Several years ago the water level on Hoover Reservoir appeared to be its lowest in years and many people speculated about the weather having changed resulting in higher temperatures, lower rainfall, water shortages.
In truth, the city lowered the lake level so construction crews would have dry land upon which to sink pilings for a birdwatcher’s boardwalk into the northern end of the lake at Galena. Since the completion of the boardwalk, lake levels have been seasonably normal with lower levels during dry parts of the year and higher during late winetr snow melt and spring storms.
Now the boardwalk has been opened to anglers in addition to birdwatchers and it’s become a busy place.
Along the edge of the northern tip of the lake numerous birds of prey including juvenile Bald Eagles and hawks can be seen.
PhotoWalk Galena Ohio
Saturday, June 19, 2010
6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
We’ll begin our walk in Galena (Wikipedia) in front of the U.S. Post office, 70 West Street. With older homes, a collection of antique shops and statues, the city is very photogenic. Its people are friendly and welcoming. We’ll spend some time walking through the city and along the bridge spanning the creek running into Hoover. Sometimes there are numerous anglers wading in its waters and along its banks and the overhead view is a different angle than normal.
Photographers interested in shooting farm fields can walk about 2/3rd a mile along Columbus St. to Vans Valley Road or County Road 30 for fields of corn and soybeans.
About the same distance along North Walnut Street is Galena Cemetery with a small park and unusual water tower.
A little shorter distance up Harrison Street is a city park with ball fields and access to the creek that runs under the Columbus Street bridge.
The sun sets at 9:01 p.m. that night so everyone whose interested in sunset photos along the boardwalk should move into position early enough to find a good spot. Expect the anglers to stick around until after sunset, depending upon the fishing, mosquitoes, and weather.
Bring along an off camera strobe if you want. There will be plenty of human light stands to assist. That also means you can add your photo to the Flickr Strobist and Ohio Strobist pool in addition to the PhotoWalking Ohio pool. I suggest a monopod or modified lightstand if you want to place your strobe off the boardwalk and over the water for a different angle light source. Unless you can convince the HLS to jump the railing.
We’ll finish at The Mudflats Bar and Grill in Galena, where Ricky Gene Hall and the Goods are scheduled to appear.
A few reminders.
Bring liquids to hydrate. You can buy liquid refreshment at Mudflats but that may be a long walk back for cool sip of water.
Respect private property. Privacy laws allow you to shoot anything you can see from public property. That doesn’t mean you can trespass and be protected. Ohio’s trespassing statue does not require No Trespassing signs for you to have violated the law. If you’re not in the public right-of-way, generally 14 feet from the roadway, you’re trespassing. I am not a lawyer so take this as practical, not legal, advise. I do know fighting a trespassing citation is costly and not worth the trouble. Ask to go on private property.
If you partake of certain beverages at Mudflats, have a designated driver. Galena has a small police force that might not take kindly to drunk photographers behind the wheel.
Questions? Put them in the comments and I’ll try to find the answers. Or, discuss at Flickr.
{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
Sound like great fun!