View 257: A Dickens Christmas

Posted on December 3, 2012 by Scott Thomas Photography

For the 19th year, the Village of Skaneateles (New York) Chamber of Commerce is hosting a Dickens Christmas.  Local actors portray characters from Charles Dickens’ classic story, A Christmas Carol, in what has become a holiday tradition for many Central New Yorkers. Each afternoon on weekends between Thanksgiving and Christmas,  entertainers dressed in Victorian costumes walk the village streets, sing Christmas Carols, perform scheduled acts and interact with people and those pesky photographers. 😉

Father Christmas (aka Santa Claus and played by Kevin Pelletier) greeted me and was more than happy to pose for the perfect title photo.

Father Christmas at Dickens Christmas in Skaneateles, New York.

Father Christmas at Dickens Christmas in Skaneateles, New York.
Nikon D700/28-300VR, 1/40s, f/5, ISO 200, EV +0.3, 50mm focal length, fill-flash.

This year is Charles Dickens 200th Birthday and I was thrilled to be able to wish the author so by way of Jim Greene’s spirited acting.  Jim is the person behind the production of Skaneateles’ Dickens Christmas each year.

The author Charles Dickens at a Dickens Christmas in Skaneateles, New York.

The author Charles Dickens greets people at a Dickens Christmas in Skaneateles, New York.
Nikon D700/28-300VR, 1/125s, f/4.2, ISO 800, EV +0.3, 44mm focal length.

Charles Dickens gathers people around him a couple of times each presentation day to tell them about his new book.  He got help from the Ghost of Jacob Marley, played by Brian Goldblatt, and volunteers from the audience.

Ghost of Jacob Marley at a Dickens Christmas in Skaneateles, New York.

Ghost of Jacob Marley at a Dickens Christmas in Skaneateles, New York.
Nikon D700/28-300VR, 1/125s, f/5.6, ISO 800, EV +0.3, 250mm focal length.

Besides the Dickens characters, people could enjoy free horse drawn carriage rides, free roasted chestnuts and listen to Christmas music played by a strolling bagpiper.

Horse drawn carriage on the streets of Skaneateles, New York during a Dickens Christmas.

Horse drawn carriage on the streets of Skaneateles, New York during a Dickens Christmas.
Nikon D700/28-300VR, 1/125s, f/5, ISO 200, EV +0.3, 28mm focal length.

You have not heard Christmas music until you have listened to it by a talented bagpiper like Piper Jack Heins.

Piper Jack Heins playing a Christmas tune in Skaneateles, New York.

Piper Jack Heins playing a Christmas tune in Skaneateles, New York.
Nikon D700/28-300VR, 1/200s, f/5.6, ISO 3200, EV +0.3, 116mm focal length.

I did not have the pleasure of meeting Ebenezer Scrooge as I did back in 2008.  Maybe the weather kept him inside as it was very London-like with strong winds and constant rain which cut my stay short.  I do hope to get back to Skaneateles later this month.

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Wide Angle Hockey Perspectives

Posted on November 30, 2012 by Scott Thomas Photography

The Syracuse Crunch allow me a lot of freedom when photographing their home games.  A couple of weeks ago, I brought the Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 AT-X116 Pro DX Wide Angle Zoom lens to a game.  Below are two perspectives of the game I captured with the lens.

Thanks to my friend, Dave Kliment of the FLX Photo blog, you can see I got low on the ice next to where the Crunch players hop on the ice for introductions of the starting lineup. The wide angle lens gave a fun perspective as Mark Barberio jumped onto the ice.

Syracuse Crunch Mark Barberio (8) being introduced to the crowd at the War Memorial in Syracuse, New York.

Syracuse Crunch Mark Barberio (8) being introduced to the crowd at the War Memorial in Syracuse, New York.
Nikon D700/Tokina 11-16mm, 1/500s, f/2.8, ISO 3200, EV -1.0, 16mm focal length.

For this next one, I climbed up to the media perch high above the ice surface in the War Memorial arena in Syracuse, New York.  The wide angle lens was able to get most of the arena in the frame.

The War Memorial arena in Syracuse, New York from the media perch up in the rafters.

The War Memorial arena in Syracuse, New York from the media perch up in the rafters.
Nikon D700/Tokina 11-16mm, 1/250s, f/2.8, ISO 360, EV +0.3, 16mm focal length.

While you may not need to go to these extremes, remember to try different perspectives to tell stories in your photography.

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Assignment 22: Recap

Posted on November 28, 2012 by Scott Thomas Photography

As a color photographer, I was happy as a turkey the day after Thanksgiving when visiting all the links from the Color Composition assignment.  In all, thirteen photographers shared fourteen links to their very colorful photographs.  That does not include the seven preparation posts by Birgitte and other announcement posts which helped to spread the word.  Thank you!

Laurie Cybulak, an upstate New York photographer,  got us off to a quick start with a sensational autumn scene with water reflection.  The golds, reds and greens of the forest are reflected in the water ripples creating a natural water color effect.  I like the not exactly mirrored look of the photo.

Another upstate New York photographer and fellow Disney fan, Mike Christoferson, took new photos and used older ones for the assignment.  Interesting how the new and old photos were created similarly when it came to his use of color. Even in Disney. 😉

Simone from Ireland was a little worried about her submission not having a lot of color.  Never fear as she got what I was looking for.  The splash of color in her photo created impact to a setting of shapes, lines and selective focus.

