Favorite Places to Shoot Fall Colors in Northeast Ohio

Well its that time a year again, when the leaves on the trees turn all sorts of beautiful colors. Luckily for those of us that live in Northeast Ohio, there are a lot of places to take beautiful Fall Color Shots. Listed below are some of my favorite places to take Fall Color Photos.

Mt Jeez located across from Malabar Farms



Mt Jeez is a large hill that overlooks Malabar Farm and the valley below, more Mt Jeez photos can be seen here:

Mt Jeez Photo Gallery


Tinker's Creek Nature Preserve



Tinker's Creek Photo Gallery

The Seven Pond Trail is a great place to take Fall Color photos, there are lots of ponds where you can get some great reflections of the colors in the water.



Cleveland Metroparks North Chagrin Reservation



All of the Cleveland Metroparks are great places for taking Fall Color Shots, here's a photo of my buddy Denny aka Wood Duck Dude taking photos at the North Chagrin Reservation.

North Chagrin Fall Color Gallery

Cuyahoga Valley National Park - Blue Hen Falls



There's lots of cool places to take Fall Color Shots in the Cuyahoga Valley, but Blue Hen Falls is one of my favorites. (Also check out Brandywine Falls and the Beaver Marsh)

Blue Hen Falls Gallery

So get out to your favorite Fall Color spot before the leaves fall off the trees and have fun!!! You may even want to pull out your fisheye or super wide angle lens and get a couple of Fall Color Self Portraits!!!

Balloon Classic Invitational - 7/29 - 7/31

If you like photographing Hot Air Balloons then you might want to check out the Balloon Classic Invitational taking place in North Canton Ohio from 7/29 - 7-31.

I attended this event last year and had a great time, it's one of the largest Balloon Fests in the area. There will be 65 Balloons at this years event. Here's a slideshow from last years event:

Balloon Classic Invitational Slideshow
 

NOTE: Access on the field is not allowed except for pilots and crews, but you should still be able to get some good photos.


Click the photo to see more photos!

BALLOON CLASSIC ACTIVITIES:  Hot air balloons fly best in less than 8 mph winds, and the weather must be almost perfect for these beautiful balloons to take to the skies. Pilots are briefed on weather before each and every flight; flights may be delayed or cancelled due to weather conditions.

Helpful hints:  If you’re an early bird, come check out the morning flights!  For evening flights, traffic is especially heavy, so plan ahead.

FRIDAY, JULY 29

5:00 AM – Dawn Patrol

6:30 AM – Media Flight

6:30 PM – Balloon Launch

9:45 PM – Night Glow

SATURDAY, JULY 30

6:30 AM – Media Flight

6:30 PM – Balloon Launch

SUNDAY, JULY 31

6:30 AM – Balloon Launch

Here are some of my Balloon Photography Tips

Balloon Photo Tips:

1. See which way the wind is blowing then position yourself so the balloons will fly toward you.

2. Look for colors, shapes and patterns















3. Use people as scale to show how large the Balloons are








4. Show the crew at work








5. And of course show them in the air!!!








More balloon photos here: Hot Air Balloons

Here's the address and a Google Map

Kent State University Stark Campus &
Stark State College of Technology
6000 - 6200 Frank Road NW
North Canton, Ohio 44720

Convenient parking available
Enter public parking lots off Frank Road,
and pay only $5.00 per vehicle after 3:00 PM

For those with a GPS here are the Coordinates in the Decimal Degree format

LAT N 40.867810
Long W 81.441656

Click on the Camera Icon to get directions from your location.


View Balloon Classic Invitational - Canton in a larger map

2011 Veterans Memorial Bridge and Subway Tour 7/2/2011

Here's another great Photo Op over the July 4th weekend - a self guided tour of the Veterans Memorial Bridge (aka Detroit Superior Bridge) The bottom part of this bridge was used for Trolley traffic over the Cuyahoga River in the Flats. I've done the tour about 3 or 4 times and its a great place to photograph Cleveland history. They'll have displays of old trolley cars and you can even see the old tracks in the ground. You can also get some great views of the Flats from the bridge. So if your looking for something different to shoot on Saturday July 2nd check out the Veterans Memorial Bridge.

