MarciaES

I agree with going up the road to Niagara-on-the-Lake. This is by far the most beautiful little town I've ever been to for their flowers.
Flowers are pouring out of containers or in the ground everywhere and the color is just outstanding.

TJ28012 Loc: Belmont, NC

US side 👎 Canadian side 👍

RickM1950 Loc: Davenport, IA

Tall, your gonna get wet. Just so you know!

So have that camera protected.

Welcome to the forum.

mstuhr Loc: Oregon

Don't forget the night when they turn the lights on.
do take the trip down to the bottom. Its awesome. You will get wet.
Do take the boat ride.

tallguy56

THANK YOU to everyone for your thoughtful and helpful suggestions. We are off to NF tomorrow and will have my camera and a Go Pro for the wet environments. Really looking forward to it. UHH is a great forum for photographers and is populated by some really awesome people!!!

Silverman Loc: Michigan

See both sides, American and Canadian, when taking photos, depending what Camera you have, a 35mm or 50mm 1,8g lens would be good to have on your camera. Caution to protect your Camera from getting wet, especially closer to the Falls, quite a bit to see besides the Falls too. May be crowded this time of year too. Parking is expensive too.

wlscheider

Much depends on what kind of photos you want to come away with, standard touristy shots or something unique. The latter is difficult, because the falls have been shot from every possible angle.

It is true that the most comprehensive view of both the American & Canadian (Horseshoe) Falls is from the Canadian side. The American Falls are illuminated by colored lights after dark, and a time exposure yields a wonderful soft look. It's been done a million times, but is still cool to do yourself. There is a place to get behind the Canadian Falls from the Canadian side, but I dunno about the lines.

On the American side, check out the observation tower. You can get a pretty good shot of the American Falls at the end of the tower, and you can also take the elevator to the bottom and get views looking upward at the falls. The Cave of the Winds is another way to get to the base of the American Falls ($$ and rain coat) but I don't think they go behind the falls any more. The Maid of the Mist affords another view of the American Falls (again photographed a zillion times) butt perhaps a chance for something unique is the approach to the Canadian Falls. Depending on wind direction the boat sometimes goes well into the horseshoe, and you might get a some really great shots of the falls with mist swirling around.

If you like to walk, park at the north end of Goat Island. I think it's still free and not crowded. Following the river, you can walk go over to Three Sister's Island, and looking upriver is amazing, because you are below water level a 1/4 mile or so upstream. You also can get out to Terrapin Point where you are right next to the water as it goes over the brink (watch the Marilyn Monroe movie "Niagara" before you come!). Father downriver, walk over to Luna Island for another closeup of the water going over. You can then walk over a bridge to the part of the park with the observation tower, which also is the access to Maid of the Mist on the American side. It's a good hike back and forth, but worth it.

By the way, if you are driving cross-country and have bicycles, you can park part way down the river on the Niagara River Parkway on the Canadian side and bike to the falls. Saves the hassle and expense of parking.

If you have time, visit the Niagara Glen on the Canadian side or Devils Hole on the American. You can walk to the bottom of the gorge and then along the lower river. Terrific rapids with 10 ft standing waves in some places.

Enjoy!

Bill

bull drink water Loc: pontiac mi.

it's been 25 yrs since I last visited the falls. the Canadian side offers the best angles. however get shots from both sides, there are a lot of good photo sites on our side. don't miss the night lighted shots from the Canadian side.

StanRP Loc: Ontario Canada

Hi,

One very good place is the Skylon Tower. There is a balcony around the top where you can take photographs of both falls. If you get there close to Sunset, you can take some daylight photo's - have dinner at the restaurant up there until it is dark and then take photo's of the lights.

My son took me there last November. Unfortunately it cold and very windy making using a tripod for long exposures impractical so I took this one hand-held 1/3 Sec f/3.5 and ISO 2000. While not a good photo, it does show the kind of view you can get. The light on the falls is now through LCD projectors and not as nice

fosis Loc: Pittsburgh, PA

If you fly into Buffalo, cross into Canada over the Peace Bridge and relaxingly drive 1/2 hour along the Niagara River. "Sneak up" on the falls from the upstream side. As you eventually see the mist rising, it's a great approach. On your way north of the falls, don't forget to stop at the Whirlpool rapids and the Italian gondola car that takes you over it. It's a whirlpool that forms when the Niagara River takes a quick right turn. The power of the river's water is worth seeing from there. Also, on Canadian side, go to the souvenir store right next to the falls and look for the elevator that takes you down under the falls in raincoats. If you have kids, this is even better than the Maid of the Mist. NOT a place for landscapes, though! North of the falls, just past the floral clock and the big hydro power station, is the "escarpment" overview north over the Niagara River making its final trip to Lake Ontario. There is an excellent restaurant in that little park, with a sunset view that IS worth a picture, but even moreso, a relaxing day's end view that is really special. If you want to bring back a different view, go to the falls' Canadian side at night and get a time exposure while the evening colored light show is on. I haven't done this, but a view from one of the hotels at night could be really great too.

Fotomacher Loc: Toronto

As a proud Canadian I have to tell you that the only worthwhile view of the Falls is on the Canadian side. The Maid of the Mist boat excursion is a must and you can book in advance. The orientation of the Falls doesn't really lend itself to sunrise/sunset. The Sklon tower is a good vantage point. If you have time, get to the Floral Clock and the town of Niagara on the Lake. Stay in Canada where your money goes farther. All of our banknotes are plastic, not just the twenties. One and two dollars are coins Loonies $1 since the picture is a loon. Two-nies $2 cause it makes sense. Expect heavy traffic on the Rainbow bridge. More info available if you need. Just ask me.

David in Dallas Loc: Dallas, Texas, USA

In 2013 I did a Canada Rail tour that included a day from Toronto to Niagara Falls and back (including jog up to Niagara Falls on the River). One of the nicest shots of the Falls I got was from the 11th floor buffet restaurant of the Sheraton on the Falls Hotel:

DSC_3283.jpg by David Casteel, on Flickr

That was a great tour. All my photos can be seen here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/8712554@N02/sets/72157635091694668/.

KWK Loc: Southeast Mich

IS the bridge still open from the CDN to US side for pedestrian traffic it was jus a $0. 25 to walk across and stop in the middle for some great views

MidnightManiac

I live in Buffalo New York and have been to the Falls a bunch of times. Your best shots will be taken from the Canadian side. Niagara On the Lake is a great place to visit. If you go on the Maid of the Mist boat, be prepared to get wet and have your camera prepared if you take it. Check out the casino is Niagara Falls USA, it's a good time...

binsjohn

I agree with much of the advice above, so I'll save my comments for Niagara-on-the-lake. My wife and I stayed there for a week in 1999. I have no idea how it may have changed since then, but we absolutely loved the town. They then boasted that they had the highest number of B&Bs of any town in Canada, due no doubt to its charming nature and proximity to Niagara Falls. The B&B we stayed at was as good as it gets; great breakfasts, owners who obviously loved what they were doing and very comfortable and attractive accommodations.

Between Niagara-o-t-l and the falls is a beautiful arboretum/park and a butterfly exhibit with so many of them that you should be sure to bring a large SD card and spare battery, not to mention a macro lens.

One last thought; the Canadian side is definitely prettier and better developed, but the NY side has more photo ops of a historical/nostalgic nature. To quote an unknown philosopher, "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder."

Have a great time!