The Finger Lakes region of central New York has over 200 named waterfalls. The variety is astounding. There are long bridalveils, ledgy falls and stair-stepping cascades that leap over sedimentary cap rock to basins below. API continued our annual visit this fall as staff instructors Mark Bowie and Joe LeFevre led participants to some of the most photogenic waterfalls in the East. A wet summer ensured the falls were flowing strong. Autumn colors adorned the banks and were reflected in the streams. We visited the classic falls in Watkins Glen State Park and others nearby. We also photographed the tallest falls in New York State, the majestic 215-feet high Taughannock Falls, and secured special permission to shoot the spectacular Frontenac Falls on private lands. And since we were in the heart of New York's wine country, we mixed in a visit to the Americana Vineyards for wine tasting. Autumn, waterfalls and wine — hard to beat!
Mark and Joe covered field strategies, tips and techniques for taking waterfall imagery to another level, including the use of specialized filters, long exposures, shooting expressionistic images and the need for shooting multiple exposures to expand depth of field, resolution and exposure latitude.
There's much more to explore in Finger Lakes region. We plan to head back next year. Watch for API's 2014 schedule, to be posted soon.
