View 228: Making Lemonade

Posted on May 7, 2012 by Scott Thomas Photography

This was a trying weekend for me photographically speaking.  Had plans for four different events and all but one of them had major challenges with a couple of complete failures. In  facing these, I kept remembering my sister Linda’s favorite quote by Joan Collins, “If life throws you a lemon – make lemonade.”

The first event was my great nephew’s (Linda’s Grandson) First Communion.  The challenge here was getting there in time as we were late getting to the church. I made my way through the children lined up outside and was able to photograph the beginning of the ceremony.  This photo shows you the excitement of the event.

A girl pauses before walking into church for her First Communion ceremony at St. Francis Xavier Church in Marcellus, New York.

A girl pauses before walking into church for her First Communion ceremony at St. Francis Xavier Church in Marcellus, New York. Nikon D700/24-85G, 1/60s, f/5, ISO 1250, EV 0, 24mm focal length, flash.

After enjoying lunch and an excellent cake at my niece’s, I headed to downtown Syracuse, New York to attend the 5th annual Crawfish Festival at Clinton’s Square.  I had a few ideas for some award winning photos but I did not count on this…

SOLD OUT! Crawfish were gone by 4 in the afternoon at the 4th Annual Crawfish Festival held at Clinton Square in Syracuse, New York.

SOLD OUT! Crawfish were gone by 4 in the afternoon at the 4th Annual Crawfish Festival held at Clinton Square in Syracuse, New York. Nikon D700/28-300VR, 1/250s, f/8, ISO 200, EV 0, 36mm focal length.

Next year I will get there early enough to enjoy my first taste of Crawfish and get those photographs.

Remember last year’s Super Moon?  Last Saturday was this year’s version and I had another grand idea.  The local TV weather forecaster promised we would see it. However, she failed to say when the sky would be clear enough to see the moon which happened for a few brief minutes an hour after moonrise. Another photo op spoiled by a bank of clouds.

As I was waiting for the moon, I turned around and with the help of the new steeple in town, photographed a colorful sunset. Normally I would tell you to drink the Kool-Aid.  This time enjoy the lemonade.

Sunset over Baldwinsville, New York the evening of the 2012 Super Moon.

Sunset over Baldwinsville, New York the evening of the 2012 Super Moon.
Nikon D700/28-300VR, 1/30s, f/8, ISO 360, EV 0, 300mm focal length.

Finally, everything came together yesterday for a trip out to the ESTA Safety Park Dragstrip.  Beautiful weather and lots of fast race cars.

The popular SpongeBob SquarePants yellow Barracuda at ESTA Safety Park Dragstrip in Cicero, New York.

The popular SpongeBob SquarePants yellow Barracuda at ESTA Safety Park Dragstrip in Cicero, New York.
Nikon D700/28-300VR, 1/500s, f/4.8, ISO 280, EV 0, 68mm focal length, polarizer filter.

Fitting that I end this post with a yellow race car.  Thank you, Linda!

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Layers in Aperture and Lightroom

Posted on May 4, 2012 by Scott Thomas Photography

Last year, OnOne Software introduced a new product to bring layer processing to both Apple Aperture 3 and Adobe Lightroom called Perfect Layers.  While using layers is a staple of Photoshop processing, it is not available in either Aperture or Lightroom. The latest version of Perfect Layers works also as a stand alone.  Photographers using Elements, Gimp or any other non-layer editor can now have the power of layers.  The best thing, OnOne Software has recently made Perfect Layers 2 a FREE download as an introduction to their Perfect Photo Suite 6 product.

With Perfect Layers in mind, I photographed some action sequences during a performance of Lights, Motors, Action Extreme Stunt Show in Disney’s Hollywood Studios last October.  I have seen my Photoshop buddies produce similar composites like these and now I can make them, too.

The red Hero car jumps from truck to truck during Lights, Motors, Action Extreme Stunt Show in Disney's Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World, Orlando, Florida.

The red Hero car jumps from truck to truck during Lights, Motors, Action Extreme Stunt Show at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in this composite created using OnOne Software’s Perfect Layers 2.
CLICK PHOTO FOR LARGER IMAGE.

What Perfect Layers 2 allowed me to do is select a series of photos which featured the same scene with the red Hero car in a different position and puts each photo in a separate layer.  I then select the car in each layer and paint it onto the next layer.  Notice the camera truck is only seen once even though it was in a different position in each of the six selected photos. I only selected it once. When I save the file, it flattens each layer together into one final image.

Stunt Man falls during a performance of Lights, Motors, Action Extreme Stunt Show in Disney's Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World, Orlando, Florida.

Stunt Man falls during a performance of Lights, Motors, Action Extreme Stunt Show in Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World, Orlando, Florida using OnOne Software’s Perfect Layers 2.

I did have some trouble getting this to work at first.  Coming from Apple Aperture 3 which lets me change anything from anywhere, to get these composites to come out, I had to follow a set of exact steps.  Once I figured that out, it was easy to create them.  You know how guys are. 😉

Here’s Photoshop Guru Scott Kelby with OnOne Software’s Brian Matiash explaining more about how Perfect Layers works.

