Thursday, June 4, 2009

Niagara Falls, New York

We went 4100 miles, in 12 days, covering 12 states (IL, IN, OH, PA, NY, VT, NH, ME, MA, RI, CT, and NJ) on our vacation.  You have to really love the people you're traveling with to be able to practically live out of a car for that long and not kill each other.

Going full-throttle every single day, sleeping maybe 7 hours a night.  The proof is in the reality that although I let myself be lax in my diet, even had cheesecake, doughnuts, and brownies (resigned myself to gain a few pounds) I did not gain one pound!  I was thrilled when I saw the scale read the same as the day we left!  But, of course now I'm back to the diet.

We made it all the way to Niagara Falls, New York our first day - very, very long day! We checked into the motel, grabbed our gear and walked down to the falls. They were magnificent!

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Rushing and tumbling.


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The lights change colors periodically.


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A photo cannot do them justice. These are some magnificent falls! Just to stand and listen to all the force - the noise of them drowns out all other noise and puts you in your own little world of solitude.

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I have no idea who these people are but I thought the silhouettes looked cool so I snapped. As you can see, we weren’t the only ones out enjoying the night lights at the falls.

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Horseshoe Falls


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There’s a little story about my first trip to Niagara Falls. In 2006, Dennis and I took a spur of the moment trip up to Canada. We decided to go see Britney in Pennsylvania and since neither of us had been to Canada we went via that route (spent a night in Sudbury). We’re crazy like that.

So, on the 4th of July we passed by the falls. Dennis had seen them as a child, but I never had. Well, being 4th of July and all it was wham packed busy, on both sides of the falls. We could not even find anywhere to park and we needed to continue our journey - and we had our dogs with us and could not leave them in the car for an extended period.

A plan was formed, I turned on my camera, Dennis drove on the crowded road and when he was right in front of horseshoe falls I jumped out of the car. I ran up to the railing (on the Canadian side) and snapped away, then quickly ran back to the car and off we went.

This trip to Niagara Falls topped my first view by a long shot.  We spent a couple of hours there at night and another three the next morning.

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I wouldn’t want to be in those rocks - ouch!


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The views kept us up late that night - just so breathtaking.


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I totally wish I could have captured the sounds as well.

PhotoStory Friday
Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

49 comments:

  1. What a breath taking sight . I would love to go there one day, I didn't know they had the lights

    great photo friday

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  2. Those are great pictures of the falls. I have always wanted to see them and this isn't helping me! Seriously great shots!

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  3. These shots are AMAZING!

    And the silhouette shot reminds me of the closing scenes of Close Encounters of the Third Kind.

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  4. Wow, those are truly spectacular! I can hardly believe they are real! Thanks for sharing your vacation with us ;)

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  5. These are gorgeous!!
    I really want to go there, now so even more!!
    Can I ask what your settings were-truly amazing!

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  6. Wow...totally breathtaking. Niagra Falls is totally on my top 10 list of places I want to visit.

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  7. Such gorgeous images, Lisa! Beautiful!

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  8. I like picture #1 and #2. looks like beautiful straight blonde hair to me..

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  9. Oh My God! These are amazing photos! I am convinced I can use them to get my husband to go back to Niagara Falls! These are just amazing! And I love the grandchildren ones too! And the family portaits ... I'm glad you got along well. I'm so happy you have 3000 photos ... you'll have blog material for quite some time! I'm looking forward to it. I'm glad you had such a good trip!

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  10. No need to capture the sound... the pictures are so good it creates the sound within my head. I have never been there!

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  11. GORGEOUS pictures. I've seen the falls many times, but I don't think I've actually ever seen them at night other than driving by from the car. I think I need to make an after dark visit at some point.

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  12. wow!! totally speechless..i always wanted to go there! thanx for sharing ur vacation photos!

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  13. Those are amazing! You are an amazing photographer!

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  14. Ooh Lisa~ These are stunning, magnificent, gorgeous, beautiful pictures. The first two remind me of brushstrokes, someone's fine painting. I, too, didn't know they had lights. Makes me want to go see them now. My parents have gone to see Niagara Falls and their pictures didn't do the falls justice. I'm so glad you shared these with us. They're great.

    I wanted to say I've been in an out of your blog for some time admiring all you have to offer. You have a wonderful blog. Keep up the good work. I look forward to seeing more photos. Have a great night.

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  15. Breathtaking is right! You captured the Falls beautifully. This trip is on my list, I'd love to take the girls too. The silhouette photo is great, I can see that hanging on a wall somewhere.

