depending upon what is reported to be blooming … when and where:

Sunday April 17, 2015 – Louth Conservation Area. Meet at the Staff Rd. Parking Lot at 8:00 am. It may be a bit early in the season however if the flowers aren’t cooperating we will search out forest scenes and try some long exposure waterscapes along Sixteen Mile Creek. Depending on conditions we may try creating a time lapse sequence for those interested.

GPS Co-ordinates

Latitude 43.1216
Longitude -79.3512

Saturday April 23, 2015 - Shorthills Provincial Park. Meet at the Rolland Rd. entrance at 8:00 am. Always a great spot for early spring wildflowers and of course water scenes.

GPS Co-ordinates

Latitude 43.09079
Longitude -79.304928

Saturday April 30, 2015 – Woodend Conservation Area. Meet at the parking lot off of Taylor Rd. at 8:00 am. Always a great spot for early spring wildflowers and of course water scenes. Great Hiking trails meander through the meadow and escarpment forest and slope. The forest community is composed largely of hardwood species with scattered representatives of Carolinian species such as black cherry, black oak and paw paw.

This area is a perfect venue for passerine birds, and a historic limestone kiln reminds of this historic site’s link to the past.

For those interested in trying their hand at making Infrared images using a converted digital camera, I will have a few converted infrared Nikon camera bodies on hand. Bring your own lens and a CF memory card.

GPS Co-ordinates

Latitude 43.1433
Longitude -79.1673

If you are planning on joining us, please send me an email at dave.lindey@gmail.com.

Looking forward to making some great nature images and sharing.

Dave Lindey - Outings

Framecraft Tour

Coming up on Wed April 6 at 7 PM we have a club outing planned for a visit and tour of Framecraft Ltd in St. Catharines. 

Framecraft Ltd is a manufacturer and wholesaler of wood picture frame mouldings and picture frames.  They also have a beautiful store and show room on site.

We will have a behind the scenes tour of the factory where we will learn the steps involved in producing picture frames and mouldings.   They will be giving suggestions for framing and matting black and white as well as color photographs, talking about photos on canvas and answering any questions you may have.

They are located at:

Framecraft Ltd.

2485 First Street Louth

St. Catharines, ON  L2R 6P7

This will be a very informative evening.

Please send me an email if you are planning to attend.

Dave Lindey

Outings

Vermeers Garden Centre Outing

Brenda Dennis has arranged an always amazing visit to Vermeers Garden Centre. There will be loads of opportunities for Horticultural subjects as well as many interesting props. The outing is scheduled for next Saturday morning – March 19^th from 9 a.m. on. Bring your gear, tripods, creativity and enthusiasm. See you then.

Butterfly Conservatory - Update

Hi folks

I have sent an email with the message below to all who I have an email address for in my contacts. I apologize if you didn't get the email but am posting the message here in the hope that you check the blog.

This is a reminder about our outing to the Butterfly Conservatory this Saturday Mar. 5, 2016

We have been granted exclusive access to the facility from 8:00 am until 10:00 am. During this time we can use our tripods. At 10:00 am the Conservatory opens to the general public and they ask that we put our tripods away. An added bonus is that we are welcome to spend the day at the conservatory after it is opened to the general public.

Please plan to meet behind the main conservatory parking area which is designated as the Buses and Overflow Parking Area at 7:45 am SHARP. Its important that you are on time because I need to take attendance and we will be admitted as a group. Once inside we can store our gear and winter clothing is an area provided for our use by the Conservatory.

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.

Remember that images cannot be used in the Nature category for competition but they can be used for any other purpose.

Please be respectful of other participants and most of all enjoy your day. Don't be shy to ask for help if this is new to you.

See you Saturday

Dave Lindey

Impromptu Outing: Sunrise - Long Exposure Photography

I apologize for short notice however that is the definition of "Impromptu" after all!

If you are interested try your hand making long exposure images, I am planning to photograph the Horseshoe Falls / Niagara Falls (Canadian side) this Saturday morning (Feb. 6). Sunrise is scheduled for 7:28 am however to attempt to capture the best light I plan to be setup to start working at 6:30 which is just after Nautical Twilight starts (6:28 am). The best light should be through to Twilight which is scheduled for 6:58 am. These events happen fast so we will work quickly through to when the sun rises above the horizon.

In terms of gear in addition to your camera as a minimum you will need a tripod and a remote cable release. While its not absolutely necessary, Neutral Density (3, 6, 10 Stop) and/or Graduated Neutral Density filters will be beneficial to extend the exposure time. If you don't have ND/GND filters, a circular polarizer will extend normal exposure times.

The weather is expected to ideal for a colourful scene. Dress warm and in layers so that you are comfortable.

Any and all are welcome to join me. I expect to be in the Table Rock / Horseshoe Falls area by 6:15 am and look forward to having some company. There are plenty of other opportunities in the area to photograph after the sun rises.

I’d appreciate an email if you are planning to join me.

Dave Lindey

Outings

Butterfly Conservatory Outing

We have arranged a visit to the Butterfly Conservatory for Saturday Mar. 5, 2016. As in the past, we have been granted exclusive access to the facility from 8:00 am until 10:00 am. During this time we can use our tripods. At 10:00 am the Conservatory opens to the general public and they ask that we put our tripods away. An added bonus is that we are welcome to spend the day at the conservatory after it is opened to the general public.

I have extended an invitation to members of the Pt. Colborne and St. Catharines Camera Clubs because we are committed to have a minimum of 20 participants. If you are interested please send me an email with your intentions. I will also post a sign-up sheet at the next club meeting on Feb. 10, 2016.

The cost is $15 per person. Also please be reminded that you cannot enter images of the species in the Nature Category however they are more than welcome to be used in any of the open or special competition categories.

We will meet in behind the main conservatory parking area which is designated as the Buses and Overflow Parking Area at 7:45 am SHARP. Once inside we can store our gear and winter clothing is an area provided for our use by the Conservatory.

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 and considerate of other photographers during the outing. Be aware to not position yourself or your gear in another person’s 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!

Dave Lindey