Spring Along the St Lawrence River
I enjoy visiting the St Lawrence River outside the regular tourist season. In mid-May, the state parks are still closed for camping, so the trails and overlooks are empty. Ideal conditions for quiet landscape photography. The weather is cool, the bugs haven’t emerged yet, and the trees are just beginning to green up. It’s a beautiful in-between season along the St. Lawrence: calm, open, and waiting. With some guidance from a local photographer or a little map research, small streams can be found that provide views for sunrise, and peaceful coves and peninsulas where the light lingers at sunset. These images are from that brief, quiet window before summer begins.
The first few images are from Wellesley Island State Park. With no campers yet, you can go anywhere in the park and enjoy whatever vantage points you can find.
There are other wooded areas on Wellesley Island besides the Wellesley Island State Park. You can find early blooming flowers in the spring, such as this Trillium. I used a high ISO and image stabilization to hand hold the camera for this shot.
Next up is a sunset shot from Kring Point State Park. There were no clouds to reflect the glow this evening, but the color was beautiful.
There are several small streams flowing into the St Lawrence. A little bit of Google Maps research and the use of apps such as Photo Pills or the Photographer’s Ephemeris can lead you to some beautiful vantage points for sunrise shots along marshes and creeks in the area. Here is one such creek view at sunrise in May.
The waterways of northern NY are some of the most photogenic places in the state to visit in the spring. I highly recommend an early-season camping trip or reserving a Bed and Breakfast in May before the crowds arrive. Set your alarm early because sunrise light at this time of year is some of the best light you will find.
✅ Where to Find Me
You can find more of my work on the web at: Simmons Photography
If you want to work with me, or inquire about licensing images: Contact Page
More of my work can be seen on Vero and Flickr.
🎒 The Gear Bag - Gear and Inspiration
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Most of the images were taken with the Fujifilm XT-5 mounted on a 3 Legged Thing tripod.
Check out Nigel Danson’s YouTube channel. His woodland photography videos have inspired my work.
💬 Closing Thoughts
Coles Creek State Park in Waddington, NY, is another one of my favorite destinations along the St Lawrence.
Just north of Alexandria Bay, you will find Kring Point State Park.
Location Overview: The St Lawrence Seaway connects the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean. The St Lawrence River is part of the seaway system, which flows from Lake Ontario to the Gulf of St Lawrence. The Thousand Islands region consists of over 1,800 Islands located in the St Lawrence River and is a popular tourist and vacation destination.
“Be like a river. Be open. Flow.” — Julie Connor