Some of My Favorite Things

I love being in Epcot at festival time. It doesn't matter if it is the International Flower and Garden Festival or the International Food and Wine Festival. Either one is fine with me. 

One of the favorite aspects of the former festival is the display of bonsai trees exhibited in Japan. If I am fortunate enough to visit the park during this this time, I will spend an hour or so enjoying and photography these works of art. 

Sadly, I cannot tend or grow bonsai. There was a time when I would buy a tree from Mitsukoshi, bring it home, and do my best to tend it. But within six months the tree was dead. I finally gave up. 

Now I simply enjoy the artistry of those who raise these treasures. 

In the quiet moments...

The World Showcase in Epcot is one of my favorite places to be in Walt Disney World. It is a cultural and sensory delight to stroll along the promenade and bask in what each country has to offer. 

World Showcase also provides a number of off-the-beaten-path locations where the weary park guest can pause, rest, and collect themselves. The garden in the United Kingdom and  the back alleys of Morocco are two places you can find me. They are usually quiet and I can sit and enjoy being in a place that I love. The Japanese Gardens in the Japan Pavilion is a treasured place to enjoy a cup of tea and enjoy a moment of tranquility. 

Leave a comment and let me know your favorite place to take a few moments to slow down and rest. 

More to follow...

You're Still Here...

I have been away for a while. Of course you know that. 

In the interest of full disclosure, my interest in taking numerous trips to Walt Disney World has waned. My last trip was in April 2016. I have found that as I have gotten older there are other places that I want to visit, or revisit, while I have both the time and the fitness. Instead of Central Florida, I have found myself in Washington (both the state and the capitol) on numerous occasions. There have been journeys to England, The Netherlands, France, Belize, and Northern Ireland. So as you can see, I am still getting around. Just not to The World. 

I must admit, I was pleasantly surprised when for some reason I logged into The Disney Obsession to have a poke about, only discover that there are many good people still visiting here. To all of you let me say, I apologize. I apologize for not having anything new here in years, and many thanks for continuing to look in from time to time. I hope now to make it worth your while again.

With so many wonderful blogs and podcasters out there filling the far reaches of the internet and cyberspace with Disney content, I will rarely post anything that you do not already know. I will, from time to time, add a comment or offer my opinion when it mood strikes (e.g. I can hardly wait to photograph The World of Avatar at night or see what the magic the Imagineers create for Star Wars). But for now I am going to commit myself to getting back to posting photographs. I do this for two reasons. One, is to honor those who find yourself browsing this place every so often. Secondly, it serves to motivate me. My creativity in the area of photography has been lacking for some time now and though I don't have any trips to Orlando planned for anytime soon, I do have a nice catalogue of images to pull from. This will then (I hope) serve to entice me to shot more in my daily life and on my other adventures. 

So thank you for being here. For sticking around as I have been away doing other things. Such is life.

To begin I offer you this from the United Kingdom Pavilion in Epcot's World Showcase. I have long been a fan of the Bard. Perhaps some of you are as well. 

More to follow...

The Gate

In a place filled with many wonderful examples of architecture, the Torii Gate in the Japan Pavilion at Epcot's World Showcase is one of my favorites.

Fireworks from France

Through the years I have taken numerous photographs of IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth. I still do. I continue to search for the elusive photograph of fireworks that I can point to and say, "that is pretty good." Some day perhaps.

My last trip was during the closing weekend of Epcot's International Flower and Garden Festival, and I decided to try something a bit different. Instead of queuing on the promenade and shooting from there, I decided to shoot from the courtyard inside the France Pavilion. I thought it may provide a different perspective on things having something in the foreground.

I still need to work on this, but here is a first effort at a different vantage point. 

Something for the Sun

As I make my way around the World Showcase, I am usually struck by the colorful parasols that are on display in the China Pavilion.  To me the bright colors seem so refreshing against a bright sun. 

If Ever...

… you and I get separated while in Epcot, this is where you shall find me. I'll either be on the bridge looking into France or on a bench, absorbing the atmosphere. Perhaps I'll be in Le Petite Rue, sitting at a cafe table with a glass of wine and a baguette, looking up at a window, dreaming.  After all, it is what I do best.  Dreaming. 

The Path to the Temple of Heaven

I am staying in the China Pavilion for another week. Day or night, the garden is a tranquil place to pause, rest and reflect.

The Mystery of China

“China is a sleeping giant. Let her sleep, for when she wakes she will move the world.” This quote is attributed to Napoleon. There is little known as to the circumstances surrounding the quote. There are some who date his statement in 1803; a year prior to his coronation as Emperor. 

I have visited many places in my life. There are many more that I still wish to visit. China is one of those places. It intrigues me. To me it is a land full of mystery. Perhaps some day. 

Until that time, I'll content myself with the occasional visit to the Chinese Pavilion.

Disney World After Dark: The Bab Boujouloud Gate

On 31 December 2012 I decided that it was time to step away from The Disney Obsession. I was struggling with the sporadic nature of the work I was doing here. If it could be called that. Add to that, my writing was going in a different direction. I write daily. It just happens that most of what I write would not make it to this or my other blog. I came to the conclusion that I was tired of posting for the sake of posting.

Yesterday I decided to pay a visit to see what was happening and I was amazed to find that The Disney Obsession was visited 732 times last month. There has been no new content, yet, the blog is visited an average of 26 times a day. Hard to believe. From time to time I'll post a photo on my TDO Facebook page. When I do, a reasonable number of people stop by for a look. But I don't understand what drives traffic and I am not going to try and figure it out.

It then occurred to me. I still love Disney! I still love to take photographs while in am in a Disney park! And occasionally I like to share a photograph. So I thought, why not do that here? 

Here we go. I am not going to knock myself out writing. There are many more blogs for you visit to check out what is happening in Disney, what is new in the parks, what is changing and what most everybody with an opinion thinks about it (I usually keep my opinions to myself and that will not change now). And there are many great Disney photography sites. This will not be one of those.

What you'll find here now is just a guy who loves Disney and likes to share a photograph every now and then. 

So to begin this new journey on an old blog, let's visit one of my favorite subjects - night photography. Let's begin with the Bab Boujouloud Gate in the Morocco Pavilion.

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. 

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.

Disney World After Dark: The Temple of Heaven

There are few places in World Showcase that I find more peaceful than the China Pavilion. When I am tired I like to have a Peach Oolong Tea from the Joy of Tea and find a place to sit in the garden. The music and the sound of water I find quite soothing. Another place that allows a moment or two of quiet is the rotunda in the Temple of Heaven. Enter here and let a sense of calm to overtake you.

Disney World After Dark: Morocco

"Moroccan artisans spent months creating the detailed geometric patterns in the buildings, like the Koutoubia Minaret, a recreation of the famous prayer tower in Marrakesh that stands guard over the entrance to the Morocco pavilion." So reads the text from the 1983-1988 section of Walt Disney World Resort: A Magical Year-By-Year Journey, the 1998 Edition. I found this book yesterday this past Saturday while rummaging around our local Goodwill Store.

The Morocco Pavilion opened along the World Showcase on September 7, 1984. For years it was a pavilion that I would pass by thinking there was no real reason to spend time there. That was a big mistake. It is rich in beauty and offers insight to a culture that we are all too unfamiliar with. For me, it is that reason that makes it one of the gems of the World Showcase.

I fell in love with the Morocco pavilion late in my obsession and I wish that had not been the case. By day it is a lesson in the artistry of a people then by night it becomes a place of quiet mystery. Step in. Imagine.

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.

Where In The World

A long time ago in a galaxy far away, there was a post. It was a photograph of some books sitting on a table. Some books were laying on their sides, others standing upright, and one opened. We asked the question, Where In The World would you find this. We had a few guesses; One Man's Dream, the Tower of Terror queue or possibly in the lobbies of the Yacht or Beach Club. Unfortunately, none of these prove true. The books in fact can be found in the Morocco Pavilion. Specifically in the room sometimes used for meet and greets just off the market.

Of course, I apologize for the delay in answering the question. But I do so in order to rekindle the flame, to restart the engine, to begin a new chapter, to... well you get the idea. So, here we go.

Where in the World would you find this?

A Sign Its Saturday

For all of your Norwegian High Seas Adventure needs, we give you, the Maelstrom. "You are not the first to pass this way. Nor shall you be the last."

A Sign Its Saturday

For all of your Norwegian curio and collectible needs, stop by Puffin's Roost.

A Sign Its Saturday

On a regular stroll around the World Showcase, I often will pass by Norway. True, there are interesting elements of the pavilion, but the photographs I will most often take are available from the promenade; the Stave Church, the grass roof beside the Kringla Bakeri, the flowers near the walkway. I will sometimes walk into the Stave Church to enjoy its background music. This is especially nice just after dusk as the combination of time and sound have a transportive effect on me. Still, I often will pass by and not walk far into Norway.

On a recent trip I decided to do so, simply to shot a few photographs for the A Sign... series. This was the first. Incidentally, fjording is an alternative name for the Norwegian Fjord Horse.

A Sign Its Saturday

We're moving just a little further along the promenade for today's A Sign It's Saturday. And... we get two signs for the price of one (three if you count the reservation check-in sign in the archway).

If you have not had the experience of the Biergarten, let me recommend it. The food is good, there is plenty of it, and it boasts a fun atmosphere.