Toronto Photography Meetup Group

Details
What: War of 1812 Reenactment - The Navy of 1812: Sailors on the Lakes
Where: Niagara-on-the-Lake
When: Saturday July 14, 2012 - Meet at 10:30 AM Fort George Parking Lot
Bring: Camera gear, water, snacks, comfortable shoes (lots of walking likely), water, sun block, water (it's July and it will probably be blazing hot)
Cost: Admission Fee to Fort is $11.70- Parking is $5.90 per car
Additional Info:

A War of 1812 event, this reenactment weekend will be focused on the naval aspect. Description and schedule below.

The Navy of 1812: Sailors on the Lakes
Join us for a naval encampment weekend on the grounds of Navy Hall and Fort George. The weekend will include 5 tall ships (4 brigantines and a schooner) and 22 longboats with 300 naval and military re-enactors. Some special events of the weekend will include:

July 14
- 12:00 pm: Procession of boats from Fort George to Queens Royal Park.
- 2:00 pm: Battle re-enactment at Queens Royal Park.
- 7:00 pm: "Battle through the Fort" re-enactment at Fort George.

After the Queens Royal Park Battle we will track down dinner and then head to the Fort for the final battle.

The big challenge will be parking so car pooling is strongly recommended. Either from home or finding a commuter lot near by and transferring for the ride into town. I am suggesting we plan on arriving at 10:30 AM to get parked and to scout for good locations. I am checking on parking to see where we can meet. There is parking at the Fort, but it might be tough to get out of at the end of the event.

It is acceptable to come for only part of the event.

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

would 70-200 be enough?

Sure. I use a 24-70 and 70-200 for shooting in camps and such. You may want to add an extender for the battles. During the battle I typically use a 70-200 and a 300 or 200-400. One thing that can help is talking to reenacters and getting the line of battle so you can position yourself where your lens will work best.

DG

Id be interested even just for the tall ships. The only issue is I get in fairly late the night before from my work trip and making it out may not be an option. This maybe a last minute decision for me.

J.

I checked further into parking and NOTL has a lack of parking for a tourist attraction. The town admits it and they probably make a bundle of parking tickets. The towns page on parking admits that don't have enough and then provides guidance on paying your parking ticket.

Any way, the parking at Fort George is an option or there are municipal lots near the Fort and main street and some unrestricted street parking further away, but you will have to be careful if you try for that parking as the non-restricted and parking prohibited sections are intermingled. The link will take you to a map.

http://www.niagaraonthelake.com/page/Wh ... rk_in_NOTL

DG

Something I said? All the Yes switched to Maybe.

DG

It looks like a great event, your events usually are, and I hate to flake as there's too much of that going on right now. But, I can't promise right now and I'd rather not bail at the last second. July is gonna be tough for me - masters, new full time job, moving + more.

With only a week to go I thought I would bump this back into play.

DG

Hate to do this but I'm not going to be able to confirm until later next week.

Id like to attend this. But I need a ride. Where would be a good place to meetup? Downtown or Aldershot GO station?

Weather report for Saturday isn't inspiring faith. Environment Canada is calling for 60% chance of rain and that has been constant for the last two days. Given the lack of interest and the weather I am going to decide if this is canceled early Thursday evening.

DG

If it gets cancelled come to the Royal Botanical Gardens on Saturday.

There's an RBG event Saturday too?

I really want to but I can't, just too much to do right now.

Im glad I keep reading these posts. The RBG is Friday (tomorrow) not Saturday. Im meeting with Simon and you are going too arent you Chris?

I will be there wilting in the heat with the other delicate flowers.

Env Can is backing off the rain. So stand by. We will reevaluate tomorrow night. BUT. There is no interest in this event right now, and like David did with the walk last week if there is no interest it will be cancelled.

DG

I am interested, but as of right now i'm getting in pretty late tomorrow night. If I can get an earlier flight then i'd be interesting in going - as long as people are meeting up at the go station to car pool (I do not have $ for a parking ticket right now). I will know tomorrow afternoon (assuming the event goes forward)

J.

Well I couldn't get on an earlier flight - everything is booked up. I will have to pass on this event. Sorry Daryl.

J.

I'm in the parking lot at Fort George. They don't seem to be charging for parking. The lot is filling up quickly. No maybes have shown up so far.

DG

This was a great little event. I didn't stay for the last battle. A little too much sun left me feeling baked, but the tall ships and the sea assault were good. There were six ships in all four larger and two schooners. They weren't period craft but they looked good. The tall ships came in right off Lake Ontario under full sail to the beach area and dropped anchor. Then a couple fired off canon in chorus with the shore battery set up in the park. Unfortunately the good location for the ships meant a bad location for the battle. If they do this next year I will have a better plan to cover both actions from good locations (although it will take an assistant).

DG

Glad it was a good day for you, wish I could have made it. If this takes place again next year I'll definitely join you.

J.

I'm disappointed I couldn't make it and that nobody else did. I am looking forward to seeing your shots of the event dgibson. Moved to aftermath.

was there for the 7PM show. Was very HOT still and I was surprised that there was no place to buy a drink. Have a couple thousand photos to go through now, but here is one:

Firing line by pbruch, on Flickr

Here is one of the tall ships. I was surprised at how close the ships came into the shore. It was a great opportunity. If they do this event again next year I will be back for it. This was taken with a 300 mm and slightly cropped to remove a pleasure boat from one side and a longboat from the other.



DG

Hi Fix=zbot

For future visits, there are pop/water vending machines at the information centre in the parking lot (over where the buses park). Reasonably priced machines as well as I bought a bottle of Diet Coke out of it for $1.50.

DG