View 184: Inner Harbor Fireworks

Posted on July 4, 2011 by Scott Thomas Photography

I started out my holiday weekend enjoying fireworks in Syracuse’s Inner Harbor. An area which used to be run down and useless.  Over the last few years Syracuse has transformed it into a park area for concerts, festivals and, on this night, community fireworks in celebration of the birth of America.

Fireworks over the Inner Harbor in Syracuse, New York.

Fireworks over the Inner Harbor in Syracuse, New York. Nikon D700/28-300VR, 25s, f/16, ISO 200, EV 0, 28mm focal length, tripod, 3-stop ND filter.

This was my first opportunity to use the Neutral Density filter on a non-Disney fireworks show.  I flubbed the first few attempts early in the show as I did not wait for a series of bursts at various heights.  These created the most interesting photos using the ND filter over a long span of time.

Two sets of bursts over the Inner Harbor in Syracuse, New York.

Two sets of bursts over the Inner Harbor in Syracuse, New York. Nikon D700/28-300VR, 31.5s, f/16, ISO 200, EV 0, 28mm focal length, tripod, 3-stop ND filter.

The next one probably would not have needed an ND filter.  Once the top bursts had dispersed, they fired off the streamers you see below.  Still, the filter gave me the confidence to keep the shutter open for 36.9 seconds.

A long exposure captured these bursts and streamers over the Inner Harbor in Syracuse, New York.

A long exposure captured these bursts and streamers over the Inner Harbor in Syracuse, New York. Nikon D700/28-300VR, 36.9s, f/16, ISO 200, EV 0, 28mm focal length, tripod, 3-stop ND filter.

Did any of you go see fireworks this weekend?

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Remember the 4th of July

Posted on July 1, 2011 by Scott Thomas Photography
Spirit of America Fife & Drum Corps perform in front of the American Adventure pavilion.

Spirit of America Fife & Drum Corps perform in front of the American Adventure pavilion. Nikon D70/18-200VR, 1/160s, f/16, ISO 200, EV -0.3, 24mm focal length.

To all my fellow citizens of the United States of America.

Happy 235th Birthday! 

Remember the risk our forefathers took on this date in 1776:

A toast? Yeah. To high treason. That’s what these men were committing when they signed the Declaration (of Independence). Had we lost the war, they would have been hanged, beheaded, drawn and quartered, and-Oh! Oh, my personal favorite-and had their entrails cut out and burned! So… Here’s to the men who did what was considered wrong, in order to do what they knew was right…  — Ben Gates from National Treasure (2004)

Be safe and enjoy the long holiday weekend!

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4th of July Dessert

Posted on June 30, 2011 by Scott Thomas Photography

Looking for a dessert this 4th of July holiday weekend?  May I suggest Bread and Putter’s Bright Red Strawberry Pie.  Even my Disney characters thought it looked great.

Bright Red Strawberry Pie dessert.

Bright Red Strawberry Pie dessert. Nikon D700/Tokina 11-16mm, 1/20s, f/2.8, ISO 6400, EV 0, 15mm focal length.

For the recipe, click here.  BTW, even new gelatin was a bit messy but oh so very good!

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A June Photo Hunt

Posted on June 29, 2011 by Scott Thomas Photography

Here are my results of Karma’s June Photo Hunt.

1. A colorful bird. The bright orange bill and eye of an Oystercatcher in Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge near Atlantic City, New Jersey.  Look, he’s standing on one leg.

Oystercatcher on the beach at Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge.

Oystercatcher on the beach at Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge. Nikon D7000/80-400VR, 1/1000s, f/5.6, ISO 500, EV +0.3, 400mm focal length.

2. A Grad – of any sort. A 2011 high school graduate poses with her likeness at a family graduation party.

A 2011 high school graduate poses with her cake at her graduation party.

A 2011 high school graduate poses with her cake at her graduation party. Nikon D700/28-300VR, 1/125s, f/5, ISO 220, EV 0, 28mm focal length.

3. A Dad – of any sort. My Dad, 85 years young, laughing at his 2011 Father’s Day gift, a scratch off lottery card. I am so ever grateful to have both my parents still in my life.  iPhone photo used in very challenging lighting.

My Dad on Father's Day.

My Dad on Father's Day in 2011.

4. Something purple.  Well, it looked purple to me but my iPhone had other ideas. 🙂

A purple-ish red peony flower in my yard.

