View 244: Living Things at the New York State Fair

Posted on September 3, 2012 by Scott Thomas Photography

I went out looking for photos of people enjoying the New York State Fair last weekend.  What I brought back went beyond just people photos and shows the variety of what you will find at this year’s fair.

This was the first year for the SkyRiver Butterfly exhibit in the Horticulture building.  Fair visitors could enjoy interacting with hundreds of Monarch Butterflies in a controlled environment.  For a dollar, you could get a state of the art butterfly feeding stick (aka Q-Tip) to dip into nectar fluid and feed the butterflies.

A visitor to the SkyRiver Butterfly exhibit at the New York State Fair in Syracuse, New York.

Monarch butterflies are attracted to bright colors as this fairgoer found out when he wore his Pittsburgh Steelers hat into the Monarch Butterfly Garden inside the Great New York State Fair Horticulture Building in Syracuse, New York.
Nikon D700/50mm, 1/60s, f/5.6, ISO 2800, EV +0.3.

Inside the 4-H Youth Building, I meet this happy Australian Shepherd dog with this young lady from the Oswego county chapter.  This year’s catch phrase for the Fair is A Smile A Minute and this dog was doing his part to fulfill that promise.

Australian Shepherd dog in the 4-H Youth Building at the New York State Fair in Syracuse, New York.

An Australian Shepherd dog greeting Fairgoers inside the 4-H Youth Building at the Great New York State Fair in Syracuse, New York.
Nikon D700/28-300VR, 1/125s, f/5.6, ISO 2800, EV 0, 34mm focal length, bounced flash at -1 power.

I am used to seeing performers like the Living Floral Trees who were new entertainers to the Fair this year having seen DiVine at Disney’s Animal Kingdom for years.  It was fun to see upstate New Yorkers greet this very unique form of entertainment.

A Living Floral Tree soaks up the Sun at the Great New York State Fair in Syracuse, New York.
Nikon D700/28-300VR, 1/125s, f/5.6, EV 1800, EV -0.3, 300mm focal length.

Roosters were strutting their stiff inside the Poultry Building and liked to stare me down as I attempted to photograph them through the bars of their cages.

A rooster in the Poultry Barn at the Great New York State Fair in Syracuse, New York.

A rooster in the Poultry Barn at the Great New York State Fair in Syracuse, New York.
Nikon D700/28-300VR, 1/125s, f/4.8, ISO 1800, EV -0.3, 65mm focal length, spot metering.

Today is the last day for 2012.  Still time to get out and enjoy the Great New York State Fair!

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New York State Fair After Dark

Posted on August 31, 2012 by Scott Thomas Photography
Blue Hour at the Great New York State Fair in Syracuse, New York.

Blue Hour at the Great New York State Fair in Syracuse, New York.
Nikon D700/28-300VR, 1/60s, f/5.3, ISO 1600, EV +0.3, 92mm focal length.

The Sun goes below the horizon at the Great New York State Fair earlier this week. I grabbed my tripod and headed to the bright lights and rides of the James E. Strates Show Midway to enjoy some long exposure photography.

I know beginner photographers can be timid about using a tripod in public places such as fairs and theme parks.  Don’t be.  Unless the venue clearly has rules against them, tripods are allowed.  Use common sense and set up tripods away from heavy pedestrian traffic and do not block doorways and vendor booths.  When I have been approached by officials, I am friendly and show them what I am doing.  Most are just curious or are interested in photography.

I set up my tripod across from the Wave Swinger away from foot traffic and near a rest area. This kept people from banging into my tripod and them tripping over it.

Wave Swinger or Swings have been a part of the New York State Fair for decades.

Wave Swinger or Swings have been a part of the New York State Fair for decades.
Nikon D700/28-300VR, 1/2s, f/5.6, ISO 200, EV 0, 28mm focal length, tripod.

A new ride for the Great New York State Fair Midway this year is called the Space Roller.  I watched it for a couple of cycles to decide the best times to photograph it.  Then, all I needed to do was try a few different shutter speeds.  I liked how the one below came out with a 2 second exposure.

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

The Space Roller gives people quite a ride at the Great New York State Fair in Syracuse, New York.
Nikon D700/28-300VR, 2s, f/16, ISO 200, EV 0, 52mm focal length, tripod.

Anytime you are photographing with lots of people about, be patient.  I took a few photos of the Museum of World Oddities looking for the right group of people to walk past. This was my sixth attempt and the only one I was happy with of the set.

Museum of World Oddities at The Great New York State Fair in Syracuse, New York.

People walking past the Museum of World Oddities at the Great New York State Fair.
Nikon D700/28-300VR, 1/2s, f/8, ISO 200, EV 0, 28mm focal length, tripod.

For this next photo, I found a temporary stage not being used to get me off the ground for a good angle and away from people walking on the street below.  This is when all those resort and attraction photos I take at Walt Disney World paid off.

Pyrke House 4-H building at the Great New York State Fair in Syracuse, New York.

Pyrke House 4-H building at the Great New York State Fair in Syracuse, New York.
Nikon D700/28-300VR, 8s, f/16, ISO 200, EV 0, 28mm focal length, tripod.

Here’s the extended caption for this photo:

Pyrke House 4-H building at The Great New York State Fair in Syracuse, New York. Also known as the Youth Building, the Pyrke House was built in 1930 specifically to house 4-H exhibits and 4-H’ers during the Fair. The building is named in honor of Berne Pyrke, then Commissioner of NYS Agriculture & Markets. The exhibits are on the ground floor while dorms are upstairs for the 4-H’ers to stay in while attending the Fair.

