It's worth the wait

THE LOCATION: Niagara Falls State Park, N.Y.

GPS: 43°5'10.2876" N 79°4'6.8556" W

THE EQUIPMENT: Canon EOS 5D Mark IV | EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM | Peak Design aluminum tripod

THE STORY: Photography, specifically photography equipment, is made with convenience in mind.

How else to explain the proliferation of cameras in our phones? Moments happen, they happen quickly, and people want the instant satisfaction of a snapshot, forever freezing that moment for posterity.

We crave the dopamine spike that a camera and a good shot can give us.

But there's a greater reward waiting for us if we are willing to ... wait.

During a recent winter excursion to western New York, I nearly gave up on a bucket list item I had on my photography to-do.

While I loathe what society and culture have done over the centuries to Niagara Falls - the Canadian side has turned into a pathetic little version of Vegas and so help me if I see another Ripley's Believe It or Not open next to a natural occurring phenomenon - I have been attracted to the idea of photographing the falls in winter illuminated at dusk.

Yeah, I know, there's a bit of a contradiction here. You can't light up an ancient 100-foot waterfall without some powerful LEDs, which isn't possible without turning everything into a tourist trap.

Still, we image makers are drawn to the magnetism of light, even artificial light. So be it.

Niagara, though, was determined to make me earn it, as it does for anyone who visits the state park and the canyon walls in January. Thus the waiting.

Arriving an hour before sundown in sub-20 degree weather, lake effect snow stung the face and the surprisingly humid cold penetrated even the best layers of synthetic outdoor clothing.

And when the sun finally descended and darkness began to enwrap the area, no lights came on to bathe the waterfalls in bright colors. It was a Sunday evening. I thought perhaps the powers-that-be don't light up the falls in winter on a Sunday, and so I nearly made the decision to abandon the pursuit of this bucket list item.

Not before waiting. Not before setting up the camera and tripod. Give it five more minutes. I know it's cold. The toes and the fingers have gone numb. The warmth of a restaurant and a glass of good bourbon are calling. Just five more minutes.

Rarely have I ever found waiting for the image to appear in front of you to be in vain. It can happen, the scene doesn't materialize the way you wish.

But more often than not, your patience is rewarded. Through the snow and the thick mist created by the falls, a seriously powerful LED light turned on, and as darkness of night grew, so did the vibrance of the blue and red on the American Falls.

Open the shutter.

Dave Pidgeon is a seasoned photographer and writer from Lancaster, Pa. You can reach him at dave@pidgeonseyeview.com.