A Nature Lovers Thread....

Niagara Falls (with Maid of the Mist making a return trip).

 

Early evening sunset in Niagara region.

 

That sunset pic is magnificent!

 

Most people love to photograph Niagara Falls during the height of tourist season in the summer.

But the hearty ones who brave the bone-chilling icy elements in winter are rewarded with images like this.

(the cotton-candy colors are from the huge spotlights - no pchop or post-editing done).

 

Two more from Niagara Falls.

The second shows the ice bridge that often forms at the base of the Horseshoe Falls.

 

Dude, you are awsome with your camera - those pics are breathtaking. Thanks loads for contributing to this thread.

 

Obviously you didn't see the 157 crappy shots I tossed away.

But seriously, thanks Bamafan.

Truth be told...its not difficult to get good photos - it just takes an extra effort to go places under all conditions.

It helps, of course to carry a $4200 Nikon dslr. :biglaugh:

 

The rock this ancient tree is growing through is 30 million year-old Niagara escarpment rock. Rather tough stuff.

I was amazed at the power and tenacity of the tree trunk to exploit the crack in the rock cliff and continue growing.

Progress in the face of adversity.

 

Seagulls enjoying a cool beach on a hot summer day.

Taken near Beaverton, Ontario.

 

Its difficult to take a bad photo of a beautiful swan.

 

While roaming the backroads of Niagara, I came across this scenic vista and grabbed a quick shot from the roadside.

 

The Niagara River Gorge (just around the bend from the Great Whirlpool).

United States on the right...Canada on the left.

 

Ducks in Dufferin Islands Park (about a 1/4 mile from Niagara Falls).

 

Deceuw Falls - one of my favorite places to photograph.

Above the falls is a reconstructed power mill - the original dating back to the days of the UEL (United Empire Loyalist) settlers in the area.

There are actually several scenic falls in the immediate area - but most are a difficult hike to get to along the rugged escarpment.

 

Wow Awesome shots SK! Thanks

 

These don't compare to most of the photos in this thread. But here is a few pics i took this weekend of a river near to where i live that fish on. And also one of my local beach.

 

Here are a couple photos I took this summer in Alaska.
Picture quality isn't great. I was using a 2.1 Meg pixel Olympus Ultra Zoom camera.


Mt McKinley


Mt McKinley


Alaska Pipeline


Moose less than 100 yards from road.


Wild flowers


Outside Skinny Dick's Halfway Inn. North of Fairbanks.



Crazy Horse Mountain, South Dakota

 

Pretty good pictures of Mt. McKinley and Crazy Horse. I have never been out that much to the west. I would love to one day.

 

i guess i know bama long and good enough - this wasn´t meant to be a competiton.... each and every pic posted here is great. always interesting to see what surrounds phunners. helps to get to know them a bit more

and if certain shown skills will lead to improve techniques of others... why not? even guys like Ansel Adams don´t only have native talent, they always improved "challenged" by others. so keep on pulling your (mobile-phone/small digi/SLR) cams and show us your areas/places you´ve been to. it´s much appreciated, not only by me.

 

Very well put, River.

Years ago I was praising the work of a fellow photographer acquaintance of mine who works with a drop-dead, knockout model on a regular basis, and at the time he told me - "She's so photogenic, I could give a monkey a camera and he'd take stunning pics of her."

Living in Niagara region with its treasure trove of beautiful scenery, I often feel like that monkey. I always consider myself fortunate to live in a very photogenic area of the country - and never tire of observing and documenting it with the camera. I never think in terms of competition.

I grew up looking at my father's hobby photography over the years - and if my work inspires someone else to pick up a camera and make the effort to show us all their surroundings...I think of it in terms of 'paying it forward'.