Author Archives: Mike

Cindy’s Glow

Posted by Mike on

Cinderella Castle, Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World

Cindy’s Glow
Nikon Z6 II, NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S, 1/125s, 26mm, f/11, ISO 100

After Sunset Fades

Posted by Mike on

Midday, Floral, Macro

The Beautiful Changes

BY RICHARD WILBUR
One wading a Fall meadow finds on all sides   
The Queen Anne’s Lace lying like lilies
On water; it glides
So from the walker, it turns
Dry grass to a lake, as the slightest shade of you   
Valleys my mind in fabulous blue Lucernes.

The beautiful changes as a forest is changed   
By a chameleon’s tuning his skin to it;   
As a mantis, arranged
On a green leaf, grows
Into it, makes the leaf leafier, and proves   
Any greenness is deeper than anyone knows.

Your hands hold roses always in a way that says   
They are not only yours; the beautiful changes   
In such kind ways,   
Wishing ever to sunder
Things and things’ selves for a second finding, to lose   
For a moment all that it touches back to wonder.

After Sunset Fades
Nikon Z6 II, NIKKOR Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S, 1/400s, f/5.6, ISO 100

Welcome to Harambe

Posted by Mike on

Africa, Animal Kingdom, Walt Disney World

Welcome to Harambe
Nikon Z6 II, NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S, 1/160s, 38mm, f/11, ISO 100

Port of East Africa
Nikon Z6 II, NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S, 1/125s, 24mm, f/11, ISO 100

Magic Kingdom Illuminated

Posted by Mike on

Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World

Halloween Party Sunset
Nikon Z6 II, NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.8 S, 1/30s, f/5.6, ISO 400
{5 image vertical pano}

Pumpkin Mickey
Nikon Z6 II, NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.8 S, 1/13s, f/5.6, ISO 800

Tomorrowland Illuminated
Nikon Z6 II, NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.8 S, 1/6s, f/5.6, ISO 800
{8 image pano}

Astro Orbiter
Nikon Z6 II, NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.8 S, 1/125s, f/2.5, ISO 6400

TRON Lightcycle / Run
Nikon Z6 II, NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.8 S, 1/640s, f/1.8, ISO 12800

Lightcycles
Nikon Z6 II, NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.8 S, 1/1250s, f/1.8, ISO 6400

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party

Posted by Mike on

Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World

Tuesday night I attended Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. The park closes at 6pm and the party gets rolling at 7pm. There are character greets, special treats, entertainment, access to a majority of the rides and a Halloween parade.

It was definitely more crowded then I remember. We went a couple of times to the party years ago but I don’t recall the park feeling so packed as it was Tuesday night. It could be my memory playing tricks on me though…

I do remember why I’m not exactly a fan of these parties. Wow! do you need to wait in a lot of lines. Now, don’t get me wrong, the lines for most of the rides are short. You can practically walk on every ride (except for Seven Dwarfs Mine Train). The lines I’m speaking of were for the candy stations and the character meet-n-greets. I get the characters, some of them only appear in the park during the party, but for candy? As my daughter told me, what is Halloween for except for the candy… ha

And you can forget about the parade. People start standing/sitting in their spot for the parade up to sixty minutes before the start. I wasn’t going to waste all my time at this event standing around and waiting. I did watch part of the parade as I was going to my next ride. It hasn’t really changed.

I wanted to photograph the Hocus Pocus Villian Spelltacular show on the center stage in front of the castle. I arrived 40 minutes before the start and the closest point for me was near the curb of the hub. It wasn’t a bad spot as it is a high point and I was able to easily shoot with my camera over every ones head. Of course, I only brought my 50mm lens (because it is a f/1.8 lens) so my images are not as close as I would have liked. The other shows throughout the night were just as bad (even the midnight show was packed!).

I had a good time. I was able to get a few good images. Will I go again? Probably not.

Two Sides of Cindy
Nikon Z6 II, NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.8 S, 1/8s, f/5.6, ISO 800

Mayor of Halloween
Nikon Z6 II, NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.8 S, 1/500s, f/1.8, ISO 6400

Pirates of the Party
Nikon Z6 II, NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.8 S, 1/20s, f/4, ISO 800
{4 images pano}

Hocus Pocus
Nikon Z6 II, NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.8 S, 1/320s, f/1.8, ISO 10000