Tower Blue

Posted by Mike on

Hollywood Studios, Walt Disney World

When we were in Florida for Christmas it was a given that we would be going to Disney. The trip was to be with Grandma, but the kids had not been to Disney in almost 4 years. There was no way I was getting away without taking them. So we picked two parks and went over for a couple of days.

After a successful day at Epcot we did change up our plans and rather than fight the crowds at the Magic Kingdom we opted to go to Hollywood Studios and spend the middle of the day at Disney Springs (formally Downtown Disney). This worked out well as sadly, Hollywood Studios is going through some changes and we were able to do everything in the morning, and make it back for the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights at night (this was the last year for the lights).

We arrived back at the park via one of the Friendship boats from the Boardwalk resort. I decided to run to the car to drop off everyone’s purchases and dare I say it, my camera! I didn’t want to get caught up trying to photograph the lights and thought I would rather just