Finger Lakes Beer Tasting

Posted on August 3, 2011 by Scott Thomas Photography
Beer tasting at the Miles Wine Cellars on the shore of Seneca Lake in the Finger Lakes region of New York.

Beer tasting at the Miles Wine Cellars on the shore of Seneca Lake in the Finger Lakes region of New York. Nikon D700/28-300VR, 1/40s, f/5, ISO 560, EV 0, 45mm focal length, rear-sync flash.

A couple of wineries I visited in the Finger Lakes region of New York last weekend had microbreweries and beer tastings along with their fine wines.  This was more my style and I gladly ponied up the money.

First up was the Miles Wine Cellars right on the shore of Seneca Lake so even boaters can stop in.  Their tastings included a complimentary wine glass (see photo on left).  Because they only had two beers this time of year, they half filled the glass for me.  While my daughter enjoyed five wines but only got about half of what I got for each one. I usually prefer pale ales but Miles’ Scottish Lure Ale was the first dark beer I have enjoyed.

The last stop on our wine tour was the Three Brothers Wineries whose bartender/pourer at the Soon to be Legendary War Horse Brewing Company had started working there two days prior.  He must be a fast learner as he already knew all about the Riesling Ale (yep, made with grapes), East Coast Amber, Raspberry Wheat Ale, New York Black (a dark beer I did not like) and their own brand of Root Beer.  He expertly poured each beverage out of a growler into shot sized plastic cups which were easily dispatched.  All but the dark beer was a hit with me.

The friendly beer pourer and other beer tasters at the War Horse Brewing Company of the Three Brothers Wineries in the Finger Lakes region of New York.

The friendly beer pourer and other beer tasters at the War Horse Brewing Company of the Three Brothers Wineries in the Finger Lakes region of New York.

The wine slushy at Three Brothers’ Passion Feet is so good, we bought the wine and mix to bring home.  Do not miss out in visiting Bagg Dare either.  🙂

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View 188: Finger Lakes Wine Tasting

Posted on August 1, 2011 by Scott Thomas Photography
Wine being poured for a tasting at the Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard in the Finger Lakes region of New York.

Wine being poured for a tasting at the Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard in the Finger Lakes region of New York. Nikon D700/28-300VR, 1/80s, f/5.6, ISO 200, EV 0, 122mm focal length, rear-sync flash.

The Finger Lakes region of New York is home to award winning wines. Over the weekend my family meet up with friends to travel along the Seneca Lake Wine Trail to enjoy wine tasting at the many vineyards. While I am not a wine drinker, I did enjoy the ambience of each winery and the knowledgeable pourers who presented the wines.

Our first stop was at the Hermann J. Wiener Vineyard where a host brought us to an outdoor wine tasting station which was a small bar.  A tasting of five wines costs from $2 to $3 depending on the winery.  You select from a list provided of the wines you would like to taste.  A pourer, a person who pours the wine, will pour out a few ounces of each wine.  Pourers answer any questions about the vineyard’s wines and suggest related wines depending on reactions to the wines tasted.  Many times you can get more than five tastings as pourers will add to the list.  As tastings often end up in sales.

I learned about all the different kinds of wines and grapes they are made from.  How different growing conditions will cause grapes and the wines made from them to taste differently.  Even a distance of only ten miles can do so.

Wines tasted at the Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyards in the Finger Lakes region of New York.

Wines tasted at the Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyards in the Finger Lakes region of New York. Nikon D700/28-300VR, 1/125s, f/5.6, ISO 200, EV 0, 28mm focal length, rear-sync flash.

Each winery made sure you either go through their store or have the wine tasting in the store where they present their products and related gift items.  A tried and true method which accounted for a few sales from our group. 🙂

Torrey Ridge wines ready for purchase in the Finger Lakes region of New York.

Torrey Ridge wines ready for purchase in the Finger Lakes region of New York. Nikon D700/28-300VR, 1/30s, f/5, ISO 1100, EV 0, 78mm focal length.

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Know Thy Sport

Posted on July 29, 2011 by Scott Thomas Photography

This is a concept well known in photography.  The better you know a subject, the better you can photograph it.  I grew up playing ice hockey so I feel the most comfortable and confident covering high school and pro games. I follow the flow of a game and position myself to photograph the best action.  In the game pictured below, the red team was down by two goals at the beginning of the second period.  I had a feeling they would come out flying and create good scoring opportunities.  The red player scored on this shot as the puck slide just under the goalie’s stick in the first minute of the period.

Ice hockey is a fast sport and knowing the game helps a photographer get into position to capture the action.

Ice hockey is a fast sport and knowing the game helps a photographer get into position to capture the action. Nikon D700/70-200VR, 1/500s, f/2.8, ISO 6400, EV +1.3, 82mm focal length.

Baseball is a sport I know and played but am not a student of the game.  Every game I photograph builds on my knowledge and experience.  Like anticipating when a batter will swing.  When the sport has a ball, puck or snitch, it is best to get the ball in the frame or, in this case, on the bat.

Getting the object of the sport in the photo is very important like the baseball the batter is hitting here.