A purple-ish red peony flower in my yard.

5. A butterfly. The only butterflies I have seen lately was on a very windy day on the Jersey shore and I was not able to bag a photo.  So, I dipped into my archive and came up with this black and yellow butterfly from Walt Disney World’s World Showcase across from the Italy pavilion. Hey, these are purple flowers!

A black and yellow butterfly in some flowers near Epcot's Italy pavilion.

A black and yellow butterfly in some flowers near Epcot's Italy pavilion. Nikon D700/28-300VR, 1/200s, f/7.1, ISO 200, EV 0, 300mm focal length.

6. A funny face.  How about a large hot air balloon from BonjourQuebec.com as my funny face selection?  Sure brought smiles and laughter to many of the spectators watching at the 2011 Syracuse Balloonfest.

A big funny face from Quebec, Canada floats over the 2011 Syracuse Balloonfest.

A big funny face from Quebec, Canada floats over the 2011 Syracuse Balloonfest. Nikon D700/28-300VR, 1/160s, f/13, ISO 200, EV +0.3, 105mm focal length.

I did not get to the southern part of my county so I do not have a bonus photo this time around.

I encourage you to visit Karma’s blog post to see the many other entries to her June Photo Hunt.

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View 183: Box Lacrosse

Posted on June 27, 2011 by Scott Thomas Photography
Onondaga Red Hawks Brett Bucktooth (66) goes between the legs to score a goal against the Allegany Arrows in Can-Am Senior "B" Box Lacrosse league action at the Onondaga Nation Arena in Nedrow, New York.

Onondaga Red Hawks Brett Bucktooth (66) goes between the legs to score a goal against the Allegany Arrows in Can-Am Senior "B" Box Lacrosse league action at the Onondaga Nation Arena in Nedrow, New York. Nikon D700/70-200VR, 1/500s, f/2.8, ISO 8000, EV +1.0, 125mm focal length.

I found another sport which is fast, played in hockey rink sized arenas and is even tougher to photograph because of the lack of the white ice to reflect light on to the players.  The game is called Box Lacrosse and is very popular in Canada and the United States.  I photographed a game between the Allegany Arrows and the Onondaga Red Hawks over the weekend on the Onondaga Nation Territory south of Syracuse, New York in the Tsha’hon’nonyen’dakhwa (Onondaga Nation) arena.  Both teams are members of the Can-Am Senior “B” Lacrosse League.

Even using the Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 VR lens, the ISO climbed to 8000 for most of shots.  The photos you see here have not had noise reduction done to them.

Allegany Arrows try to stop an Onondaga Red Hawk from clearing the ball in hard hitting action of box lacrosse.

Allegany Arrows try to stop an Onondaga Red Hawk from clearing the ball in hard hitting action of box lacrosse. Nikon D700/70-200VR, 1/800s, f/2.8, ISO 8000, EV +1.0, 200mm focal length.

Box lacrosse has hard hitting action, fast play and requires skilled athletic ability to fire a solid rubber 2.5 inch in diameter orange lacrosse ball past a heavily padded goalie who  covers almost the entire 4 foot square goal.

Onondaga Red Hawks Grant Bucktooth (15) sidesteps an Allegany Arrows defender before scoring a goal in Can-Am Senior "B" Box Lacrosse league action.

Onondaga Red Hawks Grant Bucktooth (15) sidesteps an Allegany Arrows defender before scoring a goal in Can-Am Senior "B" Box Lacrosse league action. Nikon D700/70-200VR, 1/800s, f/2.8, ISO 8000, EV +1.0, 200mm focal length.

Like hockey, each team has a goalie and 5 “runners” on the playing surface at a time.  Since the game is played in hockey rinks, players use the boards to check each other against.  Unlike hockey, there is a shot clock.  The team with the ball must take a shot on goal every 30 seconds or loose possession.  This is usually not an issue and creates a fast paced and entertaining game.

Onondaga Red Hawks Ron Cogan (9) uses his height to slam dunk a goal over the Allegany Arrows' defenders.

Onondaga Red Hawks Ron Cogan (9) uses his height to slam dunk a goal over the Allegany Arrows' defenders. Nikon D700/70-200VR, 1/800s, f/2.8, ISO 8000, EV +1.0, 200mm focal length.

The Allegany Arrows proved not to be much competition for the home team as the Onondaga Red Hawks scored in double digits while only allowing 4 goals.

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