This weekend Eric and I went on a hiking adventure in Hamilton with our cameras, backpacks, and tripod in tote. I totally underestimated how tiring lugging 10 pounds of camera equipment would be while fumbling all over steep trails. Somehow I didn’t wipe out despite wearing my 5 year old sneakers with the soles worn out. I will not be making that mistake twice!
I didn’t know this until recently, but Hamilton has over 120 waterfalls, making it a very scenic area for photography. Hamilton calls itself the “waterfall capital of the world”. Quite a claim! As I type this post on Sunday evening, Eric is printing a map and plans to pin all of the 120 falls that we visit this summer. He has that “man on a mission” look in his eyes. Help…
Before I get to our weekend adventure, here’s a little backstory about how we came to love photography. It’s a fairly recent interest of ours, or maybe I’m just in denial about how long ago 2007 really is…
2007
Eric bought his first DSLR camera (a Canon 30D) and promptly fell in love with travel photography on a trip to Mexico. I was intimidated by using such a huge camera with so many (breakable) functions, so I stuck with my point-and-shoot (Canon Powershot). His camera made me nervous! My track record wasn’t exactly stellar with my point-and-shoot camera anyways; I dropped it countless times. Plus, I could tuck it into my purse wherever I went and it was easy to use. The point-and-shoot did the trick for a while, but as I would soon find out, I quickly outgrew it (or maybe my purse just got bigger). We continued to enjoy travel photography whenever we found ourselves away from home.
We got engaged in Mexico. Thanks to my point-and-shoot snuck in my purse, I have evidence!
End of 2008
We’re married.
October 31st, I started Oh She Glows. I continued to use my point-and-shoot camera for about a year and a half. Eric’s camera sat mostly unused in the closet while I ignored it.
Here are a few of the first food pictures I took on the blog (one, two, and three) with my point-and-shoot.
2009
Mid-to-end of 2009, after much persuasion from Eric (I think he was trying to tell me something!), I tried out his fancy pants camera. Well, his camera didn’t leave my sticky little hands from that point forward. The clarity was unreal and I instantly regretted not using it sooner. I was still intimidated by all of the functions on the 30D and continued to shoot in automatic mode (often with a flash), even though he insisted I shoot in raw mode to get the most benefit out of it.
All in due time. I think it’s clear by this point that I’m not one to rush into anything!
2010
I finally started to shoot in raw, manual mode by the end of 2010. Whohoo! I’d like to say that it was easy at first, but there was definitely a major learning curve. All the rules seemed opposite of logic. Habits can be hard to break so I went back to automatic a few times before manual mode finally clicked (literally) with my brain. Once I figured out what my camera could do for me, it opened up a whole other understanding and interest.
2011
I invested in my own camera equipment [see my FAQ page (question #10) for more info], Eric got his camera back (but now wants a new one), and photography is now a huge part of our lives. It drives me crazy at times and can be incredibly frustrating, but the challenge is what keeps me coming back each day. I also learned quite a bit from the book Plate to Pixel. My old point-and-shoot finally died so I now have a newer Canon Powershot camera, still tucked away in my purse at all times! Eric has started to teach himself how to create HDR photos as well as dabbling with Microsoft Photosynth more recently. More on that later.
June 2012
Our first hiking destination this weekend was to Webster Falls (photo top of page). It’s very close to the parking lot and extremely easy to get to on well-groomed paths. Very family friendly! After Webster, we walked over to Tews Falls, which was only a 15 minute walk or so from Webster. This walk was a bit more challenging with plenty of stairs, but it was still on well-groomed trails and very easy to find. You can see Tews falls below on the right. This picture was taken from the look out point. Gorgeous!
Apparently there are stairs that lead down to the base of the falls, but they were closed this weekend. I would’ve just packed up and headed to the next waterfall, but Eric thought it was a good idea to get to the base of Tews falls on our own. Off roading! Eek. I thought he was crazy, but he eventually convinced me with aid of the random directions he printed online. Double eek.
After hiking on what was mostly ungroomed, rocky trails, we ended up getting off-trail for over half an hour. The directions mentioned a campground and when we came across this “lost cabin” we thought that was it. Well, it wasn’t the campground, but we were so tired at this point we were debating a nap!
By the time we arrived to the base, we were hot, sweaty, slightly cranky (mostly me), and thankful to be near water. Thirty seconds prior to this, I threatened Eric that I was leaving if we didn’t find it soon. ha!
It was off with the sneakers and on with the Crocs!!!
The water was freezing at first, but really refreshing! I was a bit scared getting in the water, but I survived.
The view of Tews from the base! The hike was definitely worth it.
