Autumn Color Photography Tips

Posted on September 30, 2011 by Scott Thomas Photography

In searching for past posts about autumn colors, I came across one I wrote during my first year of blogging called Autumn Color.  In the article I talked about why leafs change colors and referenced a scientific article about it.  I included a couple of links on how to best photograph the fall colors but both those links are now dead. 😦

From top left: 1000 Islands, Letchworth State Park, Beaver Lake Nature Center and Webster Pond.

From top left: 1000 Islands, Letchworth State Park, Beaver Lake Nature Center and Webster Pond.

This got me out searching for new articles on how to best capture the changing colors of Fall for my bloggers and readers living in the Northern hemisphere close to deciduous trees.  There is some repetition between the three articles linked below but each has a slightly different take on how best to get those colors (or colours if you are Australian) to pop.

Jay and Varina Patel on Photographing Fall Colors

Outdoor Photographer on getting Classic Fall Color

Digital Photography School shows how to Capture Autumn Colours

Posted in Nature, Photography | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

Adult Grease Pole Climb

Posted on September 29, 2011 by Scott Thomas Photography

Unlike the kid’s event I showed you yesterday, the Grease Pole Climb event is for adults and features a 30 foot (9 meters) tall pole.  Like the kid’s event, the pole is covered in grease with two minutes to complete the task.  Teams of 5 people competing in a men’s and women’s division for prizes totaling $1,000US.  Plus, if a team reaches the top, there is a bonus of $200 in cash attached to the pole. Each team gets two attempts.

A team competes in the Adult Grease Pole Climb at the Jordan Fall Festival in Jordan, New York.

A team competes in the Adult Grease Pole Climb at the Jordan Fall Festival in Jordan, New York. Nikon D700/24-85G, 1/400s, f/10, ISO 200, EV 0, 28mm focal length, polarizer filter.

In the past, I have seen teams get to the top but not this year.   The winning teams got to the 21 and 22 foot marks with the women’s team having the higher mark.  The cash at the top is safe for another year and will be increased to $300.  Anyone want to join me next year to take a shot at reaching the top?

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Kid’s Greased Pole Cross Competition

Posted on September 28, 2011 by Scott Thomas Photography

For 65 years, the Jordan Fall Festival in Jordan, New York has flourished with a mix of old time charm, good food, family atmosphere and traditional competitions.  Each year, people look forward to the Kid’s Greased Pole Cross.  Picture two slanted poles next to each other with bells at the top.  Both thickly covered in grease (aka Crisco shortening).  Got it? Well, let me help you out with the visualization.

Contestants wait for their turn at the Kid's Greased Pole Cross at the Jordan Fall Festival in Jordan, New York.

Contestants wait for their turn at the Kid's Greased Pole Cross at the Jordan Fall Festival in Jordan, New York. Nikon D700/24-85G, 1/160s, f/16, ISO 200, EV 0, 30mm focal length, fill flash.

Kid’s aged 5 to 13 compete in four different groups to see which ones can reach the top and ring the bell the fastest. Everyone gets two minutes and, if one does not reach the top, their distance up the pole is recorded.  Starting positions for each group is determined by draw.  The later the position one draws, the more grease will have been removed by the other kid’s clothing.  Moms must love this competition!

As friends and family cheer him on, a boy tries his best to inch his way up the greased pole at the Jordan Fall Festival in Jordan, New York.

As friends and family cheer him on, a boy tries his best to inch his way up the greased pole at the Jordan Fall Festival in Jordan, New York. Nikon D700/24-85G, 1/250s, f/10, ISO 200, EV 0, 85mm focal length, fill flash.

As her time runs out, a young girl reaches as far up the greased pole as she can at the Jordan Fall Festival in Jordan, New York.

As her time runs out, a young girl reaches as far up the greased pole as she can at the Jordan Fall Festival in Jordan, New York. Nikon D700/24-85G, 1/160s, f/16, ISO 200, EV 0, 78mm focal length, fill flash.

A girl smiles triumphantly as she rings the bell during the Kid's Greased Pole Cross competition at the Jordan Fall Festival in Jordan, New York.

A girl smiles triumphantly as she rings the bell during the Kid's Greased Pole Cross competition at the Jordan Fall Festival in Jordan, New York. Nikon D700/24-85G, 1/250s, f/13, ISO 200, EV 0, 30mm focal length, fill flash.

I give this boy points for his perseverance and creativity.

A boy hangs on as he reaches up to ring the bell during the Kid's Greased Pole Cross at the Jordan Fall Festival in Jordan, New York.

A boy hangs on as he reaches up to ring the bell during the Kid's Greased Pole Cross at the Jordan Fall Festival in Jordan, New York. Nikon D700/24-85G, 1/160s, f/16, ISO 200, EV 0, 35mm focal length, fill flash.

This is my submission for Assignment 15: Competition.