Getting the object of the sport in the photo is very important like the baseball the batter is hitting here. Nikon D700/28-300VR, 1/500s, f/5.6, ISO 6400, EV +0.7, 300mm focal length.

This year I am learning to enjoy and photograph the sport of box lacrosse.  Another fast sport like ice hockey.  Lacrosse sticks have nets where the game ball is carried during the game.  Players are wizards at using their sticks to carry, pass and shoot the ball from various angles.  After a few games I started to recognize the moves of the players and anticipate the action.  The first few times I was following a player who would suddenly put a shot on goal by going over his reverse shoulder, I totally missed it.  I was determined to catch this stunning move and did after many attempts.

Anticipating the play like this over the shoulder shot by a lacrosse player is part of a sports photographers learned skill.

Anticipating the play like this over the shoulder shot by a lacrosse player is part of a sports photographer's learned skill. Nikon D700/70-200VR, 1/800s, f/2.8, ISO 8000, EV +1.0, 200mm focal length.

Practice is important in any sport as it is in photography.  The more you photograph a sport, the better you know and understand it.  The better your photographs of the sport will be.

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Assignment 14 Recap

Posted on July 27, 2011 by Scott Thomas Photography

I was looking forward to seeing how people would do this assignment on Showing Scale in Photography.  At first glance, it seems like an easy thing to show.  It is but it is not so easy to see it photographically. What is seen with two eyes in a three dimensional world does not always work in the two dimensions of photography.

Now, let’s see the results of your fine scaled work.

Nye was first up with a fruity comparison followed a couple of amazing beach photographs.  Showing the smallness of things in a big universe.

Joining in for the first time, Barbara is another upstate New Yorker who loves the gorges and waterfalls where she lives.  I am totally jealous of the waterfall photo in her post on Showing Scale.

Right after Barbara posted so did her neighbor, Deb.  As you will see, they both had a similar idea.  Deb’s Showing Scale post included a couple of other photos which brought home to me the scale of one of my favorite places to photograph.

Dawn shows us the biggest barn I have ever seen.  How can I tell?  Check out her Talking about scale and see.

I really look forward to Karma’s submissions but she went over the top by showing me a huge raspberry.  I even had my wife buy raspberries this week so I could eat some.  I know there are other photos…go see them in her Showing Scale post.

Birgitte took scale a different way and showed us balance in her Scale in photography post.  Not sure she meant to do it but I sure loved her doing it.

I showed a Scale Model I found at the Syracuse Nationals car show.  It would not have worked so well if the model maker had not been such a craftsman.

On the east coast of the United States, trees are not huge like on the west coast.  Jennifer, however, did find a big tree and showed its size very well.

I do ask everyone to create or use their own photos for my assignments. Carsten did not in his Scale in photography submission and, once you see it, you will see why I am not to upset about it.  This time. 😉

When I travel, I make sure I use objects to show people the size of a place.  Truels does a brilliant job of doing this from his recent trip to Australia.  Watch out for the spider!

Last and not really too late, Michaela returned from her vacation to show us scale by use of some currency and a mineral rock.

Nicely done everyone!  The next assignment will be announced in September.  Enjoy the rest of your summer and do not forget about Karma’s Colorful August Photo Hunt.

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View 187: Hot Baseball Action

Posted on July 25, 2011 by Scott Thomas Photography

I was invited to photograph the CNY Thunder Classic baseball tournament again this year.  Unlike last year when the weather was cool and damp, this year our summer has been hot and dry.  While the fields at Rome Baseball Association have sprinklers to wet down the infield dirt between games, the Sun would soon dry them out.

Game galleries for this tournament will be available by clicking here: 2011 CNY Thunder Classic.

CNY National's shortstop turns a double play while losing his baseball cap at the CNY Thunder Classic baseball tournament in Rome, New York.

CNY National's shortstop turns a double play while losing his baseball cap at the CNY Thunder Classic baseball tournament in Rome, New York. Nikon D700/80-400VR, 1/2500s, f/10, ISO 800, EV -0.3, 400mm focal length.

Each team played two games a day over the three day tournament with the championship teams playing an extra game.  Still, the players went all out despite the conditions.

Leaving his feet to make a play, a Canadian Terrier infielder throws the runner out at first during the CNY Thunder Classic baseball tournament in Rome, New York.

Leaving his feet to make a play, a Canadian Terrier infielder throws the runner out at first during the CNY Thunder Classic baseball tournament in Rome, New York. Nikon D700/80-400VR, 1/2000s, f/11, ISO 800, EV -0.3, 400mm focal length.

No player went home with a clean uniform.  Dirt and dust was kicked up just by walking so when a play happened in the infield, players came up covered in dirt.  Especially when a player would slide into home plate trying to score.

A CNY Americans player scores sliding into home plate against the Ottawa Canadian catcher in CNY Thunder Classic action in Rome, New York.

A CNY Americans player scores sliding into home plate against the Ottawa Canadian catcher in CNY Thunder Classic action in Rome, New York. Nikon D700/80-400VR, 1/2000s, f/6.3, ISO 800, EV 0, 400mm focal length.

Not only was it hot for the players, the photographer got a lot of Sun after covering 13 games over the last two days of the tournament.  🙂

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