Monday, November 11, 2013

Niagara Fall High & Low 尼阿瓜拉瀑布上與下

【Ontario Yours to Discover】
On November 1, 2013, I made another trip to Niagara Falls. Three professors from the Central Conservatory of Music of China, viz Tian Zaili, Professor of Erhu, Hao Yifan, Professor of Pipa and Teng Chunjiang, Guest Professor of Guzheng flied to Toronto to be the adjudicators of the 8th Anniversary of the Chinese Music Standard Grade Examination held overseas in Toronto. The exam just finsished in 2 days.
This morning, I accompanied them to visit the Niagara Falls. This is always the outdoor activity after the examination. This time, we have the chance to have lunch at the restaurant on the revolving Skylon Tower and to appreciate the fall view in 360 degrees. I have selected some of the photos taken to review the beautiful fall scene from high and low levels.

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Photo equipment:
Nikon D300s, Nikon GP-1 GPS
AF-S DX Zoom-NIKKOR 17-55mm f/2.8G IF-ED
Nikon Coolpix P520 24-1000mm
iPhone 5
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【安省景物 由你發掘】
2013年11月1日,我再重遊加拿大的尼阿瓜拉大瀑布。三位中國中央音樂學院的教授:田載勵二胡教授、郝貽凡琵琶教授及滕春江客席教授,專程從北京飛抵多倫多進行第八屆海外中樂演奏考級試,考試在兩天前順利完成。上午有空,便陪同北京來的嘉賓音樂家一同遊覽加拿大尼阿拉瓜大瀑布。這是每年中樂考級結束後的餘興節目。今次有機會在瀑布區的高塔頂的旋轉餐廳午膳,也可以360度欣賞瀑布區美麗的景色。我選擇了部份照片,反映瀑布高與低的景觀各不同。

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(Click photo for a larger view)
【Low ● 下

1. It is difficult to take photos without crowd of visitors at Niagara Falls. This section of the road is different as the crowd of people disappears and the lengthy rails on the rocks look beautiful.  The sky is full of black clouds with gleams of sunlight.  Suddenly a girl enters into the scene and uses the telescope.  With her presence the whole picture becomes unique and lively!
Nikon D300s, 17-55mm, f/2.8 @28mm, f/8, 1/400sec, ISO 320
在遊人眾多瀑布區要避免拍到人群是較困難和要有耐性。這段路剛巧没有人群,路旁石上的圍欄具美感。天空佈滿黑壓壓的雲層,陽光從密雲中透出光缐。一位少女突然出现,走到望遠镜去觀赏瀑布,她的出現,頓時使整幅畫面顯得獨特和活潑!

2.  I followed these two men and captured their silhouettes and reflections on the wet ground.
Nikon D300s, 17-55mm, f/2.8 @34mm, f/2.8, 1/2000sec, ISO 250
我走在這两個人之後,並且捕捉了他們的剪影和濕地的倒影。

3.  Frame of the Falls and silhouettes of visitors:  I waited till these people stood at the right position before pressing the camera shutter.
Nikon Coolpix P520 @4.3mm, 24mm (35mm equivalent), f/3.7, 1/320sec, ISO 200
瀑布與剪影的窗框。我待他們站在我拍摄理想的角度才按下快門。

4.  I took a quick snap when the man on the left pointed his finger up.  This added some dynamics to a usual and simple picture.
Nikon D300s, 17-55mm, f/2.8 @22mm, f/5.6, 1/200sec, ISO 500
當左面的男子為友人指着瀑布作介绍之時,我拍下他的背影動作。

5.  The Skylon Tower at Niagara Falls in Canada
Nikon Coolpix P520 @6.2mm, 35mm (35mm equivalent), f/4.6, 1/400sec, ISO 200
瀑布區的旋轉高塔
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【High ● 上

6.  Taking photos of the grand view of the Fall from the Tower
Nikon D300s, 17-55mm, f/2.8 @17mm, f/4, 1/125sec, ISO 250
難得可以在高處拍攝壯觀的瀑布

7.  An elegant lady walked on the observation level of the Skylon Tower
Nikon D300s, 17-55mm, f/2.8 @17mm, f/4, 1/40sec, ISO 250
一位妙齡女士在遊客觀景台走過

8.  The Fall scene taken from the revolving restaurant on top of the Tower.
iPhone 5 @4.12mm, f/2.4, 1/350sec, ISO 200
在高塔頂的旋轉餐廳可一覽瀑布全景

9.  Panoramic view of the Falls
iPhone 5 @4.12mm, f/2.4, 1/320sec, ISO 200
瀑布全景

10.  The Falls on the Canada border
Nikon D300s, 17-55mm, f/2.8 @17mm, f/4, 1/640sec, ISO 250
加拿大境內的瀑布

11.  The Falls seen on the US border.  The Rainbow Bridge connecting Canada and United States is visible.
Nikon D300s, 17-55mm, f/2.8 @17mm, f/4, 1/100sec, ISO 250
美國境内的瀑布,遠處是連接美加的彩虹橋。

12.  A panoramic view of the Falls merged with three photos
Nikon D300s, 17-55mm, f/2.8 @17mm, f/4, 1/1600sec, ISO 250
用三張照片合而為一的全景照

13.  The appearance of the rainbow made the Beijing musicians excited.  They wanted me to take a photo for them!
Nikon D300s, 17-55mm, f/2.8 @17mm, f/5, 1/3200sec, ISO 250
彩虹的出現,使北京來客感到興奮雀躍,不得不要我替他們拍照留念!
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View Niagara Fall in a larger map

5 comments:

  1. I like both #8 and #12. But my favorite is #3...I like the way you've captured our Canadian flag!!!

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    1. Thanks Louella! The red color of the flag is more appealing in a plain and colorless background!

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  2. Could you please share the technique to make this merged photo(#12).Thank you.

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    1. Hi Derek, you can see that I have used iPhone 5 to take the panoramic view of the Falls (#8 & 9). In order to eliminate the window frames, I went to each of the 3 windows and took one photo of the Falls each. Make sure the camera is on the same straight level. Each photo overlaps a bit the previous one. Do not change camera setting. Manual mode is better. Do not tilt the camera to ensure all 3 photos are on the same level and point of perspective. Then use Photoshop's Photomerge to combine the 3 photos together.

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  3. I like #2 with the shadow of the 2 guys. #4 that they are talking to each other. #12 with 2 falls. #13, a beautiful sky with the rainbow.

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