St Nick’s

OK done. I’ll post pics and videos soon. They will be on another thread. St Nick Recap.

Given the fact the rain has started and is knocking the leaves off I may move this date up a few days. If you are doing this shoot let me know otherwise I’ll assume you are not in and will change the date as it suits me. Of course you can always do this on your own.

Again as I said in the original post I cannot confirm this place is not patrolled in some way. So yes, I am really taking a chance and assuming no one will give us a hard time about crawling around the thing. If you are not the adventurous type sit this out and I’ll post up my pics of the place. If you are in and don’t mind a nice Fall ride I’ll see you in the parking lot.

Here are the directions: StNicks

Update from scouting run Sep/30th (READ CAREFULLLY):

I had taken a run up just to see if the place was still there. I ran into about 7 other photags doing the same thing. They had everything from tripods to ladders, yes ladders.

Facts:

• This is for SERIOUS photags ONLY!
• Yes, it is posted with no trespassing signs.
• If you are afraid of heights – forget it.
• If you are afraid of the dark – forget it.
• You’ll need a tripod.
• You should allow at least 3 hours to cover most of it.
• If you miss a step your gone.
• You WILL need a FLASH (not the on board flash).
• You will need a flashlight or headlamp.
• You can easily get lost and the only way out is to jump.
• You will need your grass cutting sneakers.

I had not intended to take any pictures. I walked in, starting climbing around and it was over in a few minutes… I was hooked. After climbing around for 20 minutes in this era long since past I decided to run back out to the car and get my camera. I did NOT bring my flash. I had to use the on board flash.

These shots are NOT my intended shots, they are to give you an idea of what to expect in a few weeks.  Like I said I had to use the on board flash and I had a 24-70mm hanging of the end, which you can see in almost every shot. I do not claim responsibility for this stupidity but I got caught up in the moment. It was like a photag in a camera store. The on board served a second purpose… in some areas I had to flash the floor just to see where I was going. There are rooms in this labyrinth that are pitch black even in full daylight.

There are areas with missing or no steps. If you cannot jump or cling to the walls these are areas you will need to skip. If you fall I will not even make an attempt to salvage your camera.

What does it look like?

Yes, if you cannot hike 10 flights of steps you can always take the elevator – here it is.

No joke here folks. If you do not watch every step you are history. You must constantly look down!

I will be crawling the ladders. I would not recommend this, but they do lead to areas that are otherwise inaccessible.

Some of these walkways are dead ends, some you have to jump to catch the next flight of stairs. All in all I only noticed the remains of two photags that didn’t make it. From what I could see they where carrying Cannons, not worth trying to salvage – I doubt the shots were any good.

I always flashed before I entered. It may appear well lit but let me tell you is wasn’t.

  

Here are more snapshots to help you plan your itinerary.

https://picasaweb.google.com/100151631024298508039/StNicks?authuser=0&feat=directlink

Last look at de lights…

I figured this was worth paying the gardens a visit to see what Bruce had done. A photo opportunity you don’t see everyday.

On the way in this catches your eye. Spheres with spheres inside them with fiber optic cable inside them. They cycle through a range of colors.

The boy spent a great deal of time setting these up. Yeah, look closely at each one of those little white spheres. There are thousands of them. A little farther down in the blog you’ll see what they look like at night.

Click on the images to get a better view. I didn’t count the lights, but they go on for several hundred feet.

These had been put up in the conservatory. I snapped a few shots as they changed color.

 

 

This is a close up of one of his sculptures. Mesmerizing as it changes colors. 

 

 

 

Above (while I still had light), below (after the sun dropped).

 

Wondering what to do with all those soda bottles? Well here is a project. Set them on top of one another, add fiber optics and LEDs.   

 

I like the way the lights went off into the distance.

 

 

Not something Bruce did but I couldn’t resist a quick snap of the fountains lit up with LEDs.

Here was a path of fiber optic strung out over some ground cover. This would have looked a lot better had I caught the images at dusk when you could still see the plants clear enough.

 

Oh well, hope you like the shots as much as I liked taking them. Had a good time.

 

Stay tuned for some future posts I have coming up. Fall color shots along with a very unique venue I’ll guarantee you won’t find just anywhere. 

The Quest for Color

Here are the shots

We have a GO for Tuesday the 9^th at 10:00AM.

Weather looks like partly sunny in the low sixties. The PDF contains directions and the meet up spot. I am expecting the lot to be full so just drive straight through and make a right at the gate. That will take you to the overflow parking area. Park and walk up the exit road to the first parking lot. We’ll be standing at the steps that lead to the trail entrance. You’ll pass that on the way in.

I’ll dump the list of post ups around 8:00AM ish. If you are not coming make sure you take your name off the list. If you miss us just start walking up the trail, you eventually run into a group of photags.

See you there.

See attached file for directions and meetup details: GlenOnokoFall

Hotel info: Hotel

The next few weeks are going to be loaded with eye candy. One of my favorite places to catch it is at Glen Onoko. I’ll be taking the camera out for a walk again – you are welcome to join me.

I specifically picked early in the week (Tue) to avoid the chaos. You will not get near the parking lot Fri, Sat or Sun.

Pointers:

• Dress in layers. Going up the trail you’ll need less, once we reach the top you’ll need more.
• Bring your $30 Walmart tripod.
• Don’t forget to pack a lunch, we’ll eat once we hit the cliffs.
• Bring your cell.
• Bring extra camera batteries. I’ll charge you triple to use mine.
• No need for a flash unless you are going after those real close up shots that are not well lit.
• Be there by 10:00AM Tuesday Oct 9th.

I’ll try and be there around 9:45 AM if not earlier. Just look for a maroon F150 and some monkey carrying a Nikon around their neck.

If you get there after 10:00 AM simply follow the trail up the mountain until you find a bunch of photags. We’ll be stopping at each set of falls for shots. We’ll be easy to find.

As a side note models are welcome too. If you want to add a few unique shots to your portfolio then join us, but do not bring any high heels – you won’t make it 50 feet on the trail. This isn’t a gig where you jump in front of the lens for a minute then go sit down. If you decide to join us plan on hiking and being there until around 2:00 PM.

The plan is as follows:

1) Hike starts at 10:00AM at the base of the trail.

2) We hike up and stop at each waterfall, snap some shots, exchange some ideas and photo knowledge, and move on.

3) We get to the last waterfall and make the call as to who wants to press on to the cliffs. Those in head to the cliffs, those not head back down the mountain.

4) We arrive at the cliffs, do lunch, and nab some panoramic shots of the gorge. Don’t forget your tripod.

5) We walk back the 1.5 mile trek to our vehicles.

Pan tips:

1) use a tripod and level it

2) set your lens to manual focus

3) set camera mode to manual

4) set your f-stop (manually)

5) shoot portrait, giving you the most viewable area

6) overlap all images by at least 20%

I have posted a few pictures from our January excursion as a reminder. This time we will have color, lots of color.

Now picture this shot with yellow leaves.

With or without ice?

The cliffs.

The trail back.

Locate the January trip in an earlier post if you want to see those pans.

Can’t wait! Rain date will be Wednesday the 10th.