Click photo to go to gallery


Bridge & Subway Tour

When: Saturday, July 2, 2011
Times: Open from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Location: Northeast Corner of W. 25th Street & Detroit Avenue, at the west end of the bridge. Free parking is available at the Department of Public Works Bridge Garage, which is located at the tour’s entrance.
Cost: FREE

No reservations
Self guided tour with volunteers on hand to answer questions
Wheelchair & stroller accessible
Cameras are welcome
Attractions include films, trolley displays, streetcar, and a unique view of the area
All ages

Directions and where to park!

Click on the camera icon to get directions from your location

GPS in Decimal Degrees N41.492884 W81.705633


View Veterans Memorial Bridge Tour in a larger map

Parade the Circle 2011

Now this is a Cool Photo Op.... Parade the Circle. I've gone the last two years and it's always a lot of fun, lots of cool costumes to photograph. If you get there early you can photograph the participants getting ready for the parade in the staging area on the top deck of the Art Museum Parking lot.

Saturday, June 11, 2011
11:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m.
Parade at Noon
Wade Oval, University Circle

More info here: Parade the Circle Info


Click Photo to see more photos





Click on the camera icon for directions to Parade the circle

GPS Coordinates in the Decimal Degree format.

Latitude: N 41.50888
Longitude: W 81.61077


View Parade the Circle 2010 in a larger map

Chagrin Falls Balloon Fest 2011

Are you looking for somethng colorful to shoot over the Memorial Day weekend? Then check out the Chargin Falls Balloon Fest!




The Balloon Fest takes place from Thursday May 26th to Sunday May 29th, here's the details  

Note the Balloon Glow on Thursday has been Canceled due to the weather!

Weekend Balloon Festival Schedule

 

Thursday May 26th      Blossom Glow at 8:00 PM at CFHS   CANCELED

 

Friday May 27th           Mass balloon ascension 6:30 pm at CFHS

Saturday May 28th      Balloons fly in to CFHS field – 6:30 AM

                                    Balloon launch from CFHS – 6:30 PM

Sunday May 29th         Balloons fly in to CFHS field – 6:30 AM

                                     Balloon launch from CFHS – 6:30 PM

Starting times are approximate.  Flying is subject to local weather conditions (rain, high winds, low clouds).  Morning events may not originate or terminate at Chagrin Falls High School, but will always include a fly-by.  Evening events will feature all balloons launching as a group from the Chagrin Falls High School athletic field.

On Thursday evening they have the Balloon Glow where all the balloons are lit up to the sounds of music








Balloon Photo Tips:

1. See which way the wind is blowing then position yourself so the balloons will fly toward you.

2. Look for colors, shapes and patterns










3. Use people as scale to show how large the Balloons are







4. Show the crew at work







5. And of course show them in the air!!!







The balloons launch from the Chagrin Falls High School field behind the school. See map below for directions from your location.

GPS Coordinates
Latitude: 41.4283302
Longitude: -081.3775026

Click the blue balloon for directions from your location to the High School entrance. The P is where you should park. The red balloon shows the field where the balloons will be taking off.




View Chagrin Falls Balloon Festival in a larger map

To see more photos go here: Balloon Fest Photos

Hope to see you there!!!

Oh and since the Balloons only fly in good weather and calm winds you might want to check the weather maps on the right side of this blog.

For more info on the Balloon Fest go here: Chagrin Falls Balloon Fest Info

Want to find a great location for the Full Moon tonight? Then get The Photographer's Ephemeris

Hi Everyone, I've been getting a lot of questions today on where a good location would be to get a shot of the Full Moon and the moonrise tonight. Well a great program for photographers to help you plan for a sunrise, sunset, moonrise or moon set is the Photographer's Ephemeris. The Desktop version is FREE and there is also an app for the Iphone! I use it all the time mostly for sunrises and sunsets and highly recommend it. You can get it here

The Photographer's Ephemeris

They have video tutorials to show you how to use it!

Now back to the moonrise, well unfortunately for you Cleveland Area photographers who want to get the moonrise over the city of Cleveland, Edgewater is NOT a good location tonight. Looking at the map on the Photographer's Ephemeris you can see by looking at the light blue "moonrise" line that the moon will rise to the south of the city and not behind the skyline.

Wendy Park may be better, not sure.... download the Photographer's Ephemeris and find out for yourself!!!! : ) When you use the program just put the cursor at your shooting location and see where the moon will rise tonight.

Here's what it looks like from the Upper area of Edgewater.... as you can see the moonrise (light blue line)  is far south of the city when shooting from Edgewater.

Click the photo to see a larger view.

