Previously from Akron Falls: Variety: Follow the Grand Vistas with Detail Shots - Morning on Murder Creek - Going for the Details Again - Western New York Winter Wonderland at Akron Falls - As Winter Fades Away ... - An Abstract Dose - Not the usual suspects at Akron Falls

With all of the rain of April 2017 and May adding to the totals so far I really wanted to see what that did to Akron Falls. I usually go there in summer or fall by which point the waterfall is reduced to a trickle, and I enjoy that. It adds just enough water to go with all of the moss covered rocks that the place looks like fairy land. I visited once at the and of winter and there was plenty of water but I did not like that everything still had the bare winter look with trees without foliage. So this year, the abundance of rain offered an opportunity to check it out in May with green all around.

Right from the start of the trail I could immediately tell the difference. The usually gentle rock hopping Murder Creek was more of a raging river with much more water and moving forcefully. On the other side of the bridge the creek was spilling out of its usual banks. And when I eventually faced the Lower Akron Falls the rage was also present. Under normal circumstances, only the bottom half of the cliff offers falling water. The top may or may not have a waterfall on the right-hand side. This morning the top waterfall was at full flow across the full width, something I have not seen before. The romantic feeling was not there. It was all about power!

Akron Falls RumbleHigh Water on Murder Creek

Akron Falls Rumble, High Water on Murder Creek

As you can see in the photograph, heavy blowing mist was also a problem and the backlight caused many flare spots compliments of the droplets settling on the lens despite cleaning before each shot. However, I liked the end result that serves as a further description of the scene.

Akron FallsUsual Summer Trickle In the end, I opted for a black and white photo that does not really showcase all of the spring greenery, however, hides some of the clutter the colors resulted in. I believe the simplicity of the black and white form better sums up the essence of the scene.

Enjoy the Beauty that Surrounds You! (#etbtsy)

Would you like to see more photographs from Western New York? Visit my Buffalo & Western New York Landscapes and enjoy! For more black and white photography, may I offer you either my World without Color
photo collection or timelessbuffalo.com, a web site dedicated to black and white urban photography, whether digital, film, or pinhole. Please, let me know if you have any questions about any photo products offered, or not offered, I will be happy to help! For a quick reference to all photo galleries and collections as well as all photo products currently offered through my site, please, visit the Products page.

Do you like my free content but are not ready to buy a photograph for your walls yet? Using my links to do your shopping helps me share more photographs and write the stories behind them. And it costs you nothing. You just need to start your shopping by clicking on an advertised product or use the Amazon search box in bottom left. It does not matter what you eventually buy as long as you start here. I truly appreciate each purchase, no matter how small. Thank you!

Would you like to see my photographs printed, matted, and framed? Visit Picture Your Walls in Hamburg, NY (184 Buffalo St, Hamburg, NY 14075).

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Previously from Hamburg Beach: Stormy Hamburg Beach and Lake Erie Shoreline - One Beach, Yet More Looks - One Beach, Different Looks - Winter Abstracts - The Frozen Moon Land is Back - Arctic Tundra in Buffalo, NY - Frozen Desolation on Lake Erie -  Lacking Perspective - As the Clouds Roll In - No Two Are the Same

As you can see from the growing list above I like to revisit Hamburg Beach quite often. And I believe it is for a good reason. What a location it is! Right in the back yard by one of the Great Lakes and with some impressive cliffs right at the water's edge giving it the look of an attractive faraway vacation destination. Every time I visit it is different, whether due to seasons, time of day, weather, or other changes. It's similar with sunsets in my opinion. No two are ever the same no matter how many you have seen and no matter how many people call them cliché.

Quiet Sunset over the LakeHamburg Beach, Hamburg, NY

Quiet Sunset over Lake Erie, Hamburg Beach, Hamburg, NY

There are always a few impeccable seconds just before sunset when the low sun hits the cliffs and the wet rocks glisten proudly. Then, it's all over almost in an instant. And it is that simple act that always starts my mind wondering about the physics of this world. The light on the rocks always disappears before the sun does!

Night Taking over Hamburg BeachHamburg, NY So what happens when the sun sets? That is when the fun starts! The 15 - 20 minutes after sunset are always filled with expectations and doubts. Is everything going to come together and generate a marvellous light and color show as the clouds light up from below? Or is the sun's path to the clouds going to be obstructed without any show at all? And of course, a compromise can be reached with forces meeting half way. And you just never know. No matter how much you try to read the situation, things will happen their own way.

This evening, a rather heavy cloud layer over the shore with a clear opening on the horizon seemed promising. I definitely was not putting my camera away prematurely even as I watched couple people retreat leaving the scene all to myself. End result? It was not meant to be this evening. The day quietly turned into a night and peace and quiet took over. Did I feel disappointed? Yes, maybe a little, but the whole experience of anticipation was well worth it and I won't hesitate to do it again, many times over and over.

This evening, the relaxed atmosphere helped me experiment with other techniques too. I stuck a stick into the sand and clipped my phone holder to it trying to go for a nice sunset time-lapse. It was too low to the ground (intentionally) and I did not feel like bending down with my hurt back so I just guessed where to point it. It did not pan out.

Enjoy the Beauty that Surrounds You! (#etbtsy)

Would you like to see more photographs from Western New York? Visit my Buffalo & Western New York Landscapes and enjoy! Please, let me know if you have any questions about any photo products offered, or not offered, I will be happy to help! For a quick reference to all photo galleries and collections as well as all photo products currently offered through my site, please, visit the Products page.

Using my links to do your shopping keeps me sharing more photographs and writing the stories behind them and costs you nothing. You can also use the Amazon search box in bottom left for anything at all. I truly appreciate each purchase, no matter how large, no matter how small. Thank you!

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Yesterday was a special day. Each last Sunday of April marks the worldwide pinhole photography day. I loaded my Zeroimage wooden pinhole camera with a Kentmere 35 mm black and white film and headed out of the door around 10 o'clock. It was cold (41°F) and miserable and completely overcast but it was not going to stop me. I made many stops throughout the day and spent about 6 hours shooting some of my past favorites and a few new locations. I hope to develop the film soon and share some photos with you here. For now, here's a behind the scenes cell phone photo of the pinhole camera taking in the Richardson Olmsted Complex, or Hotel Henry (what a contrast, by the way - the instant gratification of a smart phone camera vs. a film-loaded pinhole camera).

Worldwide Pinhole Photography DayZeroimage pinhole at Richardson Olmsted Complex

When I started moving back from the northtowns in mid-afternoon, there were some partial breaks in the clouds and temperatures made it to 50s. When I parked in Orchard Park, there were clear skies and 70°F.

The magic of pinhole photography is growing on me strongly and I plan to take it to the next level and make it even more old-fashioned. But more on that another day ...

Enjoy the Beauty that Surrounds You! (#etbtsy)

Would you like to see more pinhole photographs from Buffalo and Western New York? Visit my pinhole gallery on timelessbuffalo.com and enjoy! Come back often as that gallery will grow over time. Please, let me know if you have any questions about any photo products offered, or not offered, I will be happy to help! For a quick reference to all photo galleries and collections as well as all photo products currently offered through my site, please, visit the Products page.

Using my links to do your shopping keeps me sharing more photographs and writing the stories behind them and costs you nothing. You can also use the Amazon search box in bottom left for anything at all. I truly appreciate each purchase, no matter how large, no matter how small. Thank you!