Gary Paakkonen Photography: Cityscape Pano's, Waterfalls, Ice and a Pirate Ship

I know, it's been awhile again. I promised to share some more of my DIY Light tent stuff, that's coming in a few days, weeks, months... have to fix it.

For the past two weekends, Heather and I have packed up the soccer-mom minivan and gone out on a couple of photo trips again. The first weekend we went to the Niagara Escarpment from Hamilton down to Jordan Harbour and to Ball's Falls Conservation Area in Vineland, Ontario

I also took along my new (old) Canon AE1 with a 50/1.8 prime lens and a roll of Ilford Pro ASA100 B&W film. Unfortunately, I haven't shot the full roll yet so hopefully in a couple of weeks I should be posting those. I can't wait to see how they turned out!

My new aquisition is a mint condition Canon AE1 manufactured from 1976 to the mid 70's. It also came with a 50mm f1.8 prime lens and a Vivitar 2800 Speedlight and a Lowepro Camera Bag. Price: Free :)

Start off with a couple of multiple exposure panorama's from The Devil's Punchbowl Waterfall showing Stoney Creek, Hamilton, Burlington and the western tip of Lake Ontario. I set up my Nikon D300s on my trusty Velbon Tripod and took 5 exposures from left to right with the 50/1.8 Nikkor lens (Love that little guy). I then stitched them together using Serif's PanoramaPlus x4. Using Lightroom 3 to monochrome the first image to Black and White then add some blue tone for a cold feel.I added some minor edits on the 2nd shot as well for exposure and clarity.

A multi-exposure of hamilton, Ontario shot from atop the Niagara Escarpment in Stoney Creek.

This cross shines out over Stoney Creek at night and is visible for miles! It's located atop the Niagara Escarpment at the Devil's Punchbowl Waterfall. Make of that what you will :D

This cross is mounted high atop the Niagara Escarpment at the Devil's Punchbowl Waterfall and is visible for miles around Stoney Creek at night.

A gigantic cross burns above Stoney Creek, Ontario, Canada up on the Niagara Escarpment

Moving on down to Ball's Falls in Vineland, Ontario we had to go for a wee bit of a walk through a historic Pioneer Village to get to the Lower Falls.
This is a 2.5 second shot at f22.

Window reflection from the Ball's Falls Conservation area's main building showing some weather moving in

Sky reflection in the Visitors Centre window at Ball's Falls Conservation Area, Vineland, Ontario, Canada. Entry into January Scavenger Hunt on G+

This 'Pirate Ship' is an old relic that was towed into the Jordan Harbour a number of years ago in the hopes that a restaurant would be built of it. But it was not to be for someone with a book of matches soon set it ablaze not once but twice! A friend of mine on redgage.com tells me that there was some talk of sinking it out in Lake Ontario as a play area for divers but nothing has come of that as of yet. For now it sits and is a great conversation piece for travelers along the Queen Elizabeth Way which is the main highway between Toronto and Niagara Falls and Buffalo, New York.

Arrrgh, me ship 'as run aground! An old Pirate Ship sits at the Prudhomme Bay Marina near Vineland, Ontario, Canada. 2 layer HDR.

An old Pirate Ship relic sits in Prudhomme Bay Marina near Vineland, Ontario. 3 exposure HDR.

The second weekend we headed out for Port Dover, Ontario on the shores of Lake Erie. Our hopes were for some ice formations and we were not disappointed!

Fishing boats lined up at the docks

Fishing boats docked at the Port Dover Harbour

A 'Fixer-Upper' in dry dock

A fixer upper boat in dry dock at Port Dover Harbour.

Fish nets

Ice forms on tree branches

Ice forms on branches on the shores of Lake Erie at Port Dover, Ontario

A 5 exposure HDR image processed in NIK Software HDR Effex Pro

5 exposure HDR of an ice covered tree at Port Dover, Ontario, Canada

That's it for now.

A Paakkonen Photography Announcement

As anyone who knows us knows that Heather and I are extremely proud to be associated with ART for Cancer. The ART for Cancer Foundation will be holding a special visual art exhibit from Feb 17-24, 2012, to raise awareness of the power of the creative process as a healing force, and to promote its creative programs for cancer patients. This exhibit will take place in the Toronto City Hall Rotunda

1. The ART Exhibit – February 17-February 24, 2012
2. Reception and Silent Auction- February 17, 2012
3. Charity Table sales- February 22-February 24, 2012

We are extremely pleased to be showing 2 images apiece then donating everything to the Foundation through the auction!

Heather's pieces are;