[Slavek]

Hello!

currently I am in Buffalo for six months as a visiting scholar at the University at Buffalo. Is anyone here on the forums from Buffalo? :-) I am mostly interested in nature photography (close-ups , details and macro, wild-life and landscapes). I would appreciate to be able to go for taking photos with someone and not alone all the time, since I am not familiar in places in New York state and surrounding states. I am also considering to rent a car from time to time for a few days to have some trips – currently I am walking on foot and I am the only one around here to do so it seems

So – is anybody in Buffalo or somewhere around?

Best,
Slavek

[microlight]

If you're into landscapes then Niagara's just up the road!

[boriscleto]

Tifft Nature Preserve - About the Preserve

[Clarkey]

If you decide to come across the border, a few of us would be happy to play tour guide. Toronto is about 2 hours away, and there are some nice places in between.

In upstate NY, i'd suggest the finger lakes region, or the southern shore of Lake Ontario.

[BigDave]

I am down state but get up that way periodically. Some places to try locally, Niagara Falls (there should be public trans to get there from downtown), and then if you feel like walking there is the entire Niagara Gorge area.

Next, south of Buffalo is Hamburg (where the Hamburger got its name from) and they have a nice public beach there on Lake Erie.

If renting a car, look into Letchworth State Park, about an hour or so South-East of Buffalo. And since you like photography, The George Eastman House in Rochester is a must see location. Up along Lake Ontario, look for Hamlin Beach State Park and other parks along the route up there. Olcott, NY, on Lake Ontario north of the town of Lockport, is a quaint little town right on the Lake. Also in Rochester, just east of the city, check out the area around Irondequoit Bay, very picturesque.

It is actually quite a nice area in the summer. A bit dreary in winter though!

[Tbone51]

Hi, I'm in the Erie, Pa photography club, and we and 15 other camera clubs are members of the NFRCC (Niagara Fronteir Regional Camera Clubs). One of the club members is the Southtowns Camera Club, which is in your area (Buffalo). You should contact them, and also review the NFRCC web site. The programs and seminars are very informative. N

[DeadJohn]

I'm at the opposite end of NY from Buffalo, but I was in the area last week.

Buffalo City Hall. Art deco architecture. Free observatory at the top.

Martin House historic buildings. Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.

Niagara Falls. 30 minute trip by car. Might be accessible by mass transit from Buffalo.

Lots of waterfalls in the Finger Lakes area. Letchworth State Park, Watkins Glen State Park, many others. You'll probably need a car to get to those spots.

[Slavek]

Hi a thank you all for your suggestions, guys!

I was at Niagara four years ago, when I was on the conference in Toronto. I was quiet dissapointed with the falls to be honest. Falls itself are awesome - no dooubt! But the surroundings are aweful :-( casinos, hight-buildings and hotels really makes the place less interresting for people like me - loving pure nature. We took a trip along St.Lawrence river after the conference up to Tadoussac though. Lovely national parks along the road! This was one of my favourite trips so far! Sadly, I was just beggining with photography back then :-(

I will try to contact some of the societies. Do you know any nature-photographer in the area close to Buffalo?

Finger lakes region is one of those in my focus :-)

---------- Post added 05-19-17 at 04:27 PM ----------

One more thing - is anybody froum around planning to go for the eclipse? :-) I definitely will!

[BigDave]

Interestingly, the Canadian side is more built up at the falls than the US side. Shooting the falls from the Canadian side should provide a bit more of a natural feel.

But go down stream (North) from the falls to the Whirlpool, the Niagara Rapids (some of the roughest anywhere) and the forts on both sides of the river up on Lake Ontario. There are a number of state parks along the way. There must be an associate there on campus that has a car and can take you around some. Offer to pay for gas and/or meals and it is a nice trip for both concerned!

Enjoy!

[boriscleto]

Niagara Gorge hiking on the American side.

Devil's Hole State Park

Whirlpool State Park

On the Canadian side.

Niagara Glen | Niagara Falls Canada

If you're pressed for time and want to take an elevator down...

White Water Walk | Niagara Falls Canada

The Tifft Preserve in Buffalo is on a bus line...

[Slavek]

Well at the end I was able to see some nature "things" around Buffalo thanks to few people from some Nature Societies. Thanks for the suggestions. Only place far from Buffalo and still in NY state was Watkins Glen. Above all I drove approx. 10 000 miles by a car in a 5 weeks (1 in a east coast for the Solar eclipse from Buffalo dowt to South Carolina and 4 weeks in the west coast - CA, OR, WA, UT, AR)... I am not looking forward to editing all of those shots though! :-)