View 246: Lights of Baldwinsville

Posted on September 17, 2012 by Scott Thomas Photography
The Tugboat Syracuse sitting in Lock 24 awaiting the start of the Baldwinsville Boat Parade of Lights.

The Tugboat Syracuse sitting in Lock 24 awaiting the start of the Baldwinsville Boat Parade of Lights in Baldwinsville, New York.
Nikon D700/28-300VR, 1.3s, f/16, ISO 200, EV 0, 98mm focal length, tripod.

I heard about the Baldwinsville Boat Parade of Lights about a month ago.  They said the boats would go through New York Barge Canal Lock 24.  I immediately had a vision of the lock being full of boats with colored light displays.  The reality was a bit underwhelming with the only boat in the parade being the Tugboat Syracuse. I hope there were more boats at the second meeting place further down the Seneca River.

Not to be denied some lighted color, I moved over from the Lock Bridge to the Seneca River Bridge.  A few years ago, the Village of Baldwinsville using grant money from New York installed lights on both the bridge (see previous link) and the hydroelectric power plant’s waterfalls.

Seneca River hydroelectric plant's waterfalls in Baldwinsville, New York at dusk.

Seneca River hydroelectric plant’s waterfalls in Baldwinsville, New York at dusk.
Nikon D700/28-300VR, f/16, ISO 200, 28mm focal length, tripod, HDR image.

The set of photos I took for this HDR image (seven in all) caught a mix of the colors which get projected onto the waterfalls, river and rocks.  I zoomed in a little to focus on the sequence of colors which illuminate the waterfalls of the hydroelectric power plant.  Fittingly, they came in Red-Green-Blue (RGB).

Lighted sequence on the hydroelectric power plant waterfalls on the Seneca River in Baldwinsville, New York.

Lighted sequence on the hydroelectric power plant waterfalls on the Seneca River in Baldwinsville, New York.
Nikon D700/2-300VR, Varied Shutter Speeds, f/16, ISO 200, 100mm focal length, tripod.

While I was disappointed in the boat parade, I looked and found other colorful things to photograph.  Be open to other photo opportunities if the one you plan on does not work out.

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Summer of 2012

Posted on September 14, 2012 by Scott Thomas Photography

Since I am asking people to share with me how they feel about the End of Summer in this month’s assignment, I thought I would go back and share photos from the Summer of 2012.  These photos may be associated with past posts or ones which I had not found a spot for yet.

After a morning of photowalking at Watkins Glen State Park, I stopped with Dave of FLX Photo to a couple of wineries along the Seneca Lake Wine Trail.

Key to the Wine Cellar tasting room at the Magnus Ridge Winery on the Seneca Lake wine tour in the Finger Lakes region of New York.

Key to the Wine Cellar tasting room at the Magnus Ridge Winery on the Seneca Lake wine tour in the Finger Lakes region of New York.
Nikon D700/28-300VR, 1/60s, f/3.8, ISO 4000, EV 0, 34mm focal length.
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The clouds as seen from my cousin’s home while I attended Field Jam with friends and family.

Clouds on the horizon at Field Jam at my cousin's home in LaFayette, New York.

Clouds on the horizon during Field Jam at my cousin’s home in LaFayette, New York.
Nikon D700/24-85G, 1/60s, f/16, ISO 220, EV -0.3, 85mm focal length.

Not sure if anyone was following me as I flew out to Minneapolis to meet my daughter to drive to her new job in Tallahassee.  I had quite the trip and ended up in St. Louis for a long lay over where I would end of up the following day.  At least, it gave me an opportunity for some motion photography.

A Southwest Airline jet takes off at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport in St. Louis, Missouri.

Southwest Airline jet takes off from Lambert-St. Louis International Airport in St. Louis, Missouri.
Nikon D700/28-300VR, 1/25s, f/32, ISO 200, EV 0, 300mm focal length.

On a night out, I enjoyed my favorite and, in my opinion, the best New England Clam Chowder at the Pier 57 restaurant.  I still need to remember to clean up my food models before I click the shutter.

New England Clam Chowder appetizer at the Pier 57 restaurant in Liverpool, New York.

