Again a bird and Niagara Falls without the falls
On July 25th we stayed on the American side of Niagara Falls late enough to get a colorful sky while walking back to our car. And so ends the series of pictures from our visit to Niagara Falls.
© 2019 Steven Schwartzman
Portraits of Wildflowers 
Almost foreboding but great color, and what an unusual and interesting shot!
Robert Parker
October 16, 2019 at 5:23 AM
I see how you might feel foreboding. For us it was forewenting, as it preceded the quarter-hour walk away from the falls to the parking lot and then the drive back to our hotel.
Steve Schwartzman
October 16, 2019 at 7:28 AM
I find that photo, light and color, quite hopeful. This gloomy morning, it made me smile. (I’m all in for the the gloom, btw, and am glad for the cool and the bit of rain. We enjoy far too much sunshine here in Austin–it’s a bore. 🙂 )
Tina
October 16, 2019 at 8:19 AM
As I type this the wind is blowing, the sky is gray, and I wish we’d gotten more than a trifle of rain. Your last words reminded me of a song from Gigi.
Steve Schwartzman
October 16, 2019 at 8:26 AM
Grey here, too, with stiff winds. Yesterday I went to IBSP to take reference photos for that update, and found myself up to my knees in water on the Dune Trail! Never in 25 years have I seen water standing there at all, let alone that much. Forewarning? Maybe so. In any event, I really like the layers of cloud and light that you captured here.
melissabluefineart
October 16, 2019 at 8:58 AM
I hope the high water in an unexpected place gave you ideas for paintings unlike any you’ve done of Illinois Beach State Park. Unusual combinations of things was a hallmark of Surrealism.
I’m glad you like the layers of clouds and light over Niagara Falls. The image isn’t quite what my eyes and brain saw, but what my camera and software saw. That’s a reality of photography.
Steve Schwartzman
October 16, 2019 at 9:15 AM
Of course, it’s my eyes and brain that direct the camera and software.
Steve Schwartzman
October 16, 2019 at 9:16 AM
It is the same with painting. What ends up on the canvas never lives up to the vision.
There was water everywhere, the narrow strip of habitat that hosts two extremely rare butterflies included. I think one overwinters as eggs in the sand beneath their host plant, while the other overwinters as chrysalises. Either way, I fear they may be wiped out. Change is fascinating, for sure, but I don’t think I want to paint that. Although if I wanted to paint a series of political/global crisis type of paintings, this would certainly give me a good start.
melissabluefineart
October 16, 2019 at 9:31 AM
Some species adapt well to changes; others don’t, and it’s not clear why there’s a difference. We can hope that your two kinds of butterflies are in the former group.
Steve Schwartzman
October 16, 2019 at 10:43 AM
So many layers and levels of light add richness to the color, and add to the impression of mountainous clouds. The dark band of cloud, the sun, and the bird are well-balanced, too: none overwhelms the others. Of course birds and banding usually are associated in a somewhat different way, so “Bird, Banded” would make a fun title for this one.
shoreacres
October 16, 2019 at 9:02 AM
The fact that the bird is near a corner adds to the balance you spoke of. What I can’t remember now is whether I was even aware of the bird when I pressed the shutter release. It could’ve been a happy accident.
I missed out on your suggested title. Given the many birds in your area, I’ll bet you can take a picture that will let you use that title yourself. That’s just, seeing as how you came up with it.
Steve Schwartzman
October 16, 2019 at 10:33 AM
The stark contrast gives a very satisfying sense of depth. And the contrast between the dark cloud partially blocking the sun and the sunlit cloud linings below promise better things to come. And I will shamelessly plagiarize the word forewenting.
Michael Scandling
October 16, 2019 at 9:51 AM
Now that it’s almost an hour since your comment, you can say I forwent telling you to forgo using forwenting.
Steve Schwartzman
October 16, 2019 at 10:38 AM
OK. I actually laughed out loud. Audibly. You could hear it. Well, not you — since you’re in Texas — but my wife could hear it.
Michael Scandling
October 16, 2019 at 11:54 AM
Thanks for letting me know. I’m pleased to have enlaughtered your morning.
Steve Schwartzman
October 16, 2019 at 12:08 PM
Amazing shot of the reddish sky and the sun behind a bank of clouds! A fantastic display of light and colour, Steve!
Peter Klopp
October 16, 2019 at 2:39 PM
Thanks. I’m going to have to hire you as my publicist.
Steve Schwartzman
October 16, 2019 at 4:24 PM
That is the greatest compliment I have read in a long time, Steve.
Peter Klopp
October 17, 2019 at 12:17 AM
Glad to hear it, Peter.
Steve Schwartzman
October 17, 2019 at 6:16 AM
Stunning!!
M.B. Henry
October 16, 2019 at 4:31 PM
And a good ending to our Niagara Falls experience.
Steve Schwartzman
October 16, 2019 at 6:02 PM
Striking layering of clouds and equally striking contrasts of light and shadow.
tomwhelan
October 17, 2019 at 9:32 PM
Thanks, Tom. It turned out to be an excellent sunset and an unexpected way to end our visit to Niagara Falls.
Steve Schwartzman
October 17, 2019 at 9:35 PM
This is very dramatic and the bird…it makes me think of a Hurricane Hunter flying in to do some storm research. I like the whole but especially the rim lighting.
Steve Gingold
October 18, 2019 at 2:18 AM
Thanks for pointing out all the rim lighting. I hadn’t appreciated (silly me) how much of it there is in this image. Something about Niagara Falls appeals to birds, of which there were many. They seems to me more involved in recreation than in research.
Steve Schwartzman
October 18, 2019 at 6:50 AM
Wonderful shot Steve … super colours 🙂
Julie@frogpondfarm
October 25, 2019 at 4:51 PM
Yes, it was a colorful ending to our day at Niagara Falls.
Steve Schwartzman
October 25, 2019 at 5:36 PM