Posted in Assignments, People | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 20 Comments

View 196: HydroBowl

Posted on September 26, 2011 by Scott Thomas Photography

I was very disappointed when earlier this year the Syracuse Hydrofest was cancelled due to high water levels on Onondaga Lake which I have enjoyed photographing the last two years.  Lucky for me, a new inboard hydroplane race was being held this year on Seneca Lake in Geneva, New York called HydroBowl.  As you will soon see, Seneca Lake is not just about wine and beer.

Click Here for the 2011 HydroBowl Photo Gallery

HydroBowl featured vintage racing boats like the  J-444 Big John’s Edelweiss which was a multi-year champion back in the 1970’s. The vintage boats did not race. Instead, they did “fly-bys” so the spectators could enjoy seeing the boats on the water.

The vintage racing boat J-444 Big John's Edelweiss doing a fly-by at the HydroBowl on Seneca Lake in Geneva, New York.

The vintage racing boat J-444 Big John's Edelweiss doing a fly-by at the HydroBowl on Seneca Lake in Geneva, New York. Nikon D700/80-400VR, 1/800s, f/5.6, ISO 320, EV +0.3, 400mm focal length, cropped.

The day started out with overcast grey clouds which was reflected in the lake’s waters.  As the day progressed, the clouds dissipated and a sunny blue sky came out to create a beautiful early autumn day in the Finger Lakes.

To celebrate, I slowed down my shutter and did some panning attempts of the Grand National Hydro class heats.

Grand National Hydro (GNH) hydroplane Show Time Racing competing at the HydroBowl on Seneca Lake in Geneva, New York.

Grand National Hydro (GNH) hydroplane Show Time Racing competing at the HydroBowl on Seneca Lake in Geneva, New York. Nikon D700/80-400VR, 1/125s, f/18, ISO 200, EV +0.3, 400mm focal length.

My favorite class is the 5.0 Liter inboard hydroplanes who can reach speeds of 150 mph (241 kph) and tend to have very close races with the high skill levels of the drivers and teams.  The photo below will give you an idea how close to the edge hydroplanes get during a race.  They do literally fly over the water’s surface.

5.0 Liter Inboard Hydroplane flying down the front stretch at the HydroBowl on Seneca Lake in Geneva, New York.

5.0 Liter Inboard Hydroplane flying down the front stretch at the HydroBowl on Seneca Lake in Geneva, New York. Nikon D700/80-400VR, 1/1000s, f/5.6, ISO 200, EV +0.3, 400mm focal length, cropped.

The race day went late into the afternoon and the Sun dipped below a bank of clouds to the west of the race location.  The sky was still blue above and the mix of less light and low angle of the Sun created a bluish-grey color in the roostertails and water as the boats finished up the last of the heat races.

John Krebs drives the National Modifed Just Crazy (NM-233) at the HydroBowl on Seneca Lake in Geneva, New York.

John Krebs drives the National Modifed Just Crazy (NM-233) at the HydroBowl on Seneca Lake in Geneva, New York. Nikon D700/80-400VR, 1/1000s, f/5.6, ISO 720, EV +0.3, 400mm focal length, cropped.

I want to thank the HydroBowl organization for bringing inboard hydroplane racing back to the Finger Lakes.  The setting was beautiful and there was a good crowd for a new event. The racers I talked to really enjoyed the venue and are looking forward to returning next year and for years to come.

I saw a lot of competitive racing last weekend which reminded me to remind you this month’s assignment on competition is due this week.

BONUS: I had this idea.  What would a panned photo of a hydroplane look like after being tone-mapped in Photomatix Pro’s Plugin for Aperture 3?  I think it looks pretty good!

2.5 Liter Stock hydroplane Grafx (CS-6) racing at the HydroBowl on Seneca Lake in Geneva, New York.

2.5 Liter Stock hydroplane Grafx (CS-6) racing at the HydroBowl on Seneca Lake in Geneva, New York. Nikon D700/80-400VR, 1/125s, f/22, ISO 200, EV +0.3, 400mm focal length, tone-mapped in Photomatix Pro.

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FX Unmasked

Posted on September 23, 2011 by Scott Thomas Photography

Last month I introduced an app called FX Photo Studio for Macs and iPhones.  Since then MacPhunn has added masking which allows you to add or erase effect filters.  Here’s an example using the Moon photo I showed you last spring.

Moon with 3-D Effect and no masking.

Moon with 3-D Effect and no masking.

While this is neat.  I really want to see the moon details better.  I selected to add instead the effect in the space surrounding our planet’s satellite.  It works like brushes in a photo editing program like Aperture 3 or PhotoShop.  You can alter the brush manually for size, softness and opacity or use one of the presets.  It was easy to paint the effect in with a large brush and then use smaller ones to trim around the moon’s edges.  I had to switch from paint to erase to do the final cleanup.

Here is the result.

The moon unmasked from the 3-D Effect.

The moon unmasked from the 3-D Effect.

Looks like something out of Star Trek, doesn’t it?

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