The Falls are impressive and I have only seen them during the summer months, seeing them in winter would be interesting, we’ll have to see about that sometime…I should like to explore Niagara itself more and I would love to see and photograph the falls in winter, though the weather conditions may be harsh and winter spray from the falls…well, I’ll leave that to your imagination.
The first time I saw the falls was during the summer of 1982, a family visit from England to relatives in North America and a short trip across the boarder to Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal. We walked across the Rainbow Bridge; it was my first time in Canada! I had no idea then, that years later it would be my home.
Mexicans
That trip, in 1982, so many years ago, was not just my first trip to North America it was also the first time I shot photographs on holiday, with my dad’s brand-new camera. There were no cell phones or digital cameras, I shot film. It was the beginning of my interest in photography, my dad passed away many years ago, but I still have the camera and lenses and I still use those manual focus lenses to this day.
Living not far from Niagara today, it’s a place which when anyone visits – a trip is usually on the cards – I’ve seen the Falls a few times now. For apart from visitors, some of my daughter’s dance competitions take place in Niagara, so – yes there have been a few visits to Niagara.
As one would imagine, most people visiting Niagara naturally shoot the Falls, perhaps other stuff around the town and with the advent of cell phones, there are plenty of selfies going on!! No surprise for what’s coming…yes, you guessed right - People!! No revelation here - I soon found ways to amuse myself at Niagara, especially when there was a dance competition there, which takes place during the summer months, I would take myself off to photograph. On the subject of cell phones…so many of my photographs are of people taking selfies and I see it everywhere, not just Niagara. It makes me wonder, have these people come to visit Niagara or where ever it maybe, are they taking in the place they are visiting, or is it all about taking selfies these days!?
The years have rolled by and I find less people with cameras, some still carry a camera (everyone has a cell phone) and as already stated - you can find plenty of people taking selfies – individuals, couples, families – spend even a small amount of time there and you’ll find a good range of subjects just waiting to be shot. It’s a bit like shooting fish in a barrel, if you like street photography. However, there is far more to Niagara than the Falls, beautiful as they are.
If we have visitors, chances are that I’m not alone shooting and I have to be a little mindful that the day is not all about photography. However, on the days of dance competitions and I have a few hours, walking around the town and not just around the falls themselves…and then there’s always the night, when the falls are lit-up. There are also the casinos – though I think photography in there would be frowned-upon and also the amusement park. I haven’t shot in either of those two places, but they would also make for interesting photography.
Times have changed, I have changed and my photography has evolved – as it should. Whilst I still enjoy street photography, I feel I need more now, shooting random people on the street doesn’t feel enough – sure if’s there’s something interesting – go for it, capture the moment. At Niagara, there’s plenty going on – indeed, where ever you are – look and you will “see” plenty – but, take a moment before you start, take stock of the environment and the people there, they will be diverse – it can be an interesting day of photography. Again, I stress, by spending the time taking in your surroundings and the people there, not just the visitors, I’m sure you’ll find the rewards are in the images you will make.
I no longer look at a trip to the Falls as, "yet another visit", but as a further opportunity to discover a new part of Niagara, of myself and my photography.