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Theaters in the Rain - Hamburg Palace
The Palace Theatre of Hamburg, NYBlue Hour Rain
Previous theaters in the rain: Elements Getting in the Way?, The Long Planned Aurora Theatre in Rain, Sticking with the Theater Theme, Blue Hour over Shea's.
There's something fun about these long term projects like Bridges of Buffalo, On the Road, or Theaters in the Rain. The last one is a thought dating a while back but really just getting started. After Shea's of Buffalo and Aurora of East Aurora the next one on my list was the Hamburg Palace. And a rainy evening came and out I headed with the camera trying to benefit from reflections in the pavement. As several times in the past when I headed out to photograph rain, it stopped raining just as I was arriving on location. I guess that leaves room for improvement as the quickly drying pavement reflects less of the light and colors back up into the scene. The lack of puddles also eliminates any full mirror reflections.
I had a fun time trying from both sides of the theater, settling on this side. The storefront on this side had the custom tailor neon on adding an extra splash of color while the other side was dark. I also played with including more or less of the road and getting light streaks and light reflections from the passing vehicles. That proved to be a challenge due to a very light traffic. Just getting any meaningful trails was tough, let alone several variations to choose from later. In the end, it all came together in this photograph.
Coyote Cafe - Hamburg, NYColors in the Rain at Dusk
Once I had my angled shot I also moved across the street to shoot a head on for a different feel, also with cars passing through the long exposure. Then, the movie ended and people started pouring out and I called it for that location. From a blue hour point of view the sky started turning too dark anyway.
However, since I was in Hamburg already I wanted to check out how my favorite local Mexican restaurant looked like at night and walked around the corner. The lights were on and illuminated the colorful wall of Coyote Cafe beautifully! I am glad I turned that corner.
Have fun!
... Wait a minute, there is one more thing. Despite the evening being motivated by a blue hour rain and colors and their reflections, I'd like to close today's post on a more classic note, with a black and white photograph. There's just something about that look that keeps calling me back, ...
Hamburg Palace ClassicBlack and White Head On
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Theaters in the Rain:
Waterfalling Off the Beaten Path in Letchworth
Hello everybody, I am back with another blog post and it is not white! I know, this is Buffalo and Spring does not come before April 15 and even then it can be a very hesitant arrival, however, it is on the way. And as the melting snow replenishes the local streams spring is a great time to see waterfalls in full flow if that is your preference.
As you may have noticed, there has been a pause in my posts. I've been trying to push myself out of my comfort zone and explore some new opportunities that I hope I will be able to share with you on these pages soon, but not yet. I am excited!
Papermill Falls SidekickLetchworth State Park Waterfall
Today's photographs are not fresh, they were both taken at the very beginning of fall 2014 as I was trying to expand my horizons and continue exploring new trails in Letchworth. They also allow me to continue the Mystery of Papermill Falls saga, and to put a happy ending to it. Well, maybe not a happy ending but rather a happy beginning as I really liked that area of the park and am sure I will be back there again, and again.
So why the jump from winter to fall? I feel these photographs are more about waterfalls than about fall as a season, and given the opening paragraph and the abundant supply of creek water at this time of the year I thought they would provide an inspiration for spring hiking.
If you've read The Seasons They Are a-Changin', Watching Time Pass or The Mystery of Papermill Falls posts, you know these photos were long coming too. It took almost a year and three separate expeditions to bring them back, and it was so well worth the effort.
The first photograph is from the end of the hike, from the turning back point. To get there, we were creek walking up the Silver Lake Outlet flow. It was pleasant but the late season was obvious both in the air and in the water. For that reason I would recommend this hike during summer time. The lower portion of Papermill Falls had a main section, head on, a complete 90 degree drop off. However, there was little water. Another reason for an earlier visit. To me, the photogenic part was to the left, the more gradual but full of water sidekick waterfall. At the top, you can see how the water was shooting to the side forcefully rushing in, making a left turn, and very gracefully flowing down the rocks. The shallow spill area at the base and the log were a nice bonus I spent time fine tuning into the photograph.
Upper Papermill FallsLetchworth State Park Waterfall
The second photograph is from an earlier point of the hike while still on dry land. Alternatively, you can see it on the way back. I opted for both and stopped on the way down and back up. Based on weather and time of the day, the light you get may very dramatically with couple hours passing in between. On the way down, sun was still high up and was blasting the area with high contrast light and light spots so bright that a pleasing exposure was hard to get. On the other hand, as evening settled in and the sun disappeared over the high cliffs surrounding the gorge, light became more tamed, yet still directional. That was my choice.
