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Photographing Details at Tourist Attractions

Posted on April 26, 2013 by Scott Thomas Photography

One of my favorite things to do when visiting any travel destination is finding fun details which add to the story of the trip. Sometimes I know about the details before I get there like Hidden Mickeys at Walt Disney World. Others I come upon when touring the area.

The Zoltar coin operated fortune teller machine is located on the Atlantic City Boardwalk outside of the Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum. The machine was made famous by actor Tom Hanks in the movie, Big (click here for the video). I was thrilled when I saw this and knew it would add interest to my trip photo gallery.

Zoltar coin operated fortune teller machine outside of Ripley's Believe it or Not Museum on the Atlantic City Boarwalk in New Jersey.

Zoltar coin operated fortune teller machine outside of Ripley’s Believe it or Not Museum on the Atlantic City Boardwalk in New Jersey.
Nikon D700/28-300VR, 1/60s, f/3.5, ISO 1800, EV +0.3, 28mm focal length.

While getting a campus tour at Florida State University, I was shown Crenshaw Lanes. Being an avid bowler for most of my life, I wanted a photo bringing the sport and the location together. These painted bowling pins on display fit the need perfectly.

Painted pins found in Crenshaw Lanes on the Florida State University campus in Tallahassee, Florida.
Nikon D700/28-300VR, 1/60s, f/3.8, ISO 2200, EV 0, 32mm focal length.

Every travel attraction has details. Some famous and some which help you to remember and tell the story of your visit there. Look for them on your next trip across town or across the country.

Posted in Photography, Travel | Tagged 28-300mm, alley, atlantic city, big, boardwalk, bowling, campus, crenshaw lanes, details, florida, fortune teller, fsu, machine, movie, new jersey, nikon D700, painted, pins, tallahassee, vr, zoltar | 2 Comments

O’Canada

Posted on April 24, 2013 by Scott Thomas Photography

Working through my Walt Disney World backlog this week and thought I would give you a break from all the sports content lately. While I live only 100 miles from the Canadian border, I still enjoy the Canada pavilion in Epcot’s World Showcase.

O’Canada. From top left: Victoria Gardens, Totem pole, Rocky Mountain waterfall, Canadian actor Martin Short.

As you walk from Future World into World Showcase and head towards Canada, you come upon the Disney Imagineers microcosm for Canada. From the Province of British Colombia are the beautiful Victoria Gardens (top left) and Totem poles (top right). A waterfall flows down the sides of the Canadian Rocky Mountains (bottom left) as you walk to the CircleVision 360 theater for a showing of O’Canada hosted by Canadian actor Martin Short (bottom right).

Posted in Travel | Tagged actor, british columbia, canada, canadian, comedian, epcot, florida, flowers, martin short, orlando, rocky mountains, totem pole, trees, walt disney world, waterfall, world showcase | Leave a comment

View 277: Bench Buddy

Posted on April 22, 2013 by Scott Thomas Photography

Syracuse Crunch Eric Neilson meets a young Bench Buddy at the OnCenter War Memorial in Syracuse, New York.
Nikon D700/24-85G, 1/160s, f/3.5, ISO 800, EV 0, 24mm focal length, flash.

The Syracuse Crunch have a Bench Buddy program where fans can sit in the player’s bench during pre-game warm ups. I have been there to photograph many fans enjoying this privilege but it’s the kids which create the best moments when a player comes over to interact with them. Yesterday, the Crunch’s Man of the Year Eric Neilson meet a Bench Buddy and created a memorable moment and photograph for both of them.

Posted in Weekly View | Tagged 24-85mm, arena, bench buddy, boy, crunch, eric neilson, father, flash, gloves, helmet, hockey, ice, kid, man, new york, nikon D700, oncenter, players, professional, safety, sb-700, stick, syracuse, war memorial, young | 5 Comments

Being Creative at Tourist Attractions

Posted on April 19, 2013 by Scott Thomas Photography

Here’s a fun way to approach photographing in busy tourist attractions. Be creative! Easier said than done I can hear you saying. Really, when confronted with people everywhere, start looking from different angles, get low, get high or just tilt your camera.

Three weeks ago, I showed you how I used tourists watching a show in front of Cinderella Castle at the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World to create a good travel photograph. The photo today was taken a little before that one. I tilted my camera to eliminate most of the people and included the Partners Statue with the castle as a backdrop.

A creative view of the Partners Statue in front of Cinderella Castle at the Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World, Orlando, Florida.
Nikon D70/18-200VR, 1/400s, f/10, ISO 200, EV +0.3, 28mm focal length.

Another way to get your creative juices going is to try photographing a subject from above, below and at the subject’s level. When visiting the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan a few years ago, I got this photo of the Ford GT-40 race car which raced at Le Mans back in the late 1960’s.

Red Ford GT-40 race car in the Henry Ford Museum, Dearborn, Michigan.
Nikon D70/18-200VR, 1/15s, f/3.5, ISO 400, EV +0.6, 18mm focal length.

I like this photo as it shows other people enjoying the museum. I still wanted a more personal view of this car. I got down low in front of it and went “eye to eye” with this powerful car.

Eye to eye with a Ford GT-40 race car in the Henry Ford Museum, Dearborn, Michigan.
Nikon D70/18-200VR, 1/20s, f/3.5, ISO 200, EV +1.3, 18mm focal length.

Disney park fans have a saying, “Look up, look down”. I have an addition for all photographers, get LOW, get HIGH and look ALL around. Let your creativity go and enjoy the magic!

Posted in Photography | Tagged 18-200mm vr, blue, car, cinderella castle, creative, dearborn, florida, gt-40, henry ford, magic kingdom, michigan, museum, nikon D70, orlando, partners, race, red, sky, statue, tilt, walt disney world | 4 Comments

Under the Lights

Posted on April 17, 2013 by Scott Thomas Photography

Photographed the Baldwinsville Bees playing the Syracuse East Black Knights in a midweek lacrosse game in typical central New York Spring weather.

A Baldwinsville Bees player checks the Syracuse East Black Knight ball carrier in a Spring lacrosse game in Syracuse, New York. Nikon D7100, 70-200VR, 1/640s, f/2.8, ISO 1400, EV 0, 200mm focal length (400mm 1.3x).

The rain and wind did not let up for the entire game leaving players, spectators and one photographer drenched by the time the last horn sounded. The Bees did not mind the weather at all posting a 14-5 win.

Baldwinsville Bees Matt Zandri (22) passes the lacrosse ball against the Syracuse East Black Knights on Tuesday, April 16, 2013. Baldwinsville Bees won 14-5.
Nikon D7100, 70-200VR, 1/640s, f/2.8, ISO 2800, EV 0, 200mm focal length (400mm 1.3x)

While I did not stay dry, my Nikon D7100 camera did as I used an OP/TECH Rainsleeve to cover the camera and lens. Best $3.00 investment I ever made.