Monthly Archives: August 2021

Cindy’s Morning Shine

Posted by Mike on

WDW in B&W – WBW42
Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World

I’m still in the middle of my love/hate relationship with Walt Disney World. The 50th anniversary of the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World is October 1st. It is 31 days away! When the other anniversary milestones came I didn’t do anything special (to be fair neither did Disney on a couple of them). But I thought the 50th would be something spectacular and I would be there. I currently have no plans.

What I do have is more images from my trip this past May. As much as I might complain about Disney, and Walt Disney World in particular, I did have a few good times on my trip. Unexpected early entry into the parks was one of those times. The Magic Kingdom was scheduled to open at 8am but as soon as I arrived cast members were letting guests into the park. OK I thought, they probably have a rope at the end of Main Street holding everyone back until the official time. Nope! The park was open to us. While everyone was running off to any open ride, I was running around capturing as many images as I could.

I was on my way to Frontierland for sunrise-like images along the Rivers of America. Passing over the bridge from the hub presented this harsh view of Cinderella Castle which I could not pass up. Upon my first look at this image back in May I didn’t see anything special. I liked the sun flare but there were too many flare spots. Although I love shooting into the sun, there were to many spots to overcome in post-processing. While cruising the trip’s album in Lightroom last night this image jumped out at me. I needed to work on it.

It might be a cheat to convert it to monochrome but it did alleviate my problem with the sun spots. The other great affect of converting this image, it removes the new color scheme Disney used for the anniversary. I mentioned in a post back in May that the new scheme has Cindy looking like her sibling in Disneyland. I’m still undecided about the look for her but this version helps me forget. I think it fits nicely with the other images in my WDW in B&W series.

Cindy’s Morning Shine
Olympus E-M1 Mark III, M. Zuiko 17mm f/1.8, 1/250s, f/11, ISO 200

Beach Club Light

Posted by Mike on

Beach Club Resort, Crescent Lake, Walt Disney World

Is it nostalgia or pining? Returning to the images I captured at Walt Disney World in May for this morning’s post. The 50th anniversary of the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World is right around the corner (October 1st). I guess it is a little of both…

If it was truly nostalgia then this post would be of Cinderella Castle. Maybe that one will be next?

Pining it is. I would love to be in the Magic Kingdom for the anniversary but my love/hate relationship with Walt Disney World is leaning toward the hate side right now. I know, a strong word, but that is how it feels. There are numerous reasons but I will not bore you with those… you’re welcome. Wait, I think it is reminiscing? Yep, that seems to be it.

Right now I can enjoy the early morning view of the Beach Club. This is one of my favorite times of the day. Well before most guests wake. When it is only me running around the lake capturing the views, enjoying the peace and quiet.

Beach Club Light
Olympus E-M1 Mark III, M. Zuiko 12-100mm f/4, 3.2s, 17mm, f/11, ISO 200

Sunset Out

Posted by Mike on

Bellamy Harbor

This is the view of the sunset at Bellamy Harbor I mentioned in the post a few days ago. Not your typical sunset image. I’m usually standing closer to the sun along the crumbling concrete on the left. I really liked the structure in the bridge above me and thought maybe it would work as part of the framing… I’m not sure it does.

Sunset Out
Olympus E-M1 Mark III, M. Zuiko 12-100mm f/4, 1/80s, 12mm, f/11, ISO 200

Holding On… Again

Posted by Mike on

In The Yard, Squared

Something interesting happened yesterday. When I woke I found one of my images had been selected for Explore on flickr. This happens once in a while, either an algorithm or an individual selects an image to be highlighted in the Explore section on the flickr site. I’m not sure how the image is selected but when it happens it does draw extra attention. I won’t lie, it feels good when it happens, but it is not something I aim to achieve.

The interesting part for me is the image that was selected is from 2018. Which to me indicates an algorithm is at work when selecting for Explore. That’s OK. It doesn’t lessen the exposure of the image nor anyone’s enjoyment of it. What I like about it is based on the image selected, a dandelion! One of my “weed” images, ha! 🙂

The whole event did get me thinking about the image and that brought out the following…

Burdens of old thoughts
Memories, links in the chain
The past has a weight

Today, this moment
Realization emerges
A future revealed

Tomorrow shines bright
New journeys free the spirit
Stop your holding on
Holding On
Olympus E-M1 Mark II, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 1/200s, 40mm, f/4, ISO 400

Canal Reflections

Posted by Mike on

Wordless Wednesday

Canal Reflections
Olympus E-M1 Mark III, M. Zuiko 12-100mm f/4, 1/60s, 12mm, f/11, ISO 200

Sunset Water

Posted by Mike on

Bellamy Harbor

It happened again! No, it wasn’t a bad thing. I don’t think? No, it was good.

It was raining when I got home from work. No problem, other than it was not in the forecast to rain. But I digress… The boys were fed, dinner consumed and I was settling in with a good book. I didn’t get very far. The sun started peeking through the front door.

Hhhmmm? Will there be anything good for a sunset? Maybe? You won’t know unless get out there. Right!

I grab a cold drink, the camera bag and head out the door.

Choices? Where should I go? Check the app on the phone… Sun sets at 7:53pm, moon rises at 8:30pm. Maybe I can get both? Yes! The angles are right for Bellamy Harbor. Turning right at the end of the street.

Wow! That is a lot of water in the canal. It looks like a river of chocolate! I might have mentioned we have had a lot of rain. It will be OK. Brown is a color, right?

I head for the Mill St. bridge, the one over the canal which gives me the big view of Bellamy Harbor. As I walk across the bridge the view doesn’t impress me. It has potential though… give it time. I continue across and work my way to a spot under the bridge. This spot has a few views.

