Toronto Photography Meetup Group

Details:
What: Niagara Butterfly Conservatory
When: Saturday February 26, 2011
Time: 11 AM
Where: Parking lot of the Conservatory
Bring: monopods, flash, macro/closeup lenses, cash (entry is $12.95+HST)

Something indoors at last! Come out to the warm, humid indoor jungle of the Niagara Butterfly Conservatory for flying jewels photography. Meet in the parking lot at 11:00 AM. Shoot until we are done. Afterward we can seek out sustenance in Niagara Falls.

The Conservatory has been closed for Maintenance since January 10 and will reopen on February 19th. Hours are 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Entry fee is $12.95+HST. Parking is free (as far as I know).

From the Conservatory web site:



As always, post if you need a ride and if you can offer a ride.

Directions:
The Conservatory is located at 2405 Niagara Parkway, Niagara Falls, Ontario.

NOTE: Goggle Map is completely out to lunch if you use it to locate the Conservatory. It locates it at the golf course south of the Conservatory.

From Toronto:
After crossing over the Garden City Skyway in St. Catharines, take the first exit on your left to Highway 405 to Queenston. Take the Stanley Avenue exit on the right and at the lights at the top of the ramp turn left onto Stanley Avenue, driving back over the 405. At the intersection of Townline Road and Portage Road turn right on Portage. At the intersection of Portage Road and Niagara Parkway, a Traffic Circle, you turn right and follow the Niagara Parkway to the Butterfly Conservatory which will be on your right.

is this one bigger than the Cambridge one?

Yes.

yeah, this is the one to go to in Ontario if you want butterflies

I would love to go if I can grab a ride with someone. I am in downtown, but can move to meet someone within reason.
Please let me know!

Now have room for two more (or three if people want to be cozy).

Coming from Scarborough.

PM me if you want to pool.

Ian

Thanks Ian!
I will be there now

A quick question - I know they do not allow tripods (going to purchase a monopod this week) But what about large camera bags?? should I pack really light (my normal bag is a flipside 400 - so quite a large backpack - I always hate leaving gear behind as you never know what you may want to use!)? Thanks.

Also I can give rides for up to 3 people in my car (I can go the 401 route or the Gardiner route from my house to Niagara). So whoever chimes in first thats the route i'll take.

Cheers

I had a large bag, no problems. They also allow SUV strollers (':roll:'), uggghh!! so I wouldn't worry.

Hey Jordan. I have the Flipside 400 as well and used it at the Butterfly Conservatory twice last year with no issues or comments from staff.

DG

Hi Folks
It is a great place to be. I had to go to Niagara with some relatives and so went in on Saturday. I had a tripod with me and I said I will use it as a monopod only. They kindly agreed. I also had my humongous lowepro which I made use of as a support at low levels. The staff are quite friendly and I dont think there should be any problem.
The only disappointment was the variety. I expected more. Probably I did not spend time looking for them, or they were resting out of reach. If you want to get the best shots, I think you will need pretty much the whole day. Time will fly in there.

Shall post one from there in the critique corner.

Nig

Not in the critique corner. Rather in the Macro theme.

http://tpmg.ca/forum/viewtopic.php?p=16 ... ht=#169373

Thanks Pam and DG for the response!

I actually have another question - I will probably pull out my 70-200 2.8 for a few shots - love the bokeh on it. should you turn of the VR or leave it on when using a monopod? I know turn it off for a tripod. Thanks.

Jordan

Since a monopod is actually unstable, the 'rule' would say VR on.

However, my preference would be for faster shutter speeds and rendering the technology moot.

What is the minimum focus distance of that lens? I ask because it can be crowded in that place, between the design of it and the lemmings bouncing off each other, making backing up to meet that minimum frustrating. I know my Sigma 70-200 (admittedly non macro) is not practical at all there. I'm sure the Nikon has a much shorter MFD, but still, something to consider.

Hi chris - thanks for the info - well my 70-200 has a min focus distance of 5ft - so it sounds like I may be out of luck using it (I do have a dedicated macro lens at least and a set of closeup filters)

Thanks
Jordan

If you have a Cokin P adaptor for it, I can bring my +3 closeup filter. I don't remember how effective it is with the longer lens.

I'm looking forward to bringing the Sigma 180mm macro out for another spin.

I would definitely not attempt a lens with a 5' MFD there. The path is about 3.5' wide along most of its length. After my above post I remembered that in addition to the crowd and design of the place you have to watch where you walk as the butterflies land everywhere including on the path. You can't, or shouldn't, blindly walk backwards, be careful walking forwards as well, as the likelihood of scrunching one would be very high. Penalty for that is death. Stick with the "real" macro.

Good to know - although I have used the 70-200 in the zoo's butterfly enclosure - I'll bring it along just in case.

Ofermod - thanks for the offer but I should be fine

You can also use extension tubes with your 70-200 to increase magnification and also reduce minimum focus distance. I do that often when shooting butterflies, small birds or large insects.

Tim

There's always one butterfly that stays away from the paths so I always take the long lens just in case. Got a nice shot of one that was way up on the ceiling at the Cambridge Conservatory. I find the only harm is the weight but it's better than wishing I'd brought it along.

Ian

Last chance to sign up and come out for the shoot.

For those who are already coming the weather looks like there might be some snow about. Allow time and drive careful. Be safe.

DG

My Saturday plans just got cancelled, so I would like to try to come to this, but I don't want to drive. The earliest GO train/bus doesn't get to Niagara Falls until 11:08am and then it is about an hour's walk from the station, so that won't work. I'm going to see if I can find a way to get there earlier. I'm in Mississauga, so the most convenient place to get picked up would be Square One if you are taking Hwy. 403 or the carpool lot at Winston Churchill and QEW. I will keep checking the thread.

lots of snow on the roads at 6am

Janet

Can you get to Sherway Gardens by 9:15? I'm picking up hongr there and have room if you want.

I'll PM you my phone phone number.

Ian

Thank you to a great, fun group for coming out. Was a nice day shooting at the Conservatory. Lots of active butterflies.

Lunch/dinner was good even if I was a little off target initially at getting us there. The important thing is we found the place. No harm, not foul.

And even a traditional visit to the dead ship at Jordan Harbour on the way back to TO!

DG

the food was great. too bad I had no room left for the cheese cake or apple pie. well, next time. thanks for everything.

Thanks for organizing this Darryl. Great company, great food.. nothing else to say...

Thanks Darryl!

Had a great time - lots of fun and great company.

some pics from this trip: http://rhong.net/wcanada/nbc.html