Now here is one thing I rarely do but have been trying to remember more and more. As much as I like photography and make effort to capture the scene as complete as possible to provide a feeling of being there - usually only possible when viewing the photos on a very large monitor or print (remember, you can click on the photographs in my blog posts to see them larger in their gallery and then click one more time for an even larger full window view) - I still cannot fit in the breeze and the sound. Motion is a different story, that I can play with by choosing my shutter speed and freezing droplets of water in mid-air or allowing the flow blur into a smooth veil. But not the fresh breeze, not the hum of the water. That is where video has an edge. Sit back, relax, and get lost in the sound of the water for about half a minute. And the breeze? Well, you will need to turn on your fan.
Papermill Falls Sidekick VideoA Letchworth State Park Waterfall
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 not mentioned here. Thank you very much, I really appreciate it!
References: Letchworth State Park Trail Map - Scott A. Ensminger's Western New York Waterfall Survey - NY Falls - +David+'s Flickr page
More Waterfall Photos (click to see large and scroll through):
Spring
To acknowledge and celebrate the arrival of spring and the first spring day, I have swapped out all of the photographs on my home page for photos from early to late spring.. Let's leave the white theme behind for a few months.
Through the BlossomsBuffalo History Museum
Have fun this spring!
An Evening of the Arts, Elderwood, West Seneca
Picture Your Walls Western New York is going to have 7 of my large prints on display at the show.
Following the show, the framed photographs are going to be available at their Hamburg store (184 Buffalo St, Hamburg, NY 14075).
Have fun!
Letchworth Icon: Portageville Bridge to Be Replaced in 2015
Winter under Letchworth Upper Falls Trestle BridgeBridge to be Replaced in 2015
Photography is not only a way for me to see and share the beauty around us it is also an opportunity to learn more about the things I point my camera at.
This was my first ever winter visit to the beautiful Letchworth State Park. Yes, the first time ever in winter despite living an hour away. I had the park's waterfalls on my winter shooting list for a few seasons but finally made it happen! Having visited other Western New York waterfalls in winter I had high expectations for this outing, and I was not disappointed. Just the opposite. Mother Nature truly worked its magic and turned the whole Genesee River gorge into a winter wonderland with each of the major waterfalls turned into icy formations of remarkable textures.
Ice VolcanoFrozen Glen Iris Inn Fountain
The whole Lower Falls area and the road to it was closed, and hiking from the parking lot of the (also closed) visitor center only led to closed trail heads to the falls. It surprised me the visitor center operating hours were weekdays, not the weekend.
The Middle Falls lot by the Glen Iris Inn was packed thanks to the spectacle of the frozen fountain and the many people drawn there by media's coverage. Middle Falls looked wonderful and there were huge amounts of ice build up all around the waterfall as well as on the opposite wall.
However, it was the Upper Falls that were the icing on the cake. It was just beautiful and I must admit that none of my photographs do the in person experience justice. After making the short hike from the Middle Falls parking lot I spent a lot of time absorbing the view, taking to a few other equally impressed visitors, and trying to come up with a way to transfer the scene into a photograph. What a view!
Train on Portageville BridgeLetchworth in the Fall
Only later on the computer, as I was searching the Internet for some new facts about the Upper Falls and the iconic bridge across the gorge, did I learn the days of this now 140 years old bridge were counted. After years in the works, the bridge is to come down and a new one to be build this year (2015)!
The Portageville Bridge is operated by Norfolk Southern Corporation (Norfolk Southern Railway Southern Tier Line). The original timber bridge across the Genesee River was built by the Erie Railroad and opened in 1852. It was about 800 feet long and stood 234 feet above the river below. It was in operation for 23 years until it burned down in May 1875, fire being set by embers from a passing train. In July of the same year, the iron made replacement was completed. Yes, just two months and some days after the fire! In 1903, the iron bridge underwent a superstructure rehabilitation. With regular maintenance it remained the same till today.
Portageville Railroad BridgeView from Below
Portageville Bridge Project: “The purpose of the Project is to address the existing deficiencies at the Portageville Bridge on the Southern Tier rail freight route across the Genesee River by providing a modern rail crossing of the Genesee River at its current location that is capable of carrying current industry standard freight rail loads, to the greatest degree possible meeting Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) Class 4 speeds, while …
I guess there will be a whole new reason to come and visit the Upper Falls soon - the new bridge in all seasons and hopefully with trains running across.
Have fun exploring!
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 not mentioned here. Thank you very much, I really appreciate it!
References: Portageville Bridge Project, The Design of the New Portageville Bridge, NS - Portage Bridge
More Letchworth State Park photos:
