OK everyone - here are some initial location thoughts based on lots of research. Please have a look and let me know what you think.
Ritchie Ledges:A very accessible 1.8m loop hike (could be shortened or lengthened if needed). Goes around a plateau-like outcropping, with 40-60' cliffs towering on one side and old growth hemlocks on the other. Extremely photogenic (especially in the winter) due to lots of dramatic rock outcroppings, icicles all over, and cool caves. If we're luck there'll be a fresh coating of snow, and if we're even luckier it'll actually be snowing at the time
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Some pictures and more info:
http://ianadamsphotography.com/news/picture-ohio-ritchie-ledges-cuyahoga-valley-national-park/http://www.akron.com/akron-ohio-entertainment-news.asp?aID=14946http://www.nps.gov/cuva/planyourvisit/upload/Ledges_2011.pdfThis is a good place to spend a couple of hours exploring. Trying different compositions, ideas, etc. More a daytime location than a sunrise/sunset one.
Everett Road Covered Bridge:This would make a lovely sunrise shoot, as well as an after-sunset shoot (twilight).
http://500px.com/photo/22166033http://tomjonesbuckeyephotos.com/collections/winter-in-the-cuyahoga-valley/products/everett-road-covered-bridgehttp://curriephoto.smugmug.com/Landscapes/Winter-in-Cuyahoga-Valley/7291692_wfk45Z/468822665_gBXgvVv#!i=468822545&k=9f72PJN&lb=1&s=AOther places I'm checking out are Kendall Lake, Beaver Marsh, and the Hunt Farm area. These all look like they'd be sunset or sunrise candidates. There are also some places in the park that have all sorts of old farming stuff like barrels and wheels which may be interesting.
The falls that Dan showed early in the thread is called Brandywine Falls. TBH, after looking through hundreds of pictures taken of and around the falls, I have yet to see one taken in winter that wowed me. Form all the viewpoints, only one is open during the winter (the others are supposedly too dangerous), and the view from there is very messy - lots of random branches sticking out, bag angle, etc. I'm exploring other waterfalls in the area, all of which are smaller and most of which are prettier (IMHO). So unless anyone has a specific interest in shooting Brandywine, I think it could safely be skipped.
Please check out the links and let me know what you think, if I'm heading in the right direction. Please also mention any specific things you'd like to shoot if you have any.