View 138: Throwing Stones, Tossing Cabers

Posted on August 16, 2010 by Scott Thomas Photography

I attended the Central New York Scottish Games over the weekend and enjoyed a beautiful Summer’s day learning about Scottish heritage and celebrating their traditions.  One of their traditions are the athletic competitions.  The Stone Throwing is very similar to the Olympic sports of the shot put and hammer throw.

Craig Northrup of Rochester, N.Y. competes in the 56 pound Stone Throwing event at the CNY Scottish Games at Long Branch Park in Liverpool, New York, on Saturday, August 14, 2010.

Craig Northrup of Rochester, N.Y. shows physical strain and mental concentration as he competes in the 56 pound Stone Throwing event at the CNY Scottish Games at Long Branch Park in Liverpool, New York, on Saturday, August 14, 2010. Nikon D700/70-200VR, 1/1000s, f/8, ISO 200, EV -0.3, 200mm focal length.

The 56 pound (25 kilograms) distributed Stone Throw shows the agility, strength, and concentration of each of the competitors as they whirl around to build up enough momentum to cover distances over 30 feet (9 meters).

The Caber Toss is a unique Scottish athletic event which tests not only a person’s strength but balance and technique.  Cabers are long wood poles of around 19 feet (~6 meters) and weigh close to 130 pounds (59 kilograms).  Competitors get assistance in standing the caber on end but then have to lift the long and heavy log while balancing it against their bodies.  They carefully run with the caber to build up enough speed to stop and launch it into the air.  The goal is to toss the caber end over end so it tips over away from the tosser when it lands.  The straighter the caber falls, the more points are awarded.

Will Barron of Syracuse, N. Y. competes in the Caber Toss at the CNY Scottish Games at Long Branch Park in Liverpool, New York, on Saturday, August 14, 2010.

Will Barron of Syracuse, N.Y. yells as he tosses a Caber at the CNY Scottish Games at Long Branch Park in Liverpool, New York, on Saturday, August 14, 2010. Nikon D700/70-200VR, 1/640s, f/3.2, ISO 200, EV 0, 200mm focal length.

I learned the definition of a Great Scot at one of the vendor tables selling t-shirts: It’s not just the length of his caber that makes him great but also the weight of his stones.

All in all, a very good first outing for the New-2-Me Nikon D700 digital SLR camera.  More from the CNY Scottish Games later this week and on flickr.

Posted in People, Sports, Weekly View | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 29 Comments

It is time for an upgrade

Posted on August 14, 2010 by Scott Thomas Photography

Nikon D700 digital SLR camera.

I’ve talked about it enough around here so you’ll be relieved to know I took possession of a slightly used Nikon D700 digital SLR camera yesterday.  I’ll be giving it a proper shake down later today.  Look for the results next week.  I purchased the Nikon MB-D10 battery grip last month with the Pioneer Woman B&H Gift Card I won way back in Febraury of 2009 along with a few other goodies.

Posted in Photography | Tagged , , , , , , | 17 Comments

7 Ways to Get Out of a Photographer’s Slump

Posted on August 13, 2010 by Scott Thomas Photography

Over the past year I have heard a few of my photographer friends say they had become uninspired.  In sports, they would say the photographer is in a slump. A slump is a period of poor or losing play by a team or individual.  For a photographer, it is a period where anything seen through a viewfinder does not look right.

Sunset near my home.

Sunset near my home. Nikon D70/18-200VR, 1/25s, f/16, ISO 200, EV +0.3, 31mm focal length, tripod.

When I find myself in a slump, I look for a way to shake up my photographic brain. Here are some of the ways I do that.

1. Go for a walk without a camera. Look around at the world without the restriction of a frame to fill.  Let your eyes and mind wander, breath deeply, listen to the sounds around you and feel the earth beneath your feet.  No pressure to find something to photograph.  When I do this, I find myself refreshed and photo possibilities come much easier.

2. Look for an event to attend and plan what kind of photographs to get. Look through your community’s websites and newspapers for a festival, concert, fair or another event.  Plan what kind of photos you would like to get there and then attend the event.  Did you get the ones you planned?  What else presented itself during the event?

3. Shoot for a day/week/month with a prime lens or, if you normally use a prime lens, a zoom lens. By changing up, you have to think a bit more, go a little slower and see differently.

4. Select a subject to photograph and do it for a day/week/month. Examples would be color, shape, theme, people, animals, etc. Usually something like this starts slowly until your brain picks up on the subject.  By the end of the time period, you will be seeing the chosen subject everywhere.

5. Read a book of fiction. Another non-photographic way to give your mind a break.

6. Create or work on a life project. This can be photography related or not.  Maybe you have another hobby.  For me I have a few photography projects like panning, scenes of my hometown or local festivals.

7. Put your camera in manual mode for a weekend. Another way to engage your brain more is to use manual mode and think through your exposures and creative spirit.

If you have ever gotten into a photographer’s slump, how have you gotten yourself out of it?

For all you Twitter users out there.  Did you notice the new Tweet box at the bottom of all my posts?  This is a fun and great addition to our WordPress.com blogs!

Posted in Nature, Photography | Tagged , , , , , , , | 17 Comments

Not to Disappoint…An HDR Castle

Posted on August 11, 2010 by Scott Thomas Photography

Hope you were not expecting another castle. 🙂  I did a few HDR exposure sets while I was doing the summer shoot of Crouse College at Syracuse University last weekend.  These two came out particularly well.  The Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 ultra wide angle lens will distort if angled up or down.  I used that knowledge for creative affect.

John Crouse Memorial College for Women built in 1889 on the Syracuse University campus in Syracuse, New York.

John Crouse Memorial College for Women built in 1889 on the Syracuse University campus in Syracuse, New York. Nikon D70/Tokina 11-16, f/16, ISO 200, 16mm focal length. HDR Image processed in Photomatix 3.0 Plugin for Aperture 3.

Like they say, when living in Syracuse, you have to be prepared for the weather to change every fifteen minutes.  I took this photo twenty minutes after the one above. Notice how the light changes from warm and friendly to cool and foreboding.

Gloomy Crouse College on the Syracuse University campus in Syracuse, New York.

Gloomy Crouse College on the Syracuse University campus in Syracuse, New York. Nikon D70/Tokina 11-16, f/16, ISO 200, 16mm focal length, tripod. HDR Image processed in Photomatix 3.0 Plugin for Aperture 3.

Getting more and more comfortable with the Photomatix Plugin for Aperture 3.0.

Posted in Travel | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

View 137: Summer Knowledge

Posted on August 9, 2010 by Scott Thomas Photography

Funny how you fall into a fun project.  First, there was the impromptu winter photo I grabbed before a Syracuse University basketball game which was followed up by a planned spring HDR photo.  Late Saturday night, I decided the summer version would need me getting up early on Sunday to catch the morning light using the Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 ultra wide angle lens.  Good thing, too, as the light only lasted an hour before clouds appeared and took it away.

Crouse College in summer morning sunlight.

Crouse College in summer morning sunlight. Nikon D70/Tokina 11-16, 1/10s, f/16, ISO 200, EV +0.3, 11mm focal length, tripod

Here’s a couple of bonus photos this time as I had some time, warm weather and summery enthusiasm.

The glamorous life of a photographer setting up a shot at 6:30AM while most of the world is still sleeping in bed.

The glamorous life of a photographer setting up a shot at 6:30AM while most of the world is still sleeping in bed. I did appreciate them leaving the lamppost lights on for me.

Red geraniums brighten up the morning with Crouse College soaking up the Sun in the background.

Red geraniums brighten up the morning with Crouse College soaking up the Sun in the background. Nikon D70/Tokina 11-16, 1/6s, f/22, ISO 200, EV -0.3, 11mm focal length, tripod.

Posted in Weekly View | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 26 Comments