Throwback - Niagara Falls 2015
Honestly, I should have known better.
When my wife suggested that we drive up to Niagara Falls for an overnight trip, I said “Sure! That sounds like fun!”
And then I did absolutely nothing else to prepare. You can imagine how silly I felt when we arrived, and I had no clue what I was going to photograph. I didn’t know what were the best photo ops or the ideal times to photograph them. I was a complete tourist.
There was no excuse for this. I had even published a whole podcast episode on how you plan for a vacation.
I muddled my way through and made some notes for the next time I returned. I share them below, because I haven’t needed them since. Figures.
My notes from the trip
Photo ops
•Prospect Point
•Observation Tower ($1 - best bang for the buck)
•Crows Nest
•Goat Island
•Maid of the Mist
•Horseshoe Falls
The Light
•Sets onto the falls.
•Rises behind it but can create your rainbows
•Check sunrise & sunset times
•TPE
Tools to take
•DSLR, Mirrorless, or compact camera
•Weather sealed helpful
•Tripod (not essential but can be helpful)
•Medium zoom for most vista shots
•Telephoto zoom for close ups across the park
•Macro for occasional flower shots (optional)
•Wide angle for the Horseshoe falls
•Loupe
Tips
•Only one official Visitor's Center. Beware all the sales centers preetending to be the visitor's center
•You can do it on your own. There's no photography benefit to buying the $200 tour packages.
•Parking should only cost $10. The guys flagging you down can be more.
•Paid parking is good for all three lots.
•Park trolley is good investment if you don't want to hoof it around with all your gear - $3
•Best days to visit - weekdays
