The story behind the shot
You might be familiar with the drill: photographer, tripod, medium format camera, an outstanding landscape. This was me some weeks ago in Niagara Falls, Canada: a place I always wanted to visit to make the famous waterfall shot.
The idea of bringing a tripod was to slow the shutter speed down in order to get the water motion, which is a best-practice in this specific kind of landscape, I must say it was not needed because the volume of water is so intense, that you don’t need slow shutter speeds to get the effect.
These are for baby falls, we’re talking about fucking Niagara!
I strategically decided to go there on a Monday because there would be less tourists. The plan was simple: my wife would drop me out by car, photograph in a couple of minutes, do my thing, and then she would pick me up 10 minutes later.
She drops me off and calls me saying she missed the return and will need to do another one, and that might take her some additional time. I was with my rig photographing, so I just waited.
Around 6 minutes later, my wife calls again with the following opening quote over the phone:
“you’re not gonna believe it. I spotted the back side of the waterfall and it’s insane, you gotta come here, I’m coming back to pick you up. No but, just hop on the car”.
Immediately I was like “wow, ok! Who am I to disobey my wife? What am I thinking? I’m gonna get in that god damn car and STRICTLY follow her instructions, hahaha.”
So I waited, took a couple of more shots before she arrived back, I made some lame shots that I discarded after (ok, I didn’t, but they’re 3 stars). She came back and the first thing she said when I got in the car was “RAINBOW! There’s a huge rainbow, you can’t see because you’re facing the waterfall the wrong way”.
I was like “what do you mean by facing the waterfall the wrong way? I’m right in front of it taking incredible tripod shots. Well, let’s see…”
She drives me to the spot, when we arrive, I instantly see the shot, and get mesmerized by the scene.
It’s the back side of Niagara Falls with a strong rainbow falling into the waterfall. Indeed, a much better (and non obvious) shot. I was previously shooting digital, but for this unique one, I didn’t hesitate, loaded CineStill 400D on the Mamiya 7ii and scored four.
Now, something I must say. For many times, my wife is behind the best photographs I take, especially when traveling. That happens because sometimes I am too much into the scene, or I idealize how the shot should be, and I miss the real opportunities of documenting things in a unique way. I think there’s something special about photographers’ partners, because while we are with our mind stuck in a biased view of how a shot can be, a partner can break up the scene and find something that is in our rear view mirror.
Available as a Fine Art print !
Hang a piece of Niagara Falls on your wall, you can buy it clicking here, or through the Camera Clara Store.
It’s available in A3+ size, borderless, signed on the back upon request. This is the number 1 of 1. Just one print made.
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