Toronto Photography Meetup Group

Details:

What: Waterfalls Autumn Edition 2010
When: October 09 (Sat, 10AM) Yeah, Thanksgiving weekend...
Time: 10:15AM
Where: Halton Hills Falls
Bring: Photography stuffs (neutral densities if you got em). Comfy walking/hiking shoes, snacks, water. Parking Fee $ of $12ish dollars

This is kind of a tentative date. I'm gonna keep an eye on the leaves in the area, hopefully they'll be peakish then? Trees here and there are already changing. Also, being Thanksgiving, if the date doesn't work for people cause they have other lives and stuff, it is negotiable for me for the greater good. I'll probably make a mid-week trip, at least one, around this time to make sure everything looks good. I'll post something when I do, but it'll be last minute on a whim. There are several shots I want to make sure I get. That said, this will pretty much be the same as the one I held early in the summer, Hamilton Area Waterfalls with the addition of starting at Hilton Falls.

So the tentative itinerary goes something like this: After we get together at Hilton Falls we head south west and follow up with the Darnley Cascade. Then head east for Tew's Falls and while there we'll knock off Webster's Falls as well. This should kill at least 3 hours with hiking. We'll take a food break and then journey east through Hamilton for Buttermilk Falls, Albion Falls and Felker's Falls.

Regrettably, I will be out of town that weekend, in Miami!

Seems very interesting. I look forward to this.
Since I'm new in photography, can anyone suggest what kind of ND filter is good for this AND any other purpose (to avoid investing a specific gear that may not usable for most purposes ).

You have a few options ndutzie. Screw type filters or ones that fit in a mount(Cokin adapter). Some argue that cheap filters pretty much render your lenses sharpness to nothing but good filters are considerably expensive for what they are. For screw type filters B+W and Singh-Ray are generally regarded as the best. ($$$) To start out a Cokin filter kit would be a cheap and versatile way to begin using filters. If I had the money to spend this would be my choice.

If you plan on shooting landscapes a graduated ND filter will be a worthwhile investment. If you plan on shooting scenes where you want motion and there's a lot of light a ND will be a good investment. They're also handy for using really fast glass wide open in really bright scenes when shooting video.

I may wind up going to Algonquin Park that weekend (or maybe the weekend after - depending on leave colours, and a few other things) but if I go the following weekend then i'm definitely up to going waterfalling that day!

Jordan

While I typically do a Fall Colours trip each Thanksgiving weekend, it's on the Saturday that I have my family's dinner, so I can't join you guys.

Hi, this may seem like an odd question but I don't know the area or terraine there.

My wife has joint issues and walks with a cane and while she can get around fine, she probably can't contend with a forest like terraine for more than a very short distance.

Is there access to some of the spots worth getting to without having to hike longer distances to get there. Even if we can't keep up with the group, it seems like a great place to visit but I didn't want to make the drive and find out we just can't get to anything worth seeing.

Any thoughts and thank you.

Andre

Andre, All of the locations have something to shoot that isn't a waterfall that is easy to get to. They're all, generally set in very nice environments. Here is a rundown of the individual locations: Hilton Falls is mostly hard packed trail and there is a little lookout platform, but there are some moderate inclines on the way and there is a bit of a hike to get to it. The Darnley Cascade is not far off the road but requires getting around some big rocks. The good news about the Darnley Cascade is that there are some photo ops from the road of an old mill. Tews and Webster's are both at parks that have plenty of benches and lookout areas of the falls that are accessible over grass and hard packed trails. Albion has a lookout directly adjacent to the falls. Off the top of my head I can't remember Buttermilk or Felker's right now... they're kinda the optional at the end of the day we likely won't get to though. Part of the group usually makes the more difficult hikes/descents to the base of these falls when possible, which does mean waiting for those that don't and we meet back up afterward. That said, the last one was a long day. A LONG day.

Short answer: all but Hilton is pretty easy to participate in some way but it is a long day and there will be some waiting.

Thank you for the thorough response.

I think it's definitely worth the trip so we'll be there, 3 of us.

Andre

I'll keep an eye on this, might do it before the nuit blanche, right?

I may go take a look and see what state the leaves are in around then, but I doubt there'll be much colour before the 2nd.

oh, my bad, wrong week-end

Base on what I recall, you get a good mix of colours sometime between the middle and end of October - really depends on the weather. Up north in Algonquin for example, it could be as early as the end of this month. Given the lack of rain we had this summer, the colours might not be as vibrant as last year.

I enjoyed the waterfall outings very much last year, I'm definitely in this year, too.

I'm interested in this too, although I'm not 100% sure if I can make it yet.

If I do join, would it be ok if I bring along some non-TPMG friends?

Doesn't bother me.

Is anybody able to give a ride from downtown Toronto? I can meet you at a subway.

If people wish they can GO train from Union, or anywhere along the Lakeshore route, and I can pick them up from Burlington or Aldershot GO station. Aldershot is preferred but either is easy. The trains run hourly and you're looking at almost $20 for a return ticket. I have room for three passengers with a moderate amount of gear. Two if one has a hotwire amount of gear.

any chances of the date changing ? I really want to go but can't just that Saturday

Maybe, I suppose. At the rate the leaves are starting to change I will be going that weekend because I fear much later and there won't be many leaves left on the trees. I chose the Saturday because of the three days of that long weekend I figured it would be the easiest for many. My assumption is Sunday will more likely be family day and on Monday it's more likely some people will be working/more family day.

I can do any day myself, frankly I'd rather not Sunday though. If enough people would prefer Sunday or Monday speak up!

I'm good with either Saturday or Sunday - so whatever day more people want i'm in!

SAT/SUN

Saturday is better for me, since the TTC doesn't start until 9:00 Sunday.

Sue70 has posted an event for Sunday. I may wanna go on that. Plus the TTC not starting until 9 on Sunday... Looks like Saturday is best.

Chris if I take the GO to a spot do you still have room for one? I'll just be bringing a tripod

I'm going on this one too and still have some spot . Yorkdale?

@Pam: Is it difficult for you to go to Yorkdale subway stn. I think you're coming from only a bit west?

Saturday is good for me as I will be attending a wedding on Sunday.

Yup, I have room for 3 passengers and gear. Two spots are tentatively filled by Pam & yourself unless you guys decide to come in with ndutzie. Picking you both up from the station is easy, do what works best for you guys.

Hey Alice, please let me know if you need a ride (I can pick you up from Yorkdale).

Hi Jordan, I was gonna contact you when get closer. Yes, I need a ride, pls save me a spot in your car. Same place at Yorkdale is good. Thanks!