Heron Rookery

If you like getting photos of Blue Herons then the place to be is the Heron Rookery on West Bath Road in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Every March the Herons return to the rookery to nest. By mid March there are hundreds of birds and nests. Check it out if you get a chance.

Click Photo to go to Gallery

Directions: Click on the camera to get directions from your location.


View Heron Rookery in a larger map

Winter Photo Safari and Backyard Bird Count - Cleveland Lakefront Nature Preserve (Dike 14) 2/20/11

Hi Everyone, I read about this in Tuesday's (2/15/2011) Plain Dealer....   I guess Dike 14 is now called the Cleveland Lakefront Nature Preserve and they are having a Winter Photo Safari and Bird Count, there are group photo safaris at 1:30 and 2:30 or self guided tours from 1 to 4pm, you can find out all the details by clicking on the flyer link below. Sounds like a Cool Photo Op!!! 

DIKE 14 WINTER PHOTO SAFARI & BACKYARD BIRD COUNT—SUNDAY, FEB. 20 @ 1—4PM

Meet at the park office for site briefing. Group bird hikes & photo safari groups will depart at 1:30 & 2:30. Self guided visits from 1 pm—4 pm. Participate in the 2011 Great Backyard Bird Count or take photos of the winter landscape to submit for display in the Exploration Station during the month of March. Co-sponsored by the Dike 14 Environmental Education Collaborative.**The Exploration Station will be open during this program.** Click Here for flyer.

Cool Photo Ops - Great Places to Take Photos in NE Ohio and Beyond

Attention Photographers, looking for fun places to take photos in Northeast Ohio? Then check out my Cool Photo Ops Blog.

Everyone is welcome to come on the shoots or go on your own when you get a chance, the more the merrier!

You will find information on the fun places to take photos in the Northeast Ohio Region.

You will also find links to Maps with directions to the shoots (including GPS coordinates), weather maps, sunrise and sunset information, photography links and helpful photo tips.

Coming soon is the Sled Dog Classic




Also if you have suggestions for shoots, let me know and I'll post them on the blog.

Punderson Sled Dog Classic 2/26 & 2/27 HAS BEEN CANCELED!!!

 According to the Siberian Husky Club the Sled Dog Classic has been Canceled!!!

Go here for Details: Siberian Husky Club



Now for something different the 2011 Punderson Sled Dog Classic taking place on Saturday Feb 26th and Sunday Feb 27th 2011!
Pick the date that's convenient for you,


Click the photo to go to Sled Dog Gallery



Hi Everyone a cool place to shoot this winter is the Sled Dog Classic at Punderson State Park on 2/26/2011 and 2/27/2011. The event is free for spectators. This should be a fun Photo Shoot,  a lot of us went last year and had a great time.  You can see my photos at this link Sled Dog Classic Photos



They have all different classes of races and even have a Kid n Mutt Fun Run

More information can be found here: Sled Dog Classic Race Info

Time : 9:30 am    Races are from 10am to 3PM
Place: Punderson State Park
Park Map: Punderson State Park Map
Directions: Click on the camera icon to get directions from your location. To view a larger map Click on "View Larger Map" below.

GPS Coordinates
latitude: 41.46118938889867
longitude: -81.21947765350342


View Larger Map


Sled Dog Photo Tips

This will be the second time at the Sled Dog Classic for me, here are some photo tips I learned from last year

1. The best shots are taken with the Sled Dogs running toward you.  Shots from the side are not as dramatic

2. Get down low at the dogs eye level.

3. Try and take some human interest shots of the dogs and their owners

4. Sled Dogs are cool, try and get some good portrait shots of them.

5. Try to capture the peak action.

6. Try to show how strong these animals are as they pull the sleds.

Well those are some of my tips, if anyone else has any tips to share, just click on "comments" below and leave your tips, comments and suggestions.

If you are going on the Sled Dog Classic Shoot or any cold weather shoot you want to keep your hands warm but still be able to use the controls on your camera so what do you do?  You might want to try a pair of Glommitts, Glommitts are a combination of a glove and a mitten.

Glommitts will keep your hands warm when you're not using your camera and the top mitten part folds back to expose your fingers when you are taking a shot.

There are a lot of different makes and models. Just Goggle glommitts to find out where you can purchase them.

Glommitts can be found at most sporting good stores. I get a lot of my stuff at Cabela's online. Click on the Cabela's link and enter glommitts in the search field.  Mine are a couple of years old so they may not carry the brand above anymore, but they probably have new and improved models.