Water is a great way to learn the influence of shutter speed. The images below left are taken using a fast shutter speed (approx 1/400 of a second) and the images below right are taken using a very slow shutter speed (around 1 second or so). The tripod is necessary to ground the camera and prevent shake (although I think there was still a bit of shake as it was on uneven rocks). Also, when using slow shutter speeds, the pictures will be really blurry without a tripod. Lugging the tripod was a pain, but I wouldn’t have been able to get the pictures on the right without it.
You can see that the fast shutter speed (left) results in choppier water, while the slow shutter speed (right) results in flowy & smooth water. I’m partial to the right. What about you?
I was covered in Goosebumps head to toe after I got out of the water, but quickly sweat up a storm during the uphill hike back.
After taking tons of pictures, we sat on a rock and relaxed! It was so peaceful listening to the waterfall. We munched on some Endurance Crackers for good measure.
The end of day 1 left us sore and stiff, but super excited for day 2. That will have to wait for another post!
See you for part 2!
It’s so encouraging to see some of your first ever blog photos. You’ve come such a long way! There’s hope for me yet!
Your pictures are beautiful! I dream of having a camera like that someday…but for now my blog @ bakingblissful.blogspot.com is just gonna have to live with the food being photographed by a point and shoot!
Is it possible to post the maps you used and Eric assembled and where you did all of your research on the area before the hike? Please and thank you!
Great pictures! I am from Hamilton, and last summer my boyfriend and I made it our mission to see as many of the 120 waterfalls as we could. We only made it to about 10 before moving to Korea for a couple years, but it was still a neat challenge and we’ll hopefully get to the rest next summer when we get back. Best of luck!
I love this post! I was recently thinking about how I should get out of the point and shoot camera and go a little more technical. Like you, I`ve had this idea put into my head a long time ago and I just haven`t done it yet. Your pictures are beautiful and they really show the difference!
I am saving up for my first DSR camera now and am trying to learn as much as possible about photography. Thank you for this post!
I’m ashamed to say that I went to McMaster for 3 years and never ever laid eyes on a waterfall in Hamilton! I think it’s worth my 2 hour drive to check them out now! I had no idea such a beautiful spot was smack dab in the middle of southern Ontario!
Stunning photos Angela!! I want to visit there-Cross that out, I want to live there! I really enjoyed your backstory on photography too, I am inspired. :)
What a fun adventure to do with the husband too. :-)
Love this post! I have always taken tons of photos but didn’t start caring about the quality as much until I had my daughter. I couldn’t (and still can’t) stand the thought of dragging her to a studio and have posed photos that cost us too much. Instead, I invested in an SLR and take all my own photos of her. I love that in every photo, there’s a story and moments are caught, not poses… I’m definitely due for a lens upgrade though, at least. Anyways, love that 360 shot! P.S. I wish my husband would get into photography – he stinks at it, lol!
Gorgeous waterfall pictures!
Wow, yes I love shots that capture water flowing with a slow shutter speed – it somehow translates the power of the moving water so much better. Amazing shots! You have become quite the photography pro ;)
looks like an amazing trip! such a gorgeous setting! thanks for sharing! can’t wait for part two!
Love the story of your photographic evolution. Mine is similar…From point and shoot to using Lightroom, shooting in RAW and loving Plate to Pixel.
Gorgeous waterfall pics!!
I love reading about your photography journey! My husband and I used to share our T2i, but it became much more blissful when we each got our own (I upgraded to the T3i and he went all out on the 5D Mark III). Saved our marriage (okay, it didn’t need saving, but it certainly didn’t hurt) :)
i have always been a big fan of your food photography! the pics you all got this weekend are just beautiful. must have been so nice out there!
Thank you Marissa! It’s fun to practice :)
Fantastic pictures! I’m getting better with my food photography (I also loved Plate to Pixel) but I haven’t been practicing anything else except the occasional cat photo. Must start doing so!
Those pictures are so pretty! I’ve been having lots of fun learning the ins and outs of my dslr, but I’m still pretty lazy when it comes to dragging it out with me. It’s big and a commitment!
We did a project with HDR photos in one of my graphics arts classes. We used sample pictures, but learned the Photoshop process behind putting them together and they came out pretty cool.
Wow! Beautiful pictures, the waterfall is amazing. I myself also love photography and I really wanted to be good photographer someday.
We used to go hiking a lot but now that we have kids, we seldom go (one is turning two in Sept, the other is 4 months.) We would end up carrying them PLUS our gear. I miss it though. Great shots!
Your pictures are beautiful! The waterfall looks magical.
Looks like you had a great day!
Those crackers also look lush :)