View 356: Flying Pucks

Posted on April 7, 2015 by Scott Thomas Photography

When photographing ice hockey games, I try and get the puck in the frame. Lately, the puck has been acting like a prima donna. Always trying to hog the shot over the players.

The puck flies right at the author when Adirondack Flames goalie Brad Thiessen (39) fired the puck around the boards against the Syracuse Crunch at the War Memorial Arena in Syracuse, New York on Friday, March 13, 2015.

The puck flies right at the author when Adirondack Flames goalie Brad Thiessen (39) fired the puck around the boards against the Syracuse Crunch at the War Memorial Arena in Syracuse, New York on Friday, March 13, 2015.
Nikon D7100/24-120VR, 1/800s, f/4, ISO 2800, EV +1.7, 24mm Focal Length.

In the above photo, I am safely behind the safety glass at this end of the OnCenter War Memorial Arena ice surface. On the other end, I have a photographer hole which gives me better and sharper images and an opportunity for the puck to leave the playing surface and into me.

Bridgeport Sound Tigers goalie Kevin Poulin (60) flips the puck past Syracuse Crunch Yanni Gourde (37) and towards the photographer hole at the War Memorial Arena in Syracuse, New York on Friday, March 27, 2015.

Bridgeport Sound Tigers goalie Kevin Poulin (60) flips the puck past Syracuse Crunch Yanni Gourde (37) and towards the photographer hole at the War Memorial Arena in Syracuse, New York on Friday, March 27, 2015.
Nikon D7100/24-120VR, 1/1000s, f/4, ISO 2800, EV +1.3, 24mm Focal Length.

If that wasn’t enough, a few minutes later another puck was directed towards me. In both cases, the puck missed my location.

Syracuse Crunch David Broll (15) takes Bridgeport Sound Tigers Kevin Czuczman (24) into the boards as the puck again flies towards the photographer hole at the War Memorial Arena in Syracuse, New York on Friday, March 27, 2015.

Syracuse Crunch David Broll (15) takes Bridgeport Sound Tigers Kevin Czuczman (24) into the boards as the puck again flies towards the photographer hole at the War Memorial Arena in Syracuse, New York on Friday, March 27, 2015.
Nikon D7100/24-120VR, 1/1000s, f/4, ISO 4000, EV +1.3, 32mm Focal Length.

I know someday the puck will hit me or my equipment which is why I always have a backup lens and camera with me at the games.

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View 355: Springtime for Oswego

Posted on March 30, 2015 by Scott Thomas Photography
A couple enjoy a meal from Rudy's Lakeside next to ice locked Lake Ontario near Oswego. New York.

A couple enjoy a meal from Rudy’s Lakeside next to ice locked Lake Ontario near Oswego. New York.
Nikon D750/24-120VR, 1/80s, f/16, ISO 100, EV +0.3, 63mm Focal Length, Intensify Pro.

At a balmy 40 degrees Fahrenheit (4.4C) with sunny skies yesterday, cabin fevered people did not mind eating outside next to tons of ice and snow at Rudy’s Lakeside near Oswego, New York. After the coldest February on record, March has been unseasonably cold, too. The ice on Lake Ontario still goes right to the horizon in all directions.

Ice and snow on Lake Ontario as seen from Rudy's Lakeside near Oswego, New York.

Ice and snow on Lake Ontario as seen from Rudy’s Lakeside near Oswego, New York. Nikon D750/24-120VR, 1/60s, f/16, ISO 100, EV +0.3, 24mm Focal Length.

The air was crisp, cool and clear enough to see both the Oswego Harbor West Pierhead Lighthouse and Nine Mile Point Nuclear cooling tower.

The Oswego Harbor Lighthouse and the Nine Mile Point Nuclear Power Plant cooling tower as seen from Rudy's Lakeside near Oswego, New York.

The Oswego Harbor Lighthouse and the Nine Mile Point Nuclear Power Plant cooling tower as seen from Rudy’s Lakeside near Oswego, New York.
Nikon D750/24-120VR, 1/125s, f/16, ISO 200, EV +0.6, 120mm Focal Length, cropped.

How is Spring where you live this year? Maybe the next time I share photos from Lake Ontario there will be open water.

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View 354: New York Frozen 2015

Posted on March 9, 2015 by Scott Thomas Photography

Last month I shared a photograph of Taughannock Falls from January, 2013. This past weekend, I traveled down to Taughannock Falls State Park to see how the waterfall was looking after a record number of days of below normal and often below freezing (32 degrees F/0 degrees C) temperatures. What I found was an astounding amount of ice and snow build up beneath the falls reaching over 50 feet (15 meters) from the surface of the splash pool.

Taughannock Falls photographed on March 7, 2015 in Taughannock Falls State Park near Ithaca, New York

Taughannock Falls photographed on March 7, 2015 in Taughannock Falls State Park near Ithaca, New York.
Nikon D7100/24-120VR, 1/125s, f/16, ISO 320, EV +0.3, 100mm focal length, cropped, Intensify Pro.

I want to point out that there are two people down by the base of the ice and snow cone. They should not be there as the Gorge Trail which leads to the waterfall was closed. The danger of falling ice and even rock from the gorge walls is very apparent here. If you visit Taughannock Falls over the next few weeks, heed the safety signs and closures. You can always enjoy the falls from the Overlook location which is where this photo was taken.

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The Big Oak of Thomasville, Georgia

Posted on February 18, 2015 by Scott Thomas Photography
The historic Big Oak in Thomasville, Georgia dwarfs two people standing underneath its 164 feet of canopy.

The historic Big Oak in Thomasville, Georgia dwarfs two people standing underneath its 164 feet of canopy.
Nikon D7100/Tokina 11-16mm, 1/200s, f/8, ISO 100, EV +0.3, 11mm focal length.

The Big Oak of Thomasville, Georgia has some impressive statistics. It is over 330 years old with branches which spread out over 164 feet. The Live Oak (Quercus virginiana) is 68 feet tall with a trunk 26 feet in circumference. When it was registered with the Live Oak Society back in 1936, the tree’s girth was 21 and a half feet.

The sprawling canopy of branches of the Big Oak is helped along with support cables to keep the branches from touching the ground.

The sprawling canopy of branches of the Big Oak is helped along with support cables to keep the branches from touching the ground.
Nikon D7100/Tokina 11-16mm, 1/125s, f/8, ISO 500, EV +0.7, 11mm focal point.

Inside the Big Oak’s sprawling canopy of branches is like being among an octopus’ tentacles as they weave upward and outward from the trunk. As tempting as the tree is, no climbing is allowed. The people of Thomasville want the Big Oak to continue to grow for a long time to come.

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View 353: St. Marks Lighthouse

Posted on February 16, 2015 by Scott Thomas Photography
St. Marks Lighthouse at sunset in the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge near St. Marks, Florida.

St. Marks Lighthouse at sunset in the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge near St. Marks, Florida.
Nikon D7100/Tokina 11-16mm, 1/6s, f/16, ISO 100, EV 0, 11mm Focal Length, tripod.

So, while many of my upstate New Yorkers are in the middle of snow and extreme wind chills, I have been spending time in Florida. While the weather has not been seasonal weather wise, each day has been sunny and 50 degrees warmer than back home.

Yesterday, I spent the day touring the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge on the northern Gulf coast of Florida. I saw alligators warming in the Sun, ospreys hunting over water pools, pelicans gliding over Gulf waters and northern visitors keeping out of the cold.

As the Sun moved closer to the horizon, I photographed the St Marks Lighthouse and got the itch, the itch to share it with you all here.

 

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