Anyone who knows me could tell you that I would never want to move back to the North East.  However, there is something about the Finger Lakes Region of Upstate New York that maybe I could see myself considering one day.

Sparkling lakes, breathtaking waterfalls and rolling pastoral hills (host to multiple fine vineyards) dominate the landscape.  Over thousands of years, gigantic glaciers and coursing streams carved this beautiful landscape.  Glaciers advanced and receded over New York state during the past million years, dramatically transforming anything in their path.  In this region, the most recent glacier moved through shallow river valleys leaving in its place deep, steep-sided troughs.  When the glacier receded north water filled these new troughs, creating the 11 Finger Lakes which include Seneca Lake.  Since then, water of Glen Creek has poured down the glacially-steepened hillside, cutting away its soft sedimentary rock.  This on-going process has formed this park’s rugged gorge and spectacular waterfalls.

I arrived at the park in late afternoon on a very hot and humid day (one of the reason’s I can’t see myself ever leaving dry Colorado ).  But on a day like that there is really nothing better to do then go explore a cool and shaded Glen.  It’s one of the most popular of the Finger Lakes Region gorges but since it was a week day the place wasn’t too crowded.  The gorge hike is relatively short, however I planned on spending a few hours photographing the falls so I’m not really sure how long it really is.  Time doesn’t exist when I’m behind the camera.  I have spent some time in the Ithaca area of the Finger Lakes Region in the past visiting the multitude of waterfalls but never made it to this one.  So I knew what to expect but I still was very awe-struck.  The lush green contrasted with cool water pouring over staircase-like rocks lit by hazy light from above makes one forget what state (…or hemisphere) they’re in.

One more comment about the park.  I’m usually not a fan of man interfering with nature and making the place more accessible for the public.  However, the stone walkways, tunnels and bridges that have been constructed when the park was first established in the early 1900s add a very fairy tale feeling to the place and almost enhance the experience.

Rainbow Falls

Usually when photographing waterfalls it’s ideal to have overcast skies and even lighting for “perfect” exposure.  I knew the chances of that during late May were almost non-existent.  And I’m actually glad I got to shoot it with bright sun light of late afternoon.  I feel that that’s the way most people see this place, that it naturally is a place of bright light and dark shadows and that’s what makes it mysterious and special.  Just in case I armed myself with a Singh-Ray Vari-N-Duo filter to make sure I was able to capture silky smooth water no matter the light condition and I’m glad I did

Rainbow Falls in Monochrome

There is one big conclusion I came back with: I have to come back and explore the area a lot more and it has to be in the fall when leaves are making their way down into the gorge.