View 248: Canopy Road

Posted on October 1, 2012 by Scott Thomas Photography
A stretch of Canopy Road near Tallahassee, Florida.

A stretch of Canopy Road near Tallahassee, Florida.
Nikon D700/28-300VR, f/16, ISO 400, EV 0, 116mm focal length, HDR Image.

Canopy roads have large moss-draped live oaks, sweet gums, hickory trees and pines casting protective shade over roads around Tallahassee, Florida, with limbs that meet in a canopy to provide cooling shade for the roads and very scenic drives for travelers. There are nine official canopy roads in the Tallahassee area accounting for 78 miles of highway.

Yet, the road you see here is not one of them.  I was told about this road by a fellow flickr photographer who grew up in north western Florida.  The road is not very busy as it dead ends at a lake.  Safe enough to set up to take a series of bracketed photos for HDR images like the one above and allowing for my wife to drive up and down the road to create good stock photos for my catalog.

A Dodge minivan driving down a canopy road near Tallahassee, Florida.

A Dodge minivan driving down a canopy road near Tallahassee, Florida.
Nikon D700/28-300VR, 1/250s, f/14, ISO 2500, EV 0, 135mm focal length.

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Heralding the End of Summer

Posted on September 26, 2012 by Scott Thomas Photography

The Autumnal Equinox is defined as the point in time the center of the Sun passes through the same plane as the Earth’s equator in the direction from North to South on or around September 21st or 22nd each year.  This year that time was 10:49AM in my timezone last Saturday, September 22nd.

As if to herald Autumn’s coming and the end of Summer, a strong cold front pushed over the Finger Lakes region of New York state about five minutes before the Autumnal Equinox was to occur.  Below is what it looked like at Lakefront Park in Geneva, New York.

The leading edge to a cold front creeps over Lakefront Park in Geneva, New York.

The leading edge to a cold front creeps over Lakefront Park in Geneva heralding the End of Summer for upstate New York.
Nikon D700/28-300VR, f/16, ISO 3200, EV 0, 34mm focal length, HDR Image, Noise Ninja.

Soon after the wind direction changed from South to North, temperature dropped and a cold rain began to fall. I metaphorically waved goodbye to Summer.

This is my contribution to Assignment 21: End of Summer.  Click the link to see how others interpreted their end of Summer.

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View 247: HydroBowl II

Posted on September 24, 2012 by Scott Thomas Photography

Outdoor motorsports events are at the mercy of the weather.  This past weekend’s second running of HyrdoBowl in Geneva, New York had a tough time.  Friday was completely rained out, Saturday a front came through and delayed the start until mid-afternoon and yesterday, while it was sunny and dry, the wind made for dicy racing conditions.  After running a few classes, the called it a day with many boats never being able to get in the water.  For a young event, I hope they continue to get support from the community, racers and sponsors as, when the boats were on the water, the action was fast, furious and fun to watch.

Click Here to See More Photos from HydroBowl 2011 & 2012

Inboard hydroplane coming around the turn at speed at the 2012 HydroBowl in Geneva, New York.

Inboard hydroplane coming around the turn at speed at the 2012 HydroBowl in Geneva, New York on beautiful blue Seneca Lake.
Nikon D700/80-400VR, 1/1000s, f/6.3, ISO 200, EV 0, 400mm focal length.

When the weather did break on Saturday, the inboard hydroplanes flew around the shortened race coarse surrounded by the first hints of Autumn on the beautiful blue waters of Seneca Lake.

2.5 Liter Inboard Hydroplane flies down the front stretch at the 2012 HydroBowl in Geneva, New York.

2.5 Liter Inboard Hydroplane flies down the front stretch at the 2012 HydroBowl in Geneva, New York.
Nikon D700/80-400VR, 1/100s, f/20, ISO 200, +0.3, 400mm focal length.

I warned you there would be more panning photos coming from this past weekend’s HyrdoBowl.  The 2.5 Liter class got in three runs before the racing was called.

Jersey Speed Skiff leaning into a turn at the 2012 HydroBowl in Geneva, New York.

Jersey Speed Skiff leaning into a turn at the 2012 HydroBowl in Geneva, New York.
Nikon D700/80-400VR, 1/1600s, f/9, ISO 200, EV +0.3, 400mm focal length.

I told you about the Jersey Racing Skiffs before and how much I love to watch them race a couple of years ago.  As the Seneca Lake waves increased in size with the gusting winds, the Skiffs put on quite a show during two races for the HyrdoBowl spectators.  After the water became too rough for the lighter and faster inboard hydroplanes, the Jersey Racing Skiff drivers and passengers bounced up and over the waves and went nearly vertical in the turns.

I am a bit sun and wind burned after spending most of Sunday on a turn boat out on Seneca Lake.  Still, I had a great time when the boats were on the course.  I want to thank the organizers of HydroBowl for inviting me to photograph this event.

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September Photography Links

Posted on September 21, 2012 by Scott Thomas Photography
Friendly server at Rudy's Lakeside restaurant on the shore of Lake Ontario near Oswego, New York.

Friendly server at Rudy’s Lakeside restaurant on the shore of Lake Ontario near Oswego, New York.
Nikon D700/50mm, 1/125s, f/5, ISO 5000, EV +0.3

Another month is coming to an end and here are a few photography links as Summer turns to Autumn tomorrow at 10:49AM Eastern Daylight Time (2:49PM UTC).

Last month I told you how I like to include people in my travel photos to add human interest.  Over at the Digital Photography School (DPS), Kim Wilson also talks about the Importance of People in Travel Photos.  Reading and viewing her work showed me I need to continue to work on mine.

You all know I am a fan of Bryan Peterson and his must-read photography book, Understanding Exposure.  Thought you would like to hear an interview with him on the Typical Shutterbug Podcast.

When I am out photographing, I sometimes climb stairs, hop on benches, get down on my knees or stomach and ask people if they would not mind being photographed.  When I feel silly or get a run of people saying they would not like to be photographed, this essay by Scott Bourne will help me to re-find the courage to be creative.

With summer ending astronomically tomorrow, do not forget this month’s assignment is due next Wednesday.

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Hydroplane Racing

Posted on September 19, 2012 by Scott Thomas Photography

Hydrobowl 2012 is this weekend hosted by Geneva, New York and run on beautiful Seneca Lake, one of the Finger Lakes.  Time to get out the long sport lenses and photograph roostertails of the Inboard Hydroplane racing boats.

1.0 Liter Modified hydroplane racing at the HydroBowl on Seneca Lake in Geneva, New York.

1.0 Liter Modified hydroplane’s roostertail follows behind while racing at the HydroBowl on Seneca Lake in Geneva, New York last year.
Nikon D700/80-400VR, 1/1000s, f/5.6, ISO 450, EV +0.6, 400mm focal length.

It will also give me a chance to capture the speed of the racing boats using my favorite in motion photography technique: Panning.

2.5 Liter Modified hydroplane racing at the HydroBowl on Seneca Lake in Geneva, New York.

Blue Devil 2.5 Liter Modified hydroplane racing at the HydroBowl on Seneca Lake in Geneva, New York.
Nikon D700/80-400VR, 1/80s, f/14, ISO 200, EV +0.6, 400mm focal length.

The best part is watching and photographing the competitive racing action from both the shore and an official’s boat out on the course.

National Modified hydroplanes racing at HydroBowl on Seneca Lake in Geneva, New York.

National Modified hydroplanes racing at HydroBowl on Seneca Lake in Geneva, New York.
Nikon D700/80-400VR, 1/80s, f/22, ISO 200, EV +0.6, 260mm focal length.

What are your plans for the first weekend of Autumn?

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