Monthly Archives: February 2025

Seeing It All

Posted by Mike on

Rivers of America
Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World

Seeing It All
Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/4 S, 1/160s, 24mm, f/8, ISO 100
{7 image panoramic}

Rise and Shine

Posted by Mike on

Silent Sunday
Boardwalk, Crescent Lake, Walt Disney World

Rise and Shine
Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/4 S, 1/30s, 29mm, f/11, ISO 100

Early Light

Posted by Mike on

Yacht Club Lighthouse
Crescent Lake, Walt Disney World

Morning is my favorite time of the day. Maybe it’s because I’m an early riser. I’ve been getting up around 4am for years. Originally it was for necessity but now it’s habit. I can go to bed late and still I wake up early (I’ll admit a good nap might be needed later).

Maybe being a photographer is another reason I still get up early. Some of the best light is before the sun pops above the horizon to right after it makes its appearance. Same can be said for sunset but at sunset there are generally more people around. In the morning, most people are still sleeping. I guess I like having the light all to myself.

This penchant for the morning is even stronger when I’m on vacation, especially when I’m at Disney. This is definitely related to the “less people” comment above. When I stay at the Beach Club I get the added benefit of the walking/running trail around Crescent Lake and the amazing views to be found. Just look at this view…

Early Light
Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/4 S, 1/13s, 33mm, f/11, ISO 100

The View

Posted by Mike on

Yacht & Beach Clubs
Crescent Lake, Walt Disney World

The View
Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z 50mm f/1.8 S, 1/400s, f/8, ISO 100
{13 image panoramic}

Playing With Water

Posted by Mike on

Flat Rock Park

It was another nice day on Friday. I didn’t want it to end sitting on the couch. After getting the boys fed I returned to Flat Rock Park to play in the water. I was hoping the park would be as empty as it was on Thursday but I could see as I drove in there was a lot of activity around the water.

My first inclination (and why is this how I am now?) was to drive through the park and go find another activity. I think the design of the park will work in my favor. The road through the park is one way, and you have to drive completely around to exit. As I approached the waterfall area on the opposite side of the creek, I made up my mind not to let a few people stop me. I parked the car, grabbed the tripod, threw the camera bag over my shoulder and headed to the creek to explore.

There were a group of young kids playing on the rocks near the water where I really wanted to setup my camera. As much as I remember those days, I wanted them to go play somewhere else so I could have the spot to myself. Luckily, as I crossed the stone bridge over the creek (see these older posts featuring the bridge, Autumn Bridge & Bridge) I thought this area might produce a few interesting images.

Find A Way
Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/4 S, 1.3s, 70mm, f/11, ISO 100

OK. Not terrible. What else is there to see?

Holding Back
Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/4 S, 0.8s, 53mm, f/11, ISO 100

Interesting. A little too much shine on the water. What does this look like from the other side?

Transition
Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/4 S, 1.3s, 30mm, f/11, ISO 100

I like this one. Anything else to see?

Arc
Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/4 S, 1.3s, 58mm, f/11, ISO 100

I eventually walked to the area near the kids. I’m unsure if their mom(?) saw me and told them to play in another area, or if she finally thought they were getting dangerously close to falling on the rocks and sliding down the water. Either way, I had the area to myself for a few minutes. Time for me to play.

Those images can wait for another day..

Go enjoy your Saturday.

Flat Rock in B&W

Posted by Mike on

Flat Rock Park, Columbus, GA

As I was winding down my day at work I realized the sun had fought its way though the clouds. Add in the warm temps and I knew I would be going somewhere with the camera. I had fun at Disney, it might not have been my most enjoyable visit ever (more on that later), but I do credit the trip with rekindling my interest in photography. It also reminded me to stop being a lazy photographer and get back to pushing myself to be more creative.

On the drive home I decided I would leave the 50mm prime lens on the camera and go to Flat Rock Park. I also told myself I would seek out compositions that would look good as B&W images. That meant I needed to find texture and contrast as well as something interesting.

My surprise as I drove into the park, which I should have realized due to the recent rain, is that there was great water flowing through the creek.

No! You said you were going to use the 50 and …

But?

Push yourself.

The water!

Yes, looks great, stick with your plan.

But!

You can do it.

Alright…

Rock
Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z 50mm f/1.8 S, 1/13s, f/16, ISO 100

These are some of the rock formations that were in my head when I made the plan for this excursion. There are more in the park but I also knew I should keep exploring the area. There is more to find. Maybe it won’t be an image today but it could be a thought or an idea for another time. Work the scene.

I played all over these rocks. Different angles, different sections, water reflections, and everything in between. It felt good. I was having fun.

And then I spied another photographer on the opposite side of the creek. He had his tripod setup and was capturing the water falling done this formation. The sun behind him lighting the whole scene.

To my credit I didn’t go back to the car to change my setup. I told myself to explore the scene with what I had and if needed, I’ll return the next day after work. Don’t rush it…

I’ve learned over the years of playing in the water with my camera that I would be OK with any shutter speed slower than 1/15s to get some silky looking water. With this camera I can hand-hold that kind of exposure. The sun was starting to disappear behind the trees so I could play with the ISO and close down the aperture to get the shutter speed I needed.

I crossed to the other side and played with the flowing water for a while. As I was leaving the area, I looked back one last time and grabbed a conventional landscape image. It works for me…

Trees Over Water
Nikon Z6 II, Nikkor Z 50mm f/1.8 S, 1/8s, f/16, ISO 100