Big Thunder - Again

Some months ago I posted a photo of Big Thunder Mountain Rail Road. The photograph was taken from Tom Sawyer Island and was HDR processed. Later, I decided to convert the photograph to gray scale and use an infrared process. Here is the result.

Something On A Sunday

We're talking a walk through Central Park on a Saturday here on Something On A Sunday.

It has been a long time...

Thought I may stop in and post a photograph. It is actually becoming a favorite of mine.

I have a few friends, for whom, this is their favorite attraction in the Magic Kingdom. For them, I say, enjoy.

Another Land

My wife and I just returned from a ten-day adventure which included a few days in a theme park I knew about but had never visited. What a visit! Over the next few weeks or so I'll try to share some of my thoughts and comparisons between Disneyland and Walt Disney World. Both are unique in their own right.

Being a person who has always visited the east coast parks, I can some up my experience in the west coast parks with one word, "Wow!"

One note for this post, when we walked into Town Square, we went to first to City Hall only to discover that the "Lilly Belle" was not at the park. Moving on, we made our way to the Fire Station. I paused and looked up to see the light burning in Walt's apartment. My emotions caught up with me at that moment and the full force of knowing this is Walt's park hit me. After working to pull myself together enough to talk, I said to Gerrie, "Honey, we could spend all day in this park and not do anything but walk around and it would be still be a great day!"

Still, we did visit a few attractions!

More to follow...

Partners

So it comes down to this. What was once a place where I thought I'd write about Disney, has become a place that I usually populate with my photographic efforts. I am okay with that.

And who knows, I may write something from time to time.

Disney World After Dark: France... again

I believe this is the fourth photograph I have posted of the France Pavilion after dark. I make no apologies, it is one of my favorite places to be in Walt Disney World. 

From Across the Lagoon

Whenever I travel to the Magic Kingdom from the Ticket and Transportation Center, more often than not I'll take the ferry. From the decks you can casually enjoy views of the Polynesian and Grand Floridian Resort to the west. To the north, you get views like this.

Disney World After Dark: Castle at Twilight

If someone were to ask me how many photographs I have taken of Cinderella Castle, I would have to answer honestly and say I do not know. Over the years and through hundreds of photographs, I am still drawn to its mystery and enchantment. True, a lot of my shots are of the same angle, but I take them anyway hoping that I may find something that I have not seen before. Of all the park icons, it is my favorite and will keep me coming back year after year and photograph after photograph.

This photograph was taken nearing twilight in February 2012.

Disney World After Dark: Innoventions Plaza

If you have followed this blog for any this blog for any length of time you know how I enjoy taking photographs in the World after dark. It becomes a different world in different light and I feel it takes on a different character as well. It is more, mysterious.


Though it will be hard to tell, this is a High Dynamic Range processed photograph. It is rendered from a single photograph taken with a Nikon D40, then processed through Adobe Photoshop produce copies with varying exposures that were then rendered in Photomatix Pro.


As for the timing, there are two great times to take photographs in the Plaza. One is during IllumiNations. If you can draw yourself away from the nighttime spectacular, you'll find that the Plaza is virtually empty as most everyone is at, you guessed it, IllumiNations. Another time is to linger during your exit from the park. This works best when you watch IllumiNations on the far side of World Showcase. You're a whole park away from the front entrance. Again, take your time.


Oh, and have a tripod with you. The above photograph was taken in Aperture mode with a lens opening of f/10 and an ISO of 200. This was a 10 second exposure. 


So, if you're patient, you can come away with some really nice shots.

I Need To Rename This Series

Don't you think?

I am not always successful when trying to make a level photograph. What looks level in the view finder doesn't always come out that way and then I am faced with having to correct it in post. But, one area in Walt Disney World that I find cries out to be photographed at various angles, is Italy. The textures, the masonry, the contrasts of straight and curved edges, is too much not to tilt the camera at least 45 degrees.

At least that is my feeling on the matter.

Still Dabbling Some More...

Cinderella Castle affords the park guest many spectacular views. There is the quintessential view of looking down Main Street U.S.A. and seeing the castle beckoning you onward. Then you have the shot where you place the Partners statue in the foreground with the castle just in the background. If you get this shot shortly after rope drop, you have a near empty background. Another favorite is the castle from the Liberty Square Bridge. You know the one with the castle reflection in the waterway.

One we explored earlier was a photograph taken of the walkway leading down from the castle to the Fairytale Garden. Today, submitted for your viewing pleasure, is another from this angle. Only this time it is the castle at the finale of the 10:35 Dream Along With Mickey show.

Isn't it wonderful what the camera can see while waiting two hours with your granddaughter to meet Rapunzel?

And by the way, it was worth every minute of the wait to see one my granddaughters wishes come true.

Still Dabbling

Among my photographs of Cinderella Castle this has to be on of my favorites. What makes it so is that it is a long shot down a crowded Main Street U.S.A. on a bright sunny day. Basically, a near perfect day!

Note: this is the same photograph, minus the high dynamic range processing, that I used in my Disney As Art series entitled, "Balloons".

Dabbling (continued)

Cinderella Castle is probably one of the most photographed structures in the world. Not just Walt Disney World, but the entire world. True, Sleeping Beauty Castle would rank high on the list, as would the Eiffel Tower and Buckingham Palace I suppose. I know that during my trips I can't help but add a few dozen more to add to my already extensive collection; looking that different perspective. But of all the views and of all the angles, this is perhaps one of my favorite.

Take a walk over to the Fairytale Garden and look west and you'll enjoy the view as well. Though you'll want to wait until after the Rapunzel Character Greetings have wrapped up for the day to take your photograph. Otherwise, there will be a nice group of eager fans waiting their turn to meet the parks newest resident.

Dabbling (continued)

As a would be photographer, I read books on composition and exposure and how to get the most out of my digital images. I have a subscription to a magazine that informs some of my processing and regularly visit a few websites to read and learn. If I can retain some of what I've read, all the better (I still have problems with the whole aperture / depth of field thing). I don't consider myself to be a great photographer, but I do hope that I am an improving photographer.

Another place I go for inspiration are photo sharing sites along with websites and blogs that a few of my friends, friends that I do consider to be quite accomplished photographers, have established. I like to see what others are seeing and doing. It causes me to ask, "How did they do that?" and then challenge myself with "Can I do that?" Thus, my interest in HDR. Here is another foray into that realm of photographic possibilities.

Dabbling (continued)

As I continue to experiment with High Dynamic Range processing and recently married the HDR image with a bit of artistic filtering in Photoshop Elements. The results, an enhanced image of the clock in the France Pavilion of Epcot's World Showcase. The filtering is a light film grain applied to the finished image.

Thank you for stopping by.

Dabbling

I have long been fascinated with High Dynamic Range photo processing. When I visit online photo sharing sites I am nearly always drawn to these types of images. I thought I'd give a go, using an image used for the first Photo Phriday, the Tronorail.

I hope you consider it not a bad first effort.