Kristi Creed, who hails from Texas and has a tendency to complain about the lack of color in her environs, found two photos to share with us.  The first is an extremely colorful sunset similar to one of  Mike Christoferson’s photo where she uses a silhouetted tree to add scale and interest.  Her second takes us under the sea in a study of the color blue.

Nye, hailing from Southeast Asia and now living in the Southeastern United States, constructed a photo contrasting the change of seasons from summer to fall in a very creative and colorful way. While she used a compositional rule, she used the colors first in her photo.

Dawn, from the state of Michigan, shared with us how the color blue became a theme for her compositional study and I may say she did an excellent job of presenting and sharing her thoughts of each photo.

Isa from Switzerland always has a thoughtful contribution.  Her selection of photos are full of color and splashes of color in just the right places.  What I enjoy most from Isa is seeing Switzerland through the eyes of a local.  The country is more than mountains us Westerns associate it with.

Karma from the great state of Massachusetts found and created a few well composed and colorful photographs in the dreary month of November.  Jealous of her bluebirds!

When I was looking for photos to help explain the use of color in composition, I came across a photo from the George Eastman House which I decided to save for my own post.  Then I found a few more in Disney’s Wonderful World of Color. 🙂 Shocking, I know.

Barry Wallis from California chips in with a swirl of color taken while riding the Astro Orbiter in Disneyland.  Yep, us Disney photographers will take our cameras on anything in the parks.

Truels from Denmark continues to impress me each time.  His photography skills have grown so much since he first started blogging almost three years ago.  His Color Compositions he shares with us are stunning from this trips and near his home.

CheyAnne Sexton of New Mexico shows us how you can use FaceBook to share with us (will have to add that to my assignment announcements).  Her photo of a rusted and abandoned truck lets our minds fill in the colors the sunlight is washing over.

If I ever give out an award for overachieving, Brigitte of Denmark would surely have won it for this assignment.  She shared with us seven preparation links before her official contribution post.  I can not choose a favorite among them so here they all are for your enjoyment:

Colorful Assignment Preparation 1
Colorful Assignment Preparation 2
Colorful Assignment Preparation 3
Colorful Assignment Preparation 4
Colorful Assignment Preparation 5
Colorful Assignment Preparation 6
Colorful Assignment Preparation 7
Colorful Assignment

This concludes this year’s assignments.  Thank you all for sharing all your fine photography this year.  I know I have learned a lot from each one of you.  I am making a list for next year’s assignments.  If you have any ideas or suggestions, drop me a note using either a comment here or privately via the Contact form.

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View 256: Onondaga Nation Trail Run

Posted on November 26, 2012 by Scott Thomas Photography

The Onondaga Nation Trail Run was described by the winner of the 5K event as Old School Cross Country.  The course was completely run in the woods of the Onondaga Nation land south of Syracuse, New York on a warm late November day after Thanksgiving.  The paper birch and other trees on the hills were bare and allowed spectators to watch the runners climb them.

Click Here for More Photos of the Onondaga Nation Trail Run

5K event runners climbing a hill during the Onondaga Nation Trail Run near Syracuse, New York.

5K event runners climbing a hill during the Onondaga Nation Trail Run.
Nikon D700/28-300VR, 1/125s, f/8, ISO 400, EV +0.3, 28mm focal length.

This was the second year for this event which was attended by both young and old.  There was a 1 mile Fun Run which did not include the hill above.  For those runners who like a challenge, put this one on your calendar for 2013.

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Using Color in Composition

Posted on November 21, 2012 by Scott Thomas Photography

I have showed you how to find color in your compositions.  Today, I share three photos  taken when I choose color as the main part of the composition.

International Museum of Photography and Film exhibition hall at the George Eastman House in Rochester, New York.

International Museum of Photography and Film exhibition hall at the George Eastman House in Rochester, New York. Colors enhance the leading lines and geometric shapes of the hallway.
Nikon D700/28-300VR, 1/60s, f/3.5, ISO 1600, EV 0, 28mm focal length.

I know…you think I first spied the leading line and shapes in the International Museum of Photography and Film exhibition hall at the George Eastman House.  It was the colors I first noticed. It is the color which grabs you first before the geometric attributes take you into the photo.

The Cool Hand Luke Juggling Show entertaining guests on The Boardwalk in Walt Disney World, Orlando, Florida.

The Cool Hand Luke Juggling Show entertaining guests on The Boardwalk in Walt Disney World, Orlando, Florida.
Nikon D700/28-300VR, 1/250s, f/11, ISO 200, EV 0, 28mm focal length, fill flash.

Besides his humor, Cool Hand Luke stood out in front of Disney’s Boardwalk Resort with his brightly colored costume and juggling pins which contrasted with the natural tones of the resort’s buildings and wooded boardwalk. To further enhance his appearance, I placed him in the right third of the frame where your eyes are lead to first before exploring the rest of the scene.

Taveta Golden Weaver (Ploceus castaneiceps) bird on the Pangani Forest Exploration Trail in Disney's Animal Kingdom.

Taveta Golden Weaver (Ploceus castaneiceps) bird on the Pangani Forest Exploration Trail in Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
Nikon D700/28-300VR, 1/80s, f/5.6, ISO 3200, EV +0.3, 300mm focal length, cropped.

A yellow Taveta Golden Weaver (Ploceus castaneiceps) bird on the Pangani Forest Exploration Trail in Disney’s Animal Kingdom posed nicely for me against the natural background. The contrast of the yellow bird pops right out at you against the rock.

This is my submission for the assignment on Color Composition.

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