Watkins Glen State Park, N.Y. Photography Hot Spot

Watkins Glen State Park: NEW PHOTOS COMING

The centerpiece of the 1000-acre park is a 400-foot-deep (120 m) narrow gorge cut through rock by a stream – Glen Creek – that was left hanging when glaciers of the Ice age deepened the Seneca valley, increasing the tributary stream gradient to create rapids and waterfalls wherever there were layers of hard rock.

The park features three trails – open mid-May to early November – by which one can climb or descend the gorge. The Southern Rim and Indian Trails run along the wooded rim of the gorge, while the Gorge Trail is closest to the stream and runs over, under, and along the park’s 19 waterfalls by way of stone bridges and more than 800 stone steps. The trails connect to the Finger Lakes Trail, an 800-mile (1280 km) system of trails throughout New York state.

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Watkins Glen State Park, N.Y. Photography Location

Photography Information:

You want to go to this park early in the morning before the people arrive. I arrived at 7 a.m., and only a few people were there. You can see the people in my pictures. They started to come around 8, and by nine, there were so many people I could not keep out of my long exposure shots.

Arrive a little after sunrise here. Bring your tripod, circular polarizing filter, and your neutral density filters. Of course, there is a lot of moving water here, so it is a long exposure, milky water effect heaven.

If you can go on an overcast day, that would be ideal. The sun glaring into the canyon was tough to work with next to the dark areas in the images. Right near the State Park is Lake Seneca. Don’t miss the opportunity to photograph this beauty.

Lens: This is primarily a wide-angle lens location

Gear List at a glance: Circular polarizing filter, neutral density filter, tripod, shutter release.

Camera Settings

Manual Mode: You must use a tripod for your long-exposure running and milky water shots. Your settings will vary depending on the lighting and your neutral density filter. You will shoot in manual mode for the milky waters. ISO is always 100 or as low as your camera will allow. The aperture is f22. Your shutter speed will vary depending on the light. After putting your neutral density filter on, take some test shots to decide your shutter speed. (It’s like sunglasses for your camera to stop light from coming in). You now have your milky water exposure. You want at least a 5-second exposure for running water.

For more details, go to Waterfall Photography Simplified.

Just outside of Watkins Glen State Park

Captain Bill’s Lake Cruise – Dining in the Finger Lakes would not be complete without experiencing the splendor of a meal cruise aboard the luxurious Seneca Legacy. Their meal cruises boast full course seated dining with fantastic entree selections prepared daily by our chef. 1 N. Franklin St., Watkins Glen, New York 14891 – 607-535-4541 Visit The Website

when doing photography at Watkins Glen State Park

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Photography Lessons, Tours & Workshops

♦ Waterfalls ♦ Long Exposures ♦ Studio ♥ Trick Photography ♦ Milky Way ♦ Custom Lessons

Check out our Ghost Hunting Photography Lessons & Guided Tours with Paranormal Pam Psychic Medium

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AREA INFO

Watkins Glen State Park, N.Y. Photography Information

Park Information:

Watkins Glen State Park

Address:

1009 N Franklin St
Watkins Glen, NY 14891

Phone: (607) 535-4511

Hours of Operation

Park hours and facility operations are subject to change. Patrons are encouraged to contact the park directly to confirm operating hours before traveling.

Park is open year-round.
Vehicle entry fees were collected from mid-May to November.
Trail updates: With any questions, please call the park office at 607-535-4511.

HOTEL INFO

Add Your Watkins Glen State Park Hotel

Do you want us to send our photography and ghost hunting friends to your hotel for their photography or ghost hunting trip? Put your hotel information here. We will put pictures of your hotel, the website link, the phone number and your information on your hotel.

Would you like to be a featured hotel like this article or this one? Please send us an email. You will be surprised at how affordable our prices can be.

CAMPING

Watkins Glen State Park, N.Y. Camping

Put your camping information here so our photography friends know where they should be camping when photographing Watkins Glen State Park and the surrounding area. Send us an email.

We did not stay here, but it is the closest camping. Watkins Glen State Park: 2015 Camping Season: 5/8 – 10/12 – Group Camp: 5/1 – 10/26

*Please note that some loops/sites may open later or close earlier within the camping season. For more details, please call the park or visit http://www.newyorkstateparks.reserveamerica.com

FOOD & DINING

Watkins Glen State Park, Restaurants

Add your restaurant here! Do you want us to send our photography and ghost-hunting friends to your restaurant after their ghost-hunting or photography trip? Put your restaurant information here. We will put a picture of your establishment, the website link, the phone number and your information on your restaurant to make it easy for our photographers and ghost hunters to find you. They are good at getting there in the dark.

Village Marina Bar and Grill:

We ate here on our journey. It was a good restaurant with good food and reasonable prices, but if you have a restaurant to feed our hungry photographers while doing photography at Watkins Glen State Park and the surrounding area. Please send us an email to advertise on this high-ranking page.

WEATHER?

Click – Watkins Glen State Park Weather

If you are doing photography along with your ghost hunting on cloudy days, you can do running water or waterfall photography to avoid the glaring sun. You can also use an ND filter to get a long exposure for dramatic effects, even in the sunshine. If you ghost hunt indoors in abandoned places, be careful!