New England Clam Chowder appetizer at the Pier 57 restaurant in Liverpool, New York.
Nikon D700/24-85G, 1/60s, f/4, ISO 2500, EV +0.3, 35mm focal length, bounce flash.

The Cortland Celtic Festival was held at Dwyer Memorial Park in Little York, New York.  The park sits on picturesque Little York Lake.

Little York Lake at Dwyer Memorial Park in Little York, New York.

Purple flowers on the shore of Little York Lake at Dwyer Memorial Park in Little York, New York.
Nikon D700/28-300VR, 1/125s, f/22, ISO 1400, EV +0.3, 35mm focal length.
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Before the Media Street Crunch hockey game last month, the kids played in the Crunch Bunch Kid’s Club Street Hockey game.  Kids being kids, it was not always about the game as I found these two boys relaxing during the game.

Crunch Bunch Kid's Club street hockey game at Alliance Bank Stadium in Syracuse, New York.

Taking a break during the Crunch Bunch Kid’s Club street hockey game at Alliance Bank Stadium in Syracuse, New York.
Nikon D700/28-300VR, 1/250s, f/8, ISO 200, EV 0, 72mm focal length.

In central New York, the unofficial end of summer comes when the Great New York State Fair comes to a close each Labor Day.  As a kid, that meant school would start soon.  As a photographer, it means a time and place to capture people and moving colors.

Space Roller ride on the Midway of The Great New York State Fair in Syracuse, New York.

A zoomed long exposure photo of the Space Roller ride on the Midway of The Great New York State Fair in Syracuse, New York.
Nikon D700/28-300VR, 2s, f/16, ISO 200, EV 0, variable focal length, tripod.
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Assignment 21: End of Summer

Posted on September 12, 2012 by Scott Thomas Photography

It has been a long hot Summer this year.  Made even longer by the mild Spring.  As we approach the end of summer and the Autumnal Equinox on September 22. I decided to change what I had planned for Assignment 21 and ask you to submit photos showing me what constitutes the end of summer to you.

Using your creative and imaginative minds and photographic talent and know how, create NEW photos showing me how you view and feel about the end of summer.

Clouds, waves and a sign indicate, for this Lake Ontario beach, summer is over.

A Lake Ontario beach closed for the season.

A Lake Ontario beach closed for the season and ending summer’s fun.

For this assignment I will be randomly selecting  one (1) contributor to win Scott Kelby’s Digital Photography Boxed Set with all Four (4) volumes. If the winner already has these books, I will substitute a $50 Amazon.com Gift Card.

As in the other assignments, do not send me your photos. What I would like you to do is post them on your blog, flickr, Google+ or other photo sharing site, personal website or any place on the Internet where you can place a link to it here by making a comment to this blog entry. Then, we can all visit those sites and enjoy everyone’s End of Summer photos.

Please, have your photos posted on or before Midnight (your time zone), Wednesday, September 26, 2012.  Might be a good time to start up a blog or join a photo community like flickr.  As I have done for all the Assignments, I will put together a recap with my comments.

If you have any questions, leave me a comment and I will be happy to answer them. I would doubly appreciate it if you would help spread the word about this assignment so we can get lots of people to participate. Blog it, Tweet it, FaceBook it, Google+ it, Pin it, Tag it, email it and talk about it to your fellow photographers, bloggers, friends, strangers on the street and family. Thank you!

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View 245: Oswego Breakwall

Posted on September 10, 2012 by Scott Thomas Photography

Last week I read the latest ebook from David duChemin about landscape photography.  Portraits of Earth is about how he came to view landscape photography much like his people photography.  David deChemin, like so many of us, loves photography for its ability to keep both hemispheres of our brains active.  Yet, he strives to emphasize it is not the gear but how you use the gear you have.  For it does not matter if you own an iPhone or the most expensive camera in the world.  It is how you SEE the world and how you USE the gear to translate what you see into a photograph.

In my landscape photography, I like to include human elements. The storm front which swept through North America last weekend gave me an opportunity to photograph Man’s continuing attempt to tame Nature.

Waves collide with the Oswego Harbor breakwall near the West Pierhead Lighthouse in Oswego, New York.

Waves collide with the Oswego Harbor breakwall near the West Pierhead Lighthouse in Oswego, New York.
Nikon D700/28-300VR, 1/125s, f/5.6, ISO 2500, EV +0.3, 300mm focal length.
Click Photo to Purchase A Print

The breakwall which protects the harbor of Oswego, New York used to be a wide, flat wall back in the late 1880’s.  With technology, the West Pierhead Lighthouse no longer needed to be manned nor the breakwall maintained.  The breakwall has since deteriorated with the constant battering of Lake Ontario waves.  After the weather front passed through central New York, strong winds shifted out of the Northwest and created large swells on the lake. They hit and sprayed large amounts of water over the crumbling breakwall.

A setting Sun lights up the sky above the breakwall in the Oswego, New York harbor.

A setting Sun lights up the sky above the breakwall in the Oswego, New York harbor.
Nikon D700/28-300VR, 1/40s, f/16, ISO 3200, EV +0.3, 72mm focal lengths.
Click Photo to Purchase a Print

Nature in its fury often adds contrasting beauty in its wake.  A setting Sun painted the sky about the scene of waves crashing into the breakwall.  Adding pastel colors to the power of the wind and water.

Ah, but the photographer’s mind wants to show Nature is not all about tension with Man.  A long exposure at dusk can turn the fury into a whisper.

Waves whisper over the Oswego (New York) Harbor breakwall during a long exposure at dusk.

Waves whisper over the Oswego Harbor breakwall during a long exposure photograph at dusk.
Nikon D700/28-300VR, 3s, f/16, ISO 400, EV 0, 300mm focal length, tripod.
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Young Fair People

Posted on September 5, 2012 by Scott Thomas Photography

The New York State Fair is for people of all ages.  Young people especially know how to enjoy it. I mean, look at the optimism on this boy’s face when presented with a hundred bottles and not one of them has had a ring successfully thrown on to.

A boy throwing a ring to try and win a prize on the Midway of the Great New York State Fair in Syracuse, New York.

A boy throwing a ring to try and win a prize as people watch on the Midway of the Great New York State Fair in Syracuse, New York.
Nikon D700/28-300VR, 1/100s, f/5, ISO 200, EV 0, 48mm focal length, fill flash.

The Talent Showcase stage features young people singing and dancing of ages up to eighteen.  I was floored by the voice of this girl singing Thoroughly Modern Millie. She gave it her all on the song’s final note.

Young singer gives it her all while performing on the Talent Showcase stage at the Great New York State Fair in Syracuse, New York.

Young singer gives it her all while performing on the Talent Showcase stage at the Great New York State Fair in Syracuse, New York.
Nikon D700/28-300VR, 1/160s, f/5.6, EV 0, 300mm focal length.

The Dairy Cattle Barn is one of my favorite places to look for young people as they wait with their Dairy cows to show in one of the many classes during the twelve days of the Fair.

Young girl waiting to show her Dairy cow inside the Dairy Cattle Barn at the Great New York State Fair in Syracuse, New York.

Young girl waiting to show her Dairy cow inside the Dairy Cattle Barn at the Great New York State Fair in Syracuse, New York.
Nikon D700/28-300VR, 1/60s, f/5.6, ISO 2800, EV +0.3, 230mm focal length.

My very favorite young people at the Fair work in the hundreds of food vendor booths found outside or in a few of the buildings.  Especially my favorite sweet treat from Grandma’s Kitchen inside the International Building: Red Raspberry Pie a la mode and served with a smile.

Young woman serving a raspberry pie with ice cream at Grandma's Kitchen food booth inside the Great New York State Fair International Building in Syracuse, New York.

Young woman serving a raspberry pie with ice cream at Grandma’s Kitchen food booth inside the Great New York State Fair International Building in Syracuse, New York.
Nikon D700/28-300VR, 1/125s, f/8, ISO 400, EV -0.3, 28mm focal length, bounced flash at -1 power.

Before the Fair started I was inspired by fellow blogger YesBut’s Street Portraits and was determined to do some.  People are more relaxed at the Fair and having fun.  The above photo is one as is the man with the butterfly hat.  I will continue to look for interesting people who will agree to letting me photograph them.

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