I grab some images. There is barely any breeze. The water is calm. Good for reflections. I like reflections, have always been a sucker for them. I really like the view of the water tower and the canal heading East. OK, one keeper for sure.

Ooh! The sun ducked behind the wispy clouds. Where do I setup? Hurry! It is starting to emerge. How about something different? Try putting the underside of the bridge in the top of the frame. It might work. Try it! Wow, huge dynamic range. Bracket the crap out this one, you can merge them in post-processing. Got it. Next?

I head back across the bridge. More clouds have moved in. A few more clicks from up here.

Back on the “normal” side of the canal I try again for the view with the sun behind one of the glass globed lamp posts. Maybe? We’ll see. It might work. I’ll know when I see it on the computer screen. I like the idea. I said, we’ll see.

Look! The sun dropped behind the trees and into the low layer of clouds on the horizon. Look at those colors! I race back to the bridge. Hurry up! You’re gonna miss it. Middle of the bridge is the spot. Yes! Lots of clouds, fill the top half with the clouds. The bottom will be the colors reflected in the water. Got it! Whew! I think that is the one.

I wait on the bridge. It’s another fifteen minutes until the official sunset. I’m hoping for reflected colors in the clouds after the sun goes below the horizon. Not looking too good. Wait anyway! You’re in no hurry. Besides, you wanted the moon rising.

I turn around and look toward the East. Nope, not getting the moon rising tonight. Not a clear spot in the sky. No worries! There will be another chance…

The colors in the clouds never appear. Fifteen minutes after sunset I pack it in. I head home to see my treasures…

Sunset Water
Olympus E-M1 Mark III, M. Zuiko 12-100mm f/4, 1/25s, 15mm, f/11, ISO 200

West Canada Morning

Posted by Mike on

West Canada Creek, Hinckley Reservoir
Haiku

Bursts of Color

The moon bids farewell
Mother Nature's show begins
Dawn bursts in color

Standing at the end of the boat launch capturing the last light of the full moon serenity washed over me. The calming sounds of water flowing always have that affect on me. And then I turned around… Eos, the Dawn, was waking up.

Colors. Wonderful morning colors were filling the horizon. Serenity was now replaced with an urge to capture this goddess who ushers in the day. The recent storms must have caused havoc with the creek as a maintenance barge was parked behind me. I’m a sucker for a reflection as well as a silhouette. Bonus points for this one!

Maintenance
Olympus E-M1 Mark III, M. Zuiko 12-100mmm f/4, 15s, 17mm, f/11, ISO 200

What’s next? Ah, the spillway (dam) at Hinckley Reservoir. It has been a long time since I have seen water flowing over the spillway. That will be my next stop. The interesting dilemma is how to capture the view. I park near a bridge over the West Canada and walk the length looking for the best view. It freaks me out slightly as the water is not far from the bottom of the bridge. It didn’t appear to be moving this fast as I was standing next it capturing the moon but now I feel the power of the flow. Incredible!

At the very opposite end of the bridge I find the view I wanted to capture. The trees lining the banks of the creek create a funnel for the sound of the water rushing over the spillway. I stand and listen for a few minutes. Other sounds of the morning have vanished, the water is all I hear. I can feel it following the water down the creek.

Over the Top
Olympus E-M1 Mark III, M. Zuiko 12-100mmm f/4, 3.2s, 28mm, f/11, ISO 200

One more stop before I’m done with the dawn. I walk from my spot on the bridge toward the spillway itself. The access road allows me to get quite close. I would have preferred to find a spot with out the fencing. Not much choice. Being this close the spillway hides most of the colors on the horizon. I thought of hopping the concrete barrier and going to the water’s edge for a better view, but no, that is me even though I’m sure there is no one else around. I settle for this one…

Let it Flow
Olympus E-M1 Mark III, M. Zuiko 12-100mmm f/4, 2s, 13mm, f/11, ISO 200

My task complete I walk back to the car for the drive back home. It was a good morning!

Moon Bright

Posted by Mike on

West Canada Creek

This morning is/was the full moon. Commonly known as the Sturgeon Moon, but this one happens to also be a Blue Moon. Blue moons are an infrequent occurrence and typically can be one of two types of full moons. They can be the second full moon within a month, or in this case, the third moon within a “season” with four full moons. Summer started in late June and the first full moon was a few days later setting up this season to have a blue moon.

Rather than repeat my typical images at Delta Lake I took a chance and ran up to Hinckley to capture the moon setting over the West Canada Creek. OK, chance might be a little misleading… I checked the Photographer’s Ephemeris to see how the moon will be setting and it lined up well with the access landing along the creek and the dam diverting water toward the power plant.

To capture the moon and actually see it, you need to have quite a bit of light from the sun. The moon against a black sky is very bright and exposing for the moon darkens everything else. This is OK if you are after the moon and all its details, I was looking for the moon in a landscape setting. I didn’t quite get enough light. The moon was setting quicker than the morning light was approaching. So, I captured a bright moon over the water… still happy with it.

Moon Bright
Olympus E-M1 Mark III, M. Zuiko 12-100mm f/4, 15s, 34mm, f/11, ISO 800

It was a good morning. The sounds of the water relaxed me as I was working the scene. We have had an abnormal amount of rain recently. All the rivers and creeks are over-flowing. I could hear the water rushing over the Hinckley Reservoir spillway behind me as I was capturing the moon. I’m having a hard time remember the last time water flowed over the spillway. I could also hear the water flowing over the spillway in front of me filling the bypassed section of the West Canada with water. It was a little early for the birds but I did catch the sound of a coy dog or coyote (not sure which, didn’t want to find out).

After the moon slipped behind the few thin clouds I drove up to the reservoir for sunrise images. Those will be processed later and hopefully find their way into a post…