Eastern Bluebird

Posted on April 3, 2013 by Scott Thomas Photography
Female Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis) at the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge near Seneca Falls, New York.

Female Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis) at the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge near Seneca Falls, New York. Nikon D7100/80-400VR, 1/800s, f/5.6, ISO 640, EV +0.6, 400mm focal length (600mm DX).

It was a windy, cold Spring day when I visited the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge near Seneca Falls, New York last week.  The Wildlife Drive was not completely open yet with a turn around and two way traffic on a normal one way drive around the Main Pool.  Saw large flocks of migrating Redhead Ducks, red-winged blackbirds were staking out their territories, turkey vultures soaring overhead, Canada geese milling about, a Bald Eagle hunting near the river and other small songbirds singing.  No sign of Song Sparrows, yet.

While walking on the observation deck at the Visitor Center, a streak of blue flew past me and landed on the corner of the deck’s wood fence.  The female Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis) stood still long enough for me to get a couple of photos before flying off.  A male was nearby, staying out of range of my camera no matter how long I waited.

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View 274: Field Lacrosse

Posted on April 1, 2013 by Scott Thomas Photography
Baldwinsville Bees Boys Lacrosse team visited the Marcellus Mustangs on a picture perfect Spring day on Saturday, March 30, 2013.

Baldwinsville Bees Boys Lacrosse team visited the Marcellus Mustangs on a picture perfect Spring day on Saturday, March 30, 2013 in Marcellus, New York.
Nikon D700/24-85G, 1/500s, f/16, ISO 720, EV 0, 24mm focal length.

The High School Sports calendar has changed from Winter to Spring.  In upstate New York, Field Lacrosse is the premiere sport.  Many ice hockey players tend to also play lacrosse.  In fact, one of the Baldwinsville hockey players asked if I would photograph the lacrosse team this year.  After making a few inquiries with the school, I got permission to do so.

As you can see above, my first game was a picture perfect Spring day.  The day was bright enough so I could use the Nikon 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR AF Lens on the Nikon D7100 dSLR camera with the fast shutter speeds needed to cover lacrosse.  The field game is much different than the indoor Box Lacrosse I have photographed the last couple of years.  Not as physical a game, more players and with a large field which is wider than an American football field.  In other words, lots of action.  The kind of sport I like to photograph.

Field Lacrosse collage.

In field lacrosse there is lots of running (upper left), carrying the ball (upper right), face-offs (lower left) and goalie saves (lower right). All taken with a Nikon D7100 and 80-400VR lens.

Click Here for More Photos from the Baldwinsville-Marcellus Lacrosse Game

The lens which, on a DX camera like the D7100, has a range between 120mm and 600mm.  This let me get frame filling photos of the players as they competed through four twelve minute quarters.

Baldwinsville Bees Connor Chapman (12) with the ball against the Marcellus Mustangs on Saturday, March 30, 2013.

Baldwinsville Bees Connor Chapman (12) with the ball against the Marcellus Mustangs on Saturday, March 30, 2013. Nikon D7100/80-400VR, 1/1600s, f/5.6, ISO 1100, EV 0, 400mm focal length (600mm DX).

The game was a good one as Baldwinsville came back from being down by three goals to win it in the final quarter.

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Embrace the Crowds at Tourist Attractions

Posted on March 29, 2013 by Scott Thomas Photography

Last week I talked about Beating the Crowds at popular Tourist Attractions.  This week I look at photographing at these busy locations from a completely different angle.  If you have followed this blog for any length of time you know I like to add people in my travel photography.  People do a couple of things.  They add interest and scale to a travel photo.

It is a rare day when the parks at Walt Disney World are not full of fellow guests. So why not include them in the composition?  People help to tell the story and add scale to whatever surrounds them.

Watching the Dream Along with Mickey show on the stage in front of Cinderella Castle with a few of my closest friends, I decided to include them.  I stood up on the bench next to the Partner’s Statue of Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse in the hub in front of the castle to get this angle.

Guests enjoy the Dream Along with Mickey show at the Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World, Orlando, Florida.

Guests enjoy the Dream Along with Mickey show in front of Cinderella Castle at the Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World, Orlando, Florida.
Nikon D70/18-200VR, 1/80s, f/22, ISO 200, EV +0.3, 18mm focal length, polarizer filter.

The popularity of tourist attractions changes throughout the year.  When I visited Mount Rushmore National Monument near Keystone, South Dakota in late September of 2010, it was not as busy as it would be during the summer months. In talking with National Park Service people there, the monument is never deserted.

I really liked the leading lines the Avenue of Flags, an addition to the national monument during the United States Bicentennial year of 1976, to the mountain side Presidential busts in the background. The people walking through them add scale to the columns and to Mount Rushmore.

People walk through the Avenue of Flags at the Mount Rushmore National Monument near Keystone, South Dakota.

People walk through the Avenue of Flags at the Mount Rushmore National Monument near Keystone, South Dakota.
Nikon D700/28-300VR, 1/60, f/20, ISO 200, EV 0, 40mm focal length, polarizer filter.

Try not to curse the crowds but work with them to create interesting photographs. Including people in your images can give the final photograph a different dimension.

I will continue this series next Friday.  Until then, do not let the crowds get you down!

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Assignment 24: Recap

Posted on March 27, 2013 by Scott Thomas Photography

As I noted in this assignment’s announcement post, Black and White Photography would be a challenge for me.  A few others made similar comments to the post.  As I replied to one, such challenges is how we learn and grow as photographers as well as a person.

In total, fifteen photo bloggers posted links to Black and White photos and why they chose to convert from color.  I enjoyed each and every one for the photos and their insights into the process of seeing in monochrome.

UPDATE (April 2, 2013): I must right an egregious wrong.  In the original Recap of this assignment, I skipped over the post by Karma.  This was not done intentionally and I feel very badly for the oversight.  She has forgiven me but I do not forgive myself. So, here is the sixteenth photo blogger’s submission.

Karma from the great state of Massachusetts was the person I was referring to in the opening paragraph.  Like me, she was unsure how to approach this assignment.  She picked excellent subjects for her Black and White conversions showing details, moods and shapes which might get lost in a color photograph.

Simone from Ireland used a medium format Voigtländer camera from the 1940’s and dived into a project where she photographed using Black and White film, developed it herself and created a beautiful print of an old abbey.   Fantastic!

Isa of Switzerland shows us an animal (her pet beagle), a plant, a thing and did she actually go to Melbourne? 😉  All her photos show how Black and White photos bring out different aspects which could get lost in a color photograph.

Tony from England shares a couple of beautiful monochrome posts from the United Kingdom.  I remember the beautiful parks from my visit to England back in 2005 and Astley Park is an excellent example. Thanks for sharing, Tony!

Mike, who hails from upstate New York, not only shared his monochrome images but his insight into why he enjoys photographing and learning about it.  Very nice post, Mike. Been enjoying your exploration of the medium.

Scott from the Magic Kingdom..I mean, Orlando, Florida, has been using black and white photography at Walt Disney World for a few years now.  He shares with us a flickr photo set of his work called the Disney Prestige Collection.  Disney parks like you have never seen them before.

Barbara from Ithaca, New York, pinged back her excellent work in black and white. I really liked her work with glass.

Sonali from India shares a set of black and white photos which show how different India is and how people are still the same there.  The photo of the hands is exceptionally striking.

Debbie who is also from Ithaca, New York, shows us the before and after images she converted from color to black and white.  I certainly noticed a change in focus as I looked from one to the other.  Did you?

Birgitte from Denmark, brilliantly shows how everyday objects can be turned into works of art using black, white and every shade in between to pull out details, textures and light.  She also keeps reminding me how the next assignment will be the 25th.  I have come up with a theme which I hope will be seen as grand. 🙂

Scott from Syracuse, New York (hey, that’s me!) tried his best to find a suitable landscape photo he could convert to black and white and a sports photo harkening back to the day when all sports was done the same way.  I think he succeeded.

Robin of Ohio shares in photos and words why she likes Black and White photography which can convey strong drama and emotional impact than a color photo.

Carsten from Denmark shared with us what I would call a set of classic street photography photos from Rome. Street photographers are known for only shooting in black and white.

I see another photoblogger from Denmark, Truels, is still having winter weather like me.  He made the best of it and found using black and white photography suited the season.  Stay warm over there!

Elisa from places unknown 🙂 shares two striking black and white compositions using creative use of aperture and light:  Identity of Time and Place and A Diamond in the Dark.

deirdrej from New England pops in a little late but since she left the link anyway 🙂 , she shared a couple of photos.  One was easy to de-colorize and the other made for a very moody de-colorized image.

Until next time when I will be posting the Grand 25th Assignment, look over these posts and enjoy!

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View 273: Old Tyme Hockey

Posted on March 25, 2013 by Scott Thomas Photography

I was asked to photograph a charity hockey game which featured teams of players aged 50 and over.  The oldest was 89.  These guys sure got me itching to get out my hockey equipment and lace up the skates.

Older hockey players proving age is only a state of mind as they play in a charity game at the War Memorial in Syracuse, New York.

Older hockey players proving age is only a state of mind as they play in a charity game at the War Memorial in Syracuse, New York. Nikon D700/70-200VR, 1/640s, f/3.5, ISO 6400, EV +1.0, 200mm focal length.

The game raised $2,500 for the local Make-A-Wish Foundation chapter and was a very spirited game.  Tied after regulation, the Gray Wolves won in overtime, 2-1.

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