Viewpoints II “16×20″

The 2nd photo exhibit by the Syracuse Photographers Association, of which I am a member and contributor to, starts on Friday, November 20, 2009 with an opening reception attended by the exhibiting photographers from 6 to 8pm.  There will be  hors d’oeuvres and liquid refreshments served for all who attend.  Admission is free!

This show features all the photos displayed in matted 16 by 20 inch frames.  Most are for sale by the photographers if you are interested and would make wonderful gifts for the upcoming holidays.  The show runs from November 20 to January 11, 2010.

Click on poster below for a bigger and more readable version.

Viewpoints II, an exhibit by the Syracuse Photographers Assoication.

Click Here for Directions to the Westcott Community Center

View 97: Enchanted Pumpkins

Major League Baseball's 2009 World Series teams depicted in pumpkins at the Enchanted Beaver Lake event in the Beaver Lake Nature Center near Baldwinsville, New York.

Attended the Enchanted Beaver Lake annual event and walked past some 500 lighted pumpkins carved with traditional Halloween favorites like Jack-O-Lanterns, witches, ghouls and ghosts to sports teams and movie characters.  The trails were dark with only the lighted pumpkins available which added to the enjoyment of the event.  The hot cider and fresh donuts helped, too!

The night was cold so Beaver Lake had a special campfire going to keep people warmed up.

I used the same technique I use for photographing Christmas lights which I wrote about on my Disney photo blog to photograph these pumpkins.

The largest pumpkin had a place of honor overlooking the festivities. He seemed a bit of a joker type to me.

Fun Run

I photographed the Apple Run events at the LaFayette Apple Festival last Sunday. Along with the 5K and 15K Road Races was the One Mile Fun Run for children aged 12 years old and younger. I knew the start of the Fun Run would be dynamic and full of energy. Remember, when photographing children, get down to their level no matter how much one’s knees complain about it.

If you are looking for photos from the Apple Run events, I posted a gallery of all the photographs I took for purchase here:

LaFayette Apple Run

The start of the One Mile Fun Run at the LaFayette Apple Festival on Sunday, October 11, 2009.

It also helped that I used the Nikon SB-600 Speedlight to balance out the bright overcast sky and freeze the action.

Thundering Hooves

This year's New York State Fair champion of the 8 Horse Hitch was the Grandview Clydesdales from Huntington, Indiana.

The six and eight draft horse competitions at this year’s New York State Fair had standing room only crowds in the Coliseum arena. There were many teams of Percheron and Belgium draft horses but only one team of Clydesdales. The Grandview Clydesdales were an immediate fan favorite with their stately manor and flying white hairs about their lower legs. Weighing from 1,600 to 2,000 pounds each, a Clydesdale eight horse hitch makes a rhythmic thumping sound as thirty-two hoofs hit the ground in sync. The driver controlling from up high on the wagon being pulled. Trotting, walking, stopping and backing up for the judge, the driver puts his team of giants through their paces.

Out of thirteen 8 horse hitch teams, the Clydesdales brought home the blue ribbon to the jubilation of their fans.

Views from the Fair

Here’s some more photographs from the New York State Fair. Anyone else posting or have posted fair photos this year?

The poster for this year's Great New York State Fair is whimsical. As an aside, this year's big fried food craze is Deep Fried Peanut Butter and Jelly. Yum-yum!

What do you do with a 900 pound block of butter? You create this year's butter sculpture for the Dairy Building. This is a tradition going back 41 years.

My daughter's annual photo of her holding a newly hatched chicken in the 4-H Youth building.

Sea Ray Arc. After a couple of attempts, I finally got the shutter speed right to capture one swing or arc of the Sea Ray (ie., pirate ship) midway ride using the Tokina 11-16 wide angle lens at 11mm focal length.

I have not forgotten about the Pizze Frittes. Stay tuned!

Syracuse Nationals Hot Rod Show

Some of the nearly 7,000 hot rods, muscle cars and classics at the Syracuse Nationals last weekend at the New York State Fairgrounds.

The rainy day forecasted turned into a dry, warm and perfect day to for me to spend at the 10th annual Syracuse Nationals Hod Rod Show. Nearly 7,000 hot rods, muscle cars and classics filled the New York State Fairgrounds last weekend. The passion the owners of these vehicles is apparent with meticulously polished and maintained surfaces shining for my camera to capture.

The famous running Mustang logo from a classic 1969 Ford Mustang muscle car at the Syracuse Nationals Hot Rod Show.

Winning at a car show as large as the Syracuse Nationals means you have to get every detail of your car cleaned, polished and presented for the judges. I can not imagine the task that must have been as I was overwhelmed in the sea of beautiful cars.

Flames and bright colors are what draw me to a hot rod. Click on photo to see the entire car.

Muscle cars from the 1970's are a favorite of mine like this shaker hood from a 1977 Pontiac Trans Am Black Bird. Click photo to see the entire car.

Of all the styles of hot rods, I like the coupes the best.  Add flames and bright colors and I can’t resist photographing them.

Chromed grills and engine bays cause havac with my camera's meter but I still can't resist them. Click on photo to see entire hot rod.