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  16. Holy smokes! My Niagara Falls pictures don't look anything like that (plus I it was in the daytime and my kids were bored in 10 minutes). Outstanding as always!

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  17. I have been to Niagra fall but not at night time so i did not see all the colors. But I went more or less into the fall and felt the water, that was nice.

    /MB Sweden

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  18. AMAZING captures...thanks for taking me there with you.

    Now, I wanna jump in my car and drive to Niagara Falls, but for now, I'll settle for these beautiful photos.

    You are incredibly talented Lisa.

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  19. Wow.....O.K. I need to repeat that...W O W !!!
    MAGNIFICENT SHOTS:)

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  20. Outstanding! I've never seen the falls portrayed this way...definitely art worthy of display!

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  21. Thos are great pics! I went to the Canada side when I was a Senior in highschool and loved it! I'd like to go back with the family some day.

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  22. Lisa, can I just say STUNNING. I really enjoy each of these great pictures. From the first shot, I just said WOW and then it just got better. The fourth shot with the silhouettes is amazing. The penultimate shot, with its angled view of the falls is so memorable. Just great. This is why I like photography.

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  23. One of my assignments for school is to take shots of the falls at night. We will go as a class and set up our tripods to take our photos. You have given me an idea - I think I want to step back and take a photo of the class silhouetted taking their photos. I'll have to ask the teacher. I live so close to the falls but hardly ever go there because the parking is a nightmare!

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  24. good heavens. i mean really, good heavens. holy crap.

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  25. These are amazing! And I'm sure, like you said, they don't do the views justice:) I could spend forever sitting by running water! Thanks for sharing the view (and your story:)

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  26. What amazing shots of the falls! It is so beautiful, I hope someday I can visit there myself!

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  27. You think you didn't capture the sound, but you did. Believe me. All I had to do was look at them and I heard it. Gorgeous!!

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  28. These photos are really wonderful. It must have been a great vacation.
    You're also on a diet, and did a good job to stay on the same weight. I'm on a diet to, so I know how difficult it is ...

    Wish you luck !

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  29. Oh those are stunning and would make spectacular wall art. What an AWESOME vacation!!

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  30. I've never been to Niagara Falls, and didn't know about the lights at night. Your pictures are magnificent! Also wonderful that you managed to eat foods that you like and didn't gain weight. :)

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  31. Those are WOW!!! You could totally sell those! Just beautiful.

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  32. You have just taken me right back to my trip there back in 2007.

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  33. Terrific captures Lisa! My husband and I used to go every year on Valentines Weekend....it was FRIGID!!! Even more so because of the mist created by the Falls. They used to have fireworks and pink and red lights....it was breath-taking!! Glad you had a good time on your vacation. Damn, girl, you did alot of driving!!

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  34. Magnificent photos of the Niagara Fall with an interesting story to go with it! Have a wonderful weekend, Lisa :)

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  35. Amazing photos, Lisa! Especially the silhouette - that is such a cool picture! Thanks for sharing this part of your journey - it's been many years since I've visited Niagra Falls - and I forget just how powerful all that water is!

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  36. These are completely, utterly magical. I am glad you stopped there--and brought the falls to all of us.

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  37. They are very beautiful! I am so glad you could go again!

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  38. Wow! Love your photos, you always get such wonderful angles! I can hardly wait, as we will be there next week! YEAH! We will be watching for your name in the log books.

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  39. I grew up in Niagar Falls,so it's great to see your photos.Beautiful shots!

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  40. Wow Lisa! These are absolutely gorgeous! You should link up to Sunday Stills - the theme this week is silhouettes for that 4th shot! Awesome!

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  41. Oh, I wish I had known you were in Jersey. I would have love to have met up! Hope you post some shot of my great state.
    The Falls are wonderful and you have taken some awesome photos of them. Did you go on the Maid of the Mist?

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  42. It is breathtaking, and a little scary.

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  43. I prefer the daylight versions I think, but these are also breathtaking! I really want to go there too!

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  44. We were there today! WOW.!!!! Are there any words that can explain it!!! We just did the Canada side. Need to fill you in on the bears and a bull moose that we saw on the North shore of Lake Superior.

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  45. GORGEOUS PICTURES WOWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!! WHAT A VIEW, I AM PLANNING TO GO THERE TOMORROW FROM NEW YORK. OH MY GOD, THOSE SHOTS REALLY ENCOURAGE ME TO GO, BECUASE I WAS STILL DEBATING TODAY WHETHER WE WERE GOING OR NOT. GREAT PHOTOGRAPHER. THANK YOU FOR SHARING SUCH BEAUTY.

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