Get ready for more NYS Fair photos as I am going back this weekend. 🙂

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Dimension of Mind

Posted on August 29, 2012 by Scott Thomas Photography

Karma’s latest Photo Hunt involved some imagination and opening up of one’s mind to…

…another dimension, a dimension not only of sight and sound but of mind.  A journey into a wondrous land of imagination.  Next stop, the Twilight Zone!

The time, the future.  The subject, a mind bending look at a space elevator seen by a person getting ready to embark on a trip beyond the confines of Earth.

A space elevator to the heavens reaching beyond the end of the Earth.

The space traveler is on the first mission to a planet scientists feel can sustain human life.  The photos from unmanned probes look promising. It is not until the traveler lands and opens the hatch to the planet’s true wonders is the traveler convinced.

Earth like but not Earth.

At the end of first day on the traveler’s new planet, a setting of a new Sun is seen from the shores of an alien lake…alone, the only person on the planet.

A new Sun sets on a new planet far from the Earth.

Queue Rod Serling voice….

As you and I are aware, the traveler never left Earth.  For those who know the author of this place, you can guess what the traveler saw.  I invite you, if you dare, to do so.

(The tags were left blank for your enjoyment.)

Posted in Travel | 12 Comments

View 243: Street Hockey

Posted on August 27, 2012 by Scott Thomas Photography
Brent Axe takes a shot on net through a screen by John Evenson (5) during the 2012 Media Street Crunch game held Saturday, August 25 at Alliance Bank Stadium in Syracuse, New York.

Brent Axe takes a shot on net through a screen by John Evenson (5) during the 2012 Media Street Crunch game held Saturday, August 25 at Alliance Bank Stadium in Syracuse, New York.
Nikon D700/28-300VR, 1/500s, f/8, ISO 200, EV +0.3, 28mm focal length.

Each summer, the Syracuse Crunch AHL Hockey Club sponsors a series called the Crunch Bunch Kid’s Club Street Hockey games.  The Crunch set up street hockey rinks, nets, sticks and supply referees for the games.

On the last day of the series, the Media game is played between members of the Syracuse Crunch front office personnel and The Score 1260 radio station who carry the Crunch’s season games. This is a friendly game between teams GM’d by Crunch owner Howard Dolgon and Score 1260’s afternoon personality Brent Axe. It was a fun game to watch and you could tell each team was playing for bragging rights.  This year, Team Dolgon came out on top by the score of 8 to 6.  I will be sure to tune in later today to hear what Brent Axe has to say about it.

With the NHL headed for another labor dispute, I am looking forward to watching the Crunch this season with their new affiliation with the Tampa Bay Lightning.

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Can-Am Lacrosse Champions

Posted on August 24, 2012 by Scott Thomas Photography
2012 Can-Am Senior "B" Lacrosse Champions Onondaga Redhawks.

2012 Can-Am Senior “B” Lacrosse Champions Onondaga Redhawks. Players from top left: Brett Bucktooth (66), Neal Powless (16), Dwayne Porter (23) and Tyler Hill (14).

The Onondaga Redhawks won the Stanley “Butch” Jimerson Can-Am Lacrosse Champions Cup by defeating the Newtown Golden Eagles in the league finals Best-of-Seven series, 4 games to none, last week.  The Redhawks dominated the series after taking the opening game in overtime, 15-14, in Newtown’s home arena.  The clinching game was no different.  After Newtown tied the game at one, the Redhawks scored 6 unanswered goals and never looked back.  The final score was 17 to 5 and the celebration commenced!

Onondaga Redhawks Captains with the Can-Am Cup.

Onondaga Redhawks captains Dustin Hill (20), Neal Powless (16), David Stout (24) and Brett Bucktooth (66) with the Stanley “Butch” Jimerson Can-Am Lacrosse Champions Cup after defeating the Newtown Golden Eagles in the Can-Am Senior “B” Box Lacrosse finals at the Onondaga Nation Arena near Nedrow, New York.
Nikon D700/28-85G, 1/250s, f/4, ISO 11,400, EV +1, 48mm focal length.

The game of Lacrosse is a way of life for these athletes, their families and the Haudenosaunee nations of the Mohawk, Cayuga, Onondaga, Oneida, Seneca and Tuscarora. So, it was no surprise to me when it came time for a team picture with the Can-Am Cup the players wanted to include their sons and daughters in the photo.

Onondaga Redhawks posing with the Stanley "Butch" Jimerson Can-Am Lacrosse Champions Cup.

Onondaga Redhawks posing with the Stanley “Butch” Jimerson Can-Am Lacrosse Champions Cup after defeating the Newtown Golden Eagles 4 games to 0 in the Can-Am Senior “B” Box Lacrosse finals at the Onondaga Nation Arena near Nedrow, New York.
Nikon D700/24-85G, 1/100s, f/3.5, ISO 4500, EV +0.3, 24mm focal length.

After the group photo, each player had a chance to have their photo taken with the Stanley “Butch” Jimerson Can-Am Lacrosse Champions Cup.  With fathers first gift to their sons being wooden lacrosse sticks in their newborn’s crib, Grant Bucktooth wanted his son to get a feel for the champions trophy.

Onondaga Redhawks Grant Bucktooth (15) and son with the Can-Am Cup.

Onondaga Redhawks Grant Bucktooth (15) and son with the Stanley “Butch” Jimerson Can-Am Lacrosse Champions Cup at the Onondaga Nation Arena near Nedrow, New York.
Nikon D700/24-85G, 1/200s, f/4.5, ISO 2800, EV +0.6, 45mm focal length.

Click the link if you would like to see more photos of the Stanley “Butch” Jimerson Can-Am Lacrosse Champions Cup presentation and post-game celebrations.  It has been a pleasure and an honor to photograph the Onondaga Redhawks this season.  The Redhawks next stop is Alberta, Canada next week in their quest for another President’s Cup.

You can follow the Redhawks at the 2012 Presidents Cup by clicking here.

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