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Joining Hearts & Hands to Find a Cure

Posted on May 2, 2012 by Scott Thomas Photography

In six weeks time, my Relay For Life team, Hearts & Hands, will be walking with over 40 other teams in Baldwinsville, New York.  I am proud to say we have raised almost $10,000 the last two years for the American Cancer Society and this year we have set our team goal at $5,000.  We need your help to get it!

Click Here to Donate to Scott's Relay for Life team. Thank you!

It is going on three years since I lost my sister to Brain Cancer.  Since then my family has lost other loved ones to various cancers.  Yet, there is a hope.  Last year deaths to cancer dropped 1% from the year before instead of increasing.  Each year, researchers and doctors develop new ways to fight cancer and learn from each success and failure.  There is still a long ways to go but we have turned a corner.  No looking back now!

Please, consider helping my team reach its goal by clicking this link and donating.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart as we join hands symbolically to find a cure.

Joining Hearts & Hands to Find a Cure

Martina McBride is one of my favorite country performers and she released this song from her latest album.  This is for all the caregivers who love and loved people through it.

Help make it so when you hear of someone living through it, the IT means life and not death.

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View 227: Onondaga Redhawks

Posted on April 30, 2012 by Scott Thomas Photography

One of the best things about sports is when one season ends, another begins.  The Syracuse Crunch lost their playoff series ending their AHL season last week.  While the Onondaga Redhawks started their 2012 Can-Am Senior “B” Box Lacrosse season against the same team which ended their 2011 season, the Rochester Greywolves, the following night.

The 2012 edition of the Onondaga Redhawks breaks the pre-game huddle before playing the Rochester Greywolves in the first game of the Can-Am Senior "B" Box Lacrosse season.

The 2012 edition of the Onondaga Redhawks breaks the pre-game huddle before playing the Rochester Greywolves in the first game of the Can-Am Senior “B” Box Lacrosse season at the Onondaga Nation Arena near Nedrow, New York on Saturday, April 28, 2012. Nikon D700/70-200VR, 1/500s, f/2.8, ISO 8000, EV +1.0, 200mm focal length.

The game was close for most of the first period until the Redhawks scored three unanswered goals late to take a 4 to 1 lead.  That proved to be a precursor as the home team opened up a large lead in the second period.

Onondaga Redhawks Percy Shenandoah (19) scores over the Rochester Greywolves goalie at the Onondaga Nation Arena near Nedrow, New York on Saturday, April 28, 2012 in Can-Am Senior "B" Box Lacrosse game action.

Onondaga Redhawks Percy Shenandoah (19) scores over the Rochester Greywolves goalie at the Onondaga Nation Arena near Nedrow, New York on Saturday, April 28, 2012 in Can-Am Senior “B” Box Lacrosse game action. Nikon D700/70-200VR, 1/500s, f/2.8, ISO 8000, EV +1.3, 130mm focal length.

Box lacrosse is a rough sport.  Cross checking is allowed and is used frequently to try and separate the orange rubber lacrosse ball from the carrier.  This game was the roughest I have seen since I started going to Redhawks games last year.

Rough action in the Can-Am Senior "B" Box Lacrosse game between the Onondaga Redhawks and Rochester Greywolves at the Onondaga Nation Arena near Nedrow, New York.

Rough action in the Can-Am Senior “B” Box Lacrosse game between the Onondaga Redhawks and Rochester Greywolves at the Onondaga Nation Arena near Nedrow, New York on Saturday, April 28, 2012.

The Onondaga Redhawks really took this game seriously and avenged last year’s playoff loss with a 19 to 4 win before a large crowd in the Tsha’hon’nonyen’dakhwa’ (Onondaga Nation) Arena.

Onondaga Redhawks player bulls his way through defenders to score against the Rochester Greywolves at the Onondaga Nation Arena near Nedrow, New York.

Onondaga Redhawks James Cathers (22) bulls his way through defenders to score in the third period against the Rochester Greywolves at the Onondaga Nation Arena near Nedrow, New York on Saturday, April 28, 2012 in Can-Am Senior “B” Box Lacrosse game action. Onondaga won 19-4. Nikon D700/70-200VR, 1/500s, f/2.8, EV +1.3, 200mm focal length.

If you like your sports to be fast, highly skilled and physical, check out a Can-Am Box Lacrosse game near you.

Click Here for More Photos from the Game

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Streets of America Photowalk

Posted on April 27, 2012 by Scott Thomas Photography

If any of you will be visiting Walt Disney World on May 29, 2012, I will be hosting a photowalk in Disney’s Hollywood Studios’ Streets of America in association with AllEars.net.  This is a fun area featuring sets of two famous cities, New York City and San Francisco.

New York street in Disney's Hollywood Studios.

New York street in Disney's Hollywood Studios which is full of details that are only skin deep.

This is a great opportunity to discover some of the hidden treasures found among the streets of the big city sets. There might even be a surprise or two along the way. The photowalk is limited to 20 people and you can sign up on the AllEars.net Facebook page (click here). We will meet up at the Studio Catering Company seating area between 12pm and 12:30pm.

Spots are filling fast so pop on over and sign up today!

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