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About Robert Gillis
We specialize in nature, travel, ocean, and seasonal photography, with an emphasis on the sights of beautiful New England -- Boston, Maine, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island. We also feature New York, Niagara Falls, fireworks and fire, holidays, and more.
We are family friendly (no nudes, no objectionable content).
We offer professional quality prints in a variety of sizes. Most images are also available for licensing.
Our photographic images are perfect for framing. Perfect for your advertising, graphic design, marketing, publication, web site, or multimedia project.
A train information display system (IDS) is a board displaying in real-time the different arrivals or departures occurring over a specific period of time. IDS is commonly used to assist passengers during train travel and people who want to pick-up passengers after the train.
Due to be replaced in mid-2008 with a new-style LED sign; this is one of the venerable train information boards at Boston’s South Station. Also called a railway flap sign, these saw many years of service and the sound of the “flapping” caused everyone to look at the board to check their train’s status. [Source: RG]
These signs were built by Solari di Udine of Italy. Founded in 1948 in Udine (Italy) by the Solari family, Solari di Udine rapidly earned a reputation for technological excellence in industrial clocks and, later, in information display systems (IDS). Solari's innovative "flap" technology for the direct reading of time and information was Patented in 1950. In the following year, Solari manufactured the first clock using flap technology. In 1956, Solari designed, manufactured and installed the world's first train information display system at Liege Railway Station, in Belgium. A similar installation at Vienna Airport, three years later, constituted the world's first passenger flight information system. In the following years, Solari installed thousands of systems all over the world. [source: Solari di Udine web site]
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The crowd on the ferry was all in good spirits and as we approached the Statue of Liberty, the cameras started flashing and so many people just stared and you could hear the “oohs” and “ahs.” Lady Liberty is iconic, and everyone has seen images, but to actually see her “in person,” – well, it gives you Goosebumps. It IS America. It is THE symbol of our nation, as much as the American flag.
The immaculately manicured park on Liberty Island has a restaurant, souvenir ship and many perfect spots to view the statue.
There’s also a view of Manhattan and a sign indicating where the World Trade Center used to be. It’s not a memorial, but feels like one. Six years later, the skyline still looks wrong, incomplete.
To enter the Statue of Liberty you have to not only go through a second metal detector but a sort of air-tunnel that scans you for bombs and other chemicals. Entering the statue’s base, the first thing you see is a big torch – and I realized that this is the ORIGINAL torch, removed in 1986 as part of the refurbishing and renovating of the statue. It is still lit, and quite lovely.
Our ranger, Bill, filled us in on many of the amazing details about Lady Liberty. For example, its shell is only as thick as two quarters pressed together! The green color was caused by the copper oxidation process. There was confusion about what the Statue of Liberty was intended to be: A lighthouse, perhaps? The Statue of Liberty was America’s first skyscraper. The crown spikes represent the seven continents or the seven oceans. The
torch represents the light of freedom. The statue’s full name is "Liberty Enlightening the World." The chains on her feet are the broken shackles of oppression and tyranny.
Sue took this poignant moment to wonder out loud, “wouldn't it be great if the Statue of Liberty came to life?” and I commented that she’s obviously never seen, “Ghostbusters II.”
Interestingly, sculptor Frederic Auguste Bartholdi required the assistance of an engineer to address structural issues associated with designing such a colossal copper sculpture, and Alexandre Gustave Eiffel, the designer of the Eiffel Tower, was commissioned to design the massive iron pylon and secondary skeletal framework.
And on a slightly bizarre note, the face of the statue is apparently modeled after Bartholdi’s mother – the sculptor had lived with his mother all of his life. Our guide made a humorous comment: “This is what happens when you live with your mother your entire life.”
To be honest, the observation desk at Liberty’s feet is not the most perfect view of the statue but still damned impressive. Angela was particularly thrilled; she told us that the statue is famous worldwide, of course, but whenever a European visits America one of the first destinations is the Statue of Liberty, and she was delighted to experience it up-close.
And it was then I realized it was time to put the camera down and just be in the moment.
The structure may be a copper statue but it is so much more than that. For perhaps 20 minutes, I just stood looking at this majestic icon, this universally recognized symbol of democracy, freedom, America, and hope. I thought of the countless immigrants who saw this statue as they arrived at Ellis Island and what seeing it represented. New life. A fresh start. Freedom.
It’s amazing to stand there.
It was honestly humbling.
We saw a lot more of New York that day, but those are stories for another time. For me, the highlight was seeing the Statue of Liberty – a beautiful symbol with so much history, so much importance, and for so many millions, a symbol of hope. And on that day, I honestly felt that hope. Standing in the shadow of that grand lady, you can’t help but believe, and feel that swelling pride of being free, and seeing one of America’s purest symbols of all that we are and aspire to be.
Poetic and sentimental, to be sure, but very real. May Lady Liberty continue to shine her light on us and remind us of that spirit of hope for centuries to come.
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I have always loved the design and beauty of the Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Bridge, part of The Big Dig Project in Boston, which is the widest cable-stayed bridge in the world. The Bridge serves as the northern entrance to and exit from Boston. The Bridge is named after civil rights activist Lenny Zakim and the American colonists who fought the British in the Battle of Bunker Hill.
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Hill Bridge Gallery at GillisPhotos.com
The Hood Milk Bottle is 40 feet (12 m) tall, 18 feet (5.5 m) in diameter and, if it were a real milk bottle, would hold 50,000 gallons (190,000 L) of milk. It was constructed in 1933 by Arthur Gagner on the banks of the Three Mile River on Winthrop Street in Taunton, Massachusetts. It was built as an ice cream stand beside his store that sold home made ice cream.The bottle was sold to the Sankey family in 1943 but was abandoned in 1967. The bottle stood vacant for ten years until H.P. Hood and Sons, Inc. was persuaded to buy it. In 1977, it was cut into three sections and moved by barge to Boston's Museum Wharf, where it stands today. The Hood Milk Bottle now serves as an ice cream stand and snack bar next to the Boston Children's Museum.
off and preserved -- so that its base could be movedThe bottle recently underwent extensive renovations. In fall of 2006, the bottle was "uncapped" -- its original top half was sliced slightly and rebuilt on the new Children's Museum Plaza. A
renovated bottle was put back in place on Museum Wharf and officially re-dedicated by Boston Mayor Thomas Menino on April 29, 2007, thirty years to the day after it was moved to Museum Wharf.[Source: Wikipedia]
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The moon is seen passing through the shadow of the earth as it is photographed in Foxboro Wednesday Feb. 20, 2008. A total lunar eclipse occurs when the full moon passes intoEarth's shadow and is blocked from the sun's rays that normally illuminate it. During an eclipse, the sun, Earth and moon line up, leaving a darkened moon visible to observers on
the night side of the planet. This is the last total lunar eclipse until Dec. 20, 2010. This eclipse occurred on a crystal clear night and was made extra special by appearances by the planet Saturn and Regulus, the brightest star in the constellation Leo.
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Click here to visit the Blue Skies gallery at GillisPhotos.com.
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Beacon Hill’s Acorn Street remains one of the most photographed locations in Boston. It is paved with stones obtained from the Charles River. Often depicted on postcards, the street is described as follows: “This charming, gas-lit neighborhood is a carefully preserved reminder of how Boston looked in 1850.”
From www.beaconhillonline.com: "Beacon Hill is a 19th-century downtown Boston residential neighborhood situated directly north of the Boston Common and the Boston Public Garden. Most people think of city living as anonymous and isolating. But this cozy enclave, filled with nearly 10,000 people, is more like a village than an anonymous city. It has a rich community life, with neighbors knowing neighbors and everyone meeting on the Hill's commercial streets and at its myriad activities. Approximately one-half mile square, Beacon Hill is bounded by Beacon Street, Bowdoin Street, Cambridge
Street and Storrow Drive. It is known for its beautiful doors and door surrounds, brass door knockers, decorative iron work, brick sidewalks, perpetually-burning gas lights, flowering pear trees, window boxes, and hidden gardens. Its architecture, mostly brick row houses, includes the Federal, Greek Revival and Victorian periods, as well as early 20th-century colonial revival homes and tenements. The architecture is protected by restrictive regulations that allow no changes to any visible part of a structure without the approval of an architectural commission. Beacon Hill contains a South Slope, a North Slope and a Flat of the Hill. Charles Street is the neighborhood's main street and is filled with antique shops and neighborhood services. The Massachusetts State House is at the top of the Hill overlooking Boston Common." The street itself is short and quite steep, and the stones are difficult to walk upon. Hollywood superstar Denzel Washington and his “The Great Debaters” crew were seen filming on Acorn Street in Beacon Hill in August 2007."CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE BEACON HILL GALLERY AT GILLISPHOTOS.COM
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With gas prices so high, in September 2005, Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino got the idea that people in Boston should ditch their cars and walk more. Working with a Boston advertising agency and raising money from local business leaders, he asked a team of artists from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts to fit some of Boston’s statues with new shoes But it's not all about gas prices; the ''Sneakers on Statues" campaign is part of a tourism program. The statues donning special footwear included--Faneuil Hall: Red Auerbach and Sam Adams; Old City Hall: Ben Franklin, Democratic Donkey and Josiah Quincy; Boston Public Garden: George Washington and Make Way for Ducklings; Copley Square: Tortoise and Hare; North End: Paul Revere; and Prudential Center: Quest Eternal. The exhibit ran until September 18, 2005. This was a wonderful, one of kind event. when you visit Boston, you'll see the statues, but n
ot like this!
CHECK OUT THE SNEAKERS ON STATUES GALLERY AT GILLIS PHOTOS HERE
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The weather outside may be frightful, but the series win was delightful and I got some great images of Fenway Park and the surrounding area during the recent Boston "heat wave" (the temperature was above 40)! Enjoy!
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We’ve added a number of images taken in New York City at Christmas time, including the famous Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree, Radio City Music Hall, Times Square, and more.
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GillisPhotos has a very nice selection of new Christmas images including Christmas trees and decorations, nativity scenes, LaSallette Shrine, holiday still life, wreaths, Christmas displays, and much more.
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I am delighted to report that Sparta Graphics (http://www.spartagraphics.com/) will be featuring this GillisPhotos.com image of the famous Nubble Lighthouse in Maine on their 2009 Calendar.
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Added new images of the impressive Chatham Lighthouse and nearby beach on Cape Cod.
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The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum is the presidential library and museum of the 35th President of the United States John F. Kennedy. It is located on Dorchester's Columbia Point in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, and was designed by the architect I.M. Pei. The building is the official repository for original papers and correspondence of the Kennedy Administration, as well as special bodies of published and unpublished materials, such as books and papers by and about Ernest Hemingway. The library and museum were dedicated in 1979 by President Jimmy Carter and members of the Kennedy family. (Wikipedia)
by Robert GillisTuesday, August 28, 2007. I was up at the time my army friend Captain Fay refers to as "OH-DARK-THIRTY" (about 4:30am) and headed outside to take a look at the setting Moon, which was still bright white. Knowing the lunar eclipse would begin in less than 30 minutes, I grabbed my camera and tripod and headed to a large field in Sharon, yawning and wondering if I was crazy to be out driving to take pictures of the Moon when (apparently) everyone else was still snug in their beds.
But I am an astronomy buff, always have been. And lunar eclipses -- the Moon's appearance changing to orange, blood red, and brown as the Earth moves between the sun and Moon, casting its shadow on the lunar surface -- are very rare events. Not to mention that this part of the country has been unlucky with its eclipses this year; the evening lunar eclipse back on March 2nd was obscured perfectly by low clouds and the Moon only appeared after the eclipse had ended, and this morning’s eclipse would be visible only for a very short time, as the Moon would be setting at 6:08 (just 16 minutes after totality) and sunrise was 6:06.
Despite the brevity of the event, it was worth the trip.
In the western sky, the setting Moon hung low, and the Earth’s shadow rapidly covered it from the top down, casting a dark and then orange glow on the lunar disk. A few stray clouds passing through the spectacle only added beauty to the phenomenon as they were lit up in yellow-white by the orange-white disk behind them.
It was very pretty, made more so by the absolute silence around me of a day that had not yet started. The sky had a purple color rather than black, and although the stars were still out and it felt like “night,” a warm, orange-yellow light was appearing softly in the east. A new day was being born. I know that’s overly poetic but dawn is like that – there IS a feeling in the air of newness and anticipation.
Although the Moon vanished below the horizon when it was only half covered, it was still impressive. The Moon is a little mysterious anyway, and a lunar eclipse makes the Moon a little spookier, but also more beautiful.
Although the show was brief, it was well worth rising early to see.
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by Robert Gillis
Published in The Foxboro Reporter 9/2004
The office phone rang the afternoon of September 9. Sue said we were going to the Patriots against the Colts opening game, and despite my initial automatic reply of “We don’t have the money,” and “How much for the tickets?” by 6:45 I was printing out two tickets on my printer, I didn’t mind too much as the seats were ROW 1 on the 50 YARD LINE. These were the most incredible seats I have ever had for ANYTHING, more than making up for the fact that the mortgage and utilizes don’t get paid this month.. I couldn’t believe how close we were! We felt like royalty in those seats, but sadly, no celebrities were in our section. Where was Jack Nicholson? Oh, sorry, wrong sport.
Our first Pats game was our first Pats game at Gillette and the first football game of my life (I didn’t get out much as a kid, ok?) Since this was my first time at a Pats game, I thought I’d share some observations about the game, the stadium, and my overall experience:
I should not admit this, but I really need to learn the rules of football. I cheered because everyone else did. I don’t have a clue about HOW the game is played beyond “Take the ball and run that way fast,” or that “touchdown” is a good thing when the Pats do it. Take me to Fenway and I’m fine, but here, I kept wondering, “Oh, is that good?”
Bob Kraft gave a nice, brief speech in front of an massive Superbowl trophy before unveiling the impressive new 2003 Superbowl banner with a fireworks display. Very cool. Very stylish presentation and unveiling of the banner and the crowd went wild!
And Mr. Kraft, the new stadium continues to impress me. It is truly state-of-the-art. Mr. Kraft and all who built it, be proud. It is awesome. Foxboro, be proud. It put us on the map (twice). And we do get revenue from it, remember.
I continue to be offended by being patted down by security. Not because I don’t believe it’s necessary (it is) but I’m dead serious: If those guys get any friendlier during the pat down I’m going to demand they buy me dinner first or at least call the next day. I am not joking about this – the pat down is downright creepy.Look at all the people! The game was a sell-out with 68,756 people. I was honored to be one of them.
Nice to see Elton John even for two songs, the man gets better every year. He is a musical genius. But Mary J. Blidge singing the National Anthem made me cry. Really. Sue too. God, I love this country. Thank you, Mary J.
Speaking of patriotism (no pun intended) seeing all those soldiers in uniform at halftime was awe-inspiring, and seeing all those kids in their white shirts march out to take the oath as they entered the National Guard was very memorable, filling me with pride but also bittersweet. Of course I am so proud of them, but they are all so young. I pray they don’t see combat and are kept safe. God bless them for taking this brave step to serve our country. And love the president or not, I wish the crowd hadn’t booed when the general administering the oath to the new cadets mentioned the requirement of loyalty to the president. The cadet’s oath is to the constitution, and the office of the president and the not any one man, and I felt that it must have given some of the kids pause. But these are all smart kids – I’m sure they understand what they’re doing. God bless those newest members of the armed forces!
The game itself was a nail-biter to the end. Glad the Pats won, but enough mistakes were made that they probably shouldn’t have, and damn, was it close for a few minutes there! Keep that deliberator handy! My heart stopped a few times.
Souvenir program: $10.00. Two sausage subs with everything, a coke and a water, $21.00. Being at this game: priceless. Sharing this first game with Sue: Beyond priceless. Perfect.
Speaking of money, every available second of non-play was filled with advertisements for EVERYTHING. I cannot believe the amount of continuous corporate sponsorship. It is a non-stop blitzkrieg, a machine-gunning of advertising. Forget what you see on TV – when you’re there the ads are non-stop. “And that’s a touchdown! These four seconds have been brought to you by Home Depot! Refs are reviewing the play, and it’s good! And what else is good? McDonalds! Brady has the ball, he’s running. but not for health care! Tufts Health Plan is there for you! And it’s first down! Now let’s welcome Bill Jones and Joe Smith, who will kick the ball as part of Blue Cross…” Arg! Just let me watch the game in peace!
The Patriots mascot, Pat Patriot, bears a frightening resemblance to my parrot Jasmine when she is angry. I got to shake his hand, anyway!
Those football players are big guys. Huge. I had no idea. And they work VERY hard. This is NOT an easy sport. They earn their money, not like some baseball players I could mention. Pats, you’re worth your millions!
My wife is in love with Tom Brady.
That’s OK though because I was leering at the cheerleaders. I have never seen such toned bodies, flat stomachs… And the uniforms are… um… very nice too. Yes. Very… pretty.
Sorry, what was I talking about?
The rain started as soon as the game began, but we didn’t care. “It’s only rain,” the guy next to me shouted. I shouted too, reminding him about the last “blizzard game” at the old Foxboro Stadium. “Yeah!” he agreed! This isn’t snow! Play!”
Men dressed in Minutemen uniforms fired muskets every time the Pats won. Glad the muskets are not allowed in the stands because some fans get too excited and rowdy. Pats fan are a little TOO frenzied and will turn on a dime against the Pats whenever a mistake is made – many are unforgiving and I’ve never seen so many armchair coaches.
Was it really necessary for the clown three rows behind me to throw his beer bottle onto to the field to express his displeasure at a referee ruling? He’s lucky the cop happened to be looking the other way or he might have got a personal tour of the new police holding tank at the stadium.
I can’t believe how much running around the media has to do – you don’t see this on TV but the huge camera rig is constantly pushed and driven back and forth along side the field to where the action is, with roadies scrambling to keep miles of cable from being tangled. The guys from WBCN radio were hustling all night long with what I assumed were parabolic microphones. And the “robot” cam on wires that constantly hovers over the field is both
high-tech cool and a little creepy in a sci-fi sort of way.I was grateful for the presence of the local police and security staff that seemed to have a handle on safety. Good job as always, guys.
You cannot experience this excitement in your living room. You HAVE to go to a game.
Walking two miles home is still faster than outgoing traffic or getting to most parking lots. And by the way, to all the people in the parking lots, just keep beeping your horns; that will definitely make traffic flow faster.
The Patriots continue to impress me. Guys, thanks for a great opening game. Thanks for making my first game so memorable. Win or lose you make us proud
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This image of the Red Sox scoreboard was used in an advertising campaign for a local bank and featured in the Boston Globe in July 2007
Mount Chocorua is one of the White Mountains of New Hampshire. At an elevation of 3,490 feet (1,065 meters) it is the easternmost peak of the Sandwich Range. The Sandwich Range extends east-west about 30 miles from Conway, New Hampshire on the Saco River to Campton on the Pemigewasset. Although the range is not outstanding for its elevation, it is very rugged and has excellent views of the surrounding lakes, mountains, and forests. Mount Chocorua is uniquely situated, and its bare summit can be seen from almost every direction. Many trails ascend the mountain, which is also the source of mystery and legend.
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Here's a pretty scene off Castle Island in South Boston--the unusual rusty-color sails on the smaller boat make me think of chocolate ice cream--perfect for a harbor cruise!
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The Korean War Memorial on Castle Island in South Boston is very impressive; I have added four new images of this poignant tribute.
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Added June 2007: Founders Day Foxboro Fireworks Display! Over 30 "thisclose" images of this impressive celebration!
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My family has been visiting the area of
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Here in
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WaterFire Providence® , the award-winning sculpture by Barnaby Evans installed on the three rivers of downtown Providence, has been praised by Rhode Island residents and international visitors alike as a powerful work of art and a moving symbol of Providence’s renaissance. WaterFire’s sparkling bonfires, the fragrant scent of aromatic wood smoke, the flickering firelight on the arched bridges, the silhouettes of the firetenders passing by the flames, the torch-lit vessels traveling down the river, and the enchanting music from across the world all engage the senses and emotions of those who stroll the paths and bridges of Waterplace Park. WaterFire has captured the imagination of many thousands of people, bringing life to downtown, and continues to revitalize Rhode Island’s capital city. (TEXT FROM THE OFFICIAL WATERFIRE SITE)
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Boston First Night (New years Eve) Ice Sculptures--The First Night celebration serves as a showcase for Boston’s cultural and artistic communities through over 250 exhibitions and performances by both local and internationally recognized artists. First Night attracts a total audience of more than 1.5 million people annually. The unique concept that originated in Boston 30 years ago has served as a model for more than 200 similar celebrations worldwide. First Night has truly become a cherished Boston tradition. Popular attractions include the Family Festival at the Hynes Convention Center with its interactive activities for all ages, gigantic ICE SCULPTURES on Copley Square and the Boston Common, two glittering fireworks display, and a Mardi Gras-style Grand Procession that sweeps through the streets of Boston.
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Gillis Photos features several very nice images of the Bull & Finch pub, the inspiration for the TV show "Cheers!"
"Founded in 1969 as the Bull & Finch Pub, the original inspiration for the setting of the TV show Cheers, was a favorite neighbor-hood bar. In fact, the year that the Cheers show premiered on television (1982) Boston Magazine chose the Bull & Finch Pub as the “Best Neighborhood Bar” in Boston.
The show was one of the most successful and most popular to ever be aired on television. During its 11 seasons on prime time, Cheers received over 100 nominations for Emmys and almost all of the participants in the show won an Emmy in their category. The show itself won “Best Comedy” several times."
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Niagara Falls: My God, it is WONDERFUL to be back. The American and Canadian Falls, in fact, the entire Niagara Falls area – is as spectacular and breathtaking as I remember, and to share it with the entire family is really a dream come true. To be at the falls again, to just sit there and be entranced by the beauty and power – well, it was just amazing.
The Falls are just so beautiful – but what’s really interesting about this visit is that there was so much familiarity with them – even though I’ve only made this trip once before, Niagara felt as familiar as home.
The Falls look spectacular at night, when they are lit with various combinations of colored lights. I learned that a total of 21 Xenon lights are used to illuminate the Falls. Each Xenon spotlight illuminating the Falls at night has a brilliance of 250,000,000 candlepower.
And the fireworks – wow! Every Sunday and Friday, there is a spectacular free fireworks display over the Horseshoe Falls, across from Queen Victoria Place. A large crowd had gathered to watch these pyrotechnics. The fireworks looked to be just over the basin of the Canadian Falls, and were constant, boom, boom, boom, with an impressive finale. What a treat to see this lightshow over the falls! To be at the Falls is impressive enough; to see fireworks over Niagara was awe-inspiring. I snapped a few shots but wanted to enjoy the moment with Sue.
Monday, July 11,
2005: Our first destination was the top of the falls, so we walked the distance from Clifton hill to the top of Niagara. The weather was excellent and not a cloud to be seen in the sky. I took a lot of pictures today – over 200!
Because of the perfect weather, we’d decided to do the “wet” rides today – Maid of the Mist, and Journey behind the Falls. We got the seven of us to the dock, donned our lovely souvenir rain coats (now cheap plastic rather than heavy oilcloth coats), and boarded the diesel-engine boats that take visitors to the base of the American Falls and then on to the basin of the magnificent Canadian Horseshoe Falls. (On June 9th 1960, the Maid of the Mist II was instrumental in the rescue of seven year old Roger Woodward who had accidentally gone over the Horseshoe Falls. And the passengers and crew of Maid of the Mist IV, of course, witnessed Superman’s rescue of a young boy who fell over the falls in July, 1979).
Man, you get soaked riding this trip but it is SO worth it. I wisely brought the older (read: cheaper) of the two digital cameras for the ride – there’s so much foam and steam near the horseshoe falls that it’s impossible to get any kind of picture – but the excitement and thrill of the voyage is absolutely exhilarating.
Journey Behind The Falls was next. What a rush! You emerge far below the rim of the gorge. “..You’ve journeyed deep within to touch the heart of Niagara. Before you, the mighty river explodes after free-falling more than thirteen stories…” The sound is deafening, the sight, awe-inspiring. Seeing the falls from this completely different perspective is beyond exhilarating. The Journey Behind The Falls attraction, located in the Table Rock House Plaza beside the Canadian Horseshoe Falls, starts with a long line where you get your group picture taken. I amused Mom and others by wearing my raincoat like a cape. We took the quaint old elevator 250 feet down to table rock. The observation platform at the base of the falls is reached through the Creepy Slippery Ghostly Tunnels ™ (very wet, yellow light, and everyone looks all gray). One of the many things I had forgotten about Niagara is how awesome this view of the falls is. You can’t help but laugh like a kid as you get soaked and pounded by the falls. After snapping some photos I just stood there and let the full brunt of the falls hit me – the closest you can get to Niagara without getting killed. It was breath-taking, it was awe-inspiring! We were all like squealing children at Table Rock. Just in-credible.
Late in the afternoon we once walked up a STEEP, San Francisco type hill and again traveled back in time to the Imax theater to see Niagara—Miracles, Myths & Magic. I had forgotten a lot about this film, but I remember the striking image of Lelawala and the implication tha
t she saved Roger Woodwood, the boy who went over the falls. As before, the most interesting scenes occur in the final segments, which showcase humans trying to conquer Niagara. First-person shots of the steamship "Lelawala" traversing the rough waters are well done, while the tightrope walker is clearly a (poor) special effects shot. And I LOVED the recreation of 63 year old schoolteacher Annie Taylor climb into a barrel and ride it over the Niagara's edge. What a Looney.
(No one has ever dared to conquer the American Falls in a barrel. All daredevil activities have always concentrated on the Canadian Horseshoe Falls because it has a larger water flow and fewer rocks at its basin. )
It’s a great film,
typical of the Imax genre, but good nonetheless. I bought the DVD of the film.
Many of the daredevil crafts that actually went over the falls are now displayed at the Imax theater, including the Ray Weaver crafts seen at the Gorge in “Superman II.”
Over 150 of the images I took of Niagara Falls are available at www.GillisPhotos.com
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