Bicentennial Barn
The first of 12 barns to be painted with the Niagara country bicentennial logo, the 30-by-50-foot front half of the Sweeney barn dates to the 1840s. It currently houses a dairy herd-it’s a wonderful thing that the county chose a working farm for the first barn to be painted. As the painting is completed, we will be driving out to each barn to photograph it-it would be great if each barn chosen was still in use! We were a little disappointed that the logo being painted on the barns is really just the falls and doesn’t take into account the rest of the county’s heritage. Although Niagara Falls is certainly the most well known part of Niagara County, there are many other historic and interesting parts to is. At the south. there is North Tonawanda, once the largest lumber port in the world. It is bordered on it’s south end by the Erie Canal, and is home to the famous Herschell Carrousel factory. At the north of the county, there is Youngstown-home to the historic Old Fort Niagara, which dates back to the 1700’s. In between, there are many wonderful little towns like Wilson, Lewiston and Hartland-as well as acres of grapes, apples, peaches and other crops. If you’d like to bring some of this unique Niagara County heritage into your home or office, click on the photo above or follow this link to our Americana and Rustic Country section in our shop: http://www.cafepress.com/photographz/2633112.
Niagara Falls at Night
The beautiful city of Niagara Falls looks even more striking at night. Lights from the various buildings create a fantastic skyline view for those on the American side of the falls. This photograph would make a great souvenir from a vacation to the falls, or just beautiful accent to an urban styled decor. Available on framed prints, mousepads and more, your sure to find the right item to suit your taste! To purchase products featuring this photograph, click on the photo above or follow this link to our Architecture & Urban Photography section in our shop: http://www.cafepress.com/photographz/2633153 .
Whirlpool State Park-Niagara Falls
Just beyond the tourist attractions of the city of Niagara Falls is a state park situated on the edge of the Niagara Gorge. Down river from the falls, the water here is a beautiful blue-green and the rapids and whirling eddies add frothy white to the top. You can take a set of stone steps down from the top to the water below-it’s a popular fishing spot for anglers. This isn’t a trip for the faint of heart (the steps have had some erosion issues through the years and some sets are set at an intersting angle) or the out of shape (there’s A LOT of steps!), but it’s well worth the climb. Once at the bottom, there are several stone picnic benches as well as a nice walking trail that winds along the river. If you’d like to bring home some of the beauty of the gorge, click on one of the pictures above (a flight of stone steps as well as a view of the beautiful blue water), or visit our scenic section in our shop for those and more here: http://www.cafepress.com/photographz/2633138 .
Niagara Whirlpool Jet Boats
The jet boat tours of the Niagara river rapids (below Niagara Falls) are a very popular attraction-for locals and out of towners alike. They have run for 15 years, with daily rides up the Niagara through the whitewater created by swirling water running down river from Niagara Falls. Those not interested in getting soaked now have an option of riding in an enclosed boat! There’s no doubt the scenery is beautiful as well. There is a growing debate on these boats however, as residents living along the river find the constant noise and wake disruptive and question it’s effect on wildlife and shoreline erosion. For now however, the boats will continue to run the river rapids, providing excitement for every one who’s brave enough to ride. If you’d like a great action shot of the boats in action, they are available on a variety of products in our shop here: http://www.cafepress.com/photographz/3061429 as well as some great souvenir items here: http://www.cafepress.com/photographz/2571294 - or, click on one of the photos above to be taken directly to items featuring that photograph.
Lake Ontario Sunset
A beautiful sunset as seen from the shore of Lake Ontario in Olcott Beach, New York. Lake Ontario is one of the Great Lakes, connected to Lake Erie via the Welland canal and the ocean via the St Lawrence Seaway. It is the terminus of the Niagara River, and home to a great many shipwrecks,
lighthouses and an important part of shipping and trade. It can be beautiful and serene, like in this photo, or churning and wild as the winds whip along it’s length. It helps drop feet of lake effect snow on places to the east, such as Watertown. If you’d like to add a little nautical beauty to your home, click the image above to see the products that feature our sunset photograph, or follow this link to our Landscape section in our shop: http://www.cafepress.com/photographz/2633123 .
Niagara county-more than Niagara Falls!
This forgotten corner of New York is more than it’s famous falls. This Western county borders Lake Ontario to the north and the Niagara river to the west, although it is usually over shadowed by it’s southern neighbor, Erie. Sadly, rapid development is quickly depleting it’s beautiful farm country, but there are still some fantastic open fields and orchards in the northern portions. These orchards are rooted in the history of the area, and make a spectacular show of white and pink in the spring as they fill the fields with showy blooms. Fortunately there are communities like Somerset that are establishing themselves as “right to farm” communities that will help protect the heritage of this beautiful place. A springtime drive through the northern portion including Youngstown, Wilson, Newfane & Somerset will amaze with it’s fields full of trees in full bloom. Fall brings apple festivals that give a nod to the heritage of this great little corner of New York. If you are traveling to the area in spring, be sure to take a drive through orchard country! Click on the photograph of the orchard in bloom if you are interested in bringing home some of the beauty of the area, or click here for a link to a section in our photography shop dedicated to flowers: http://www.cafepress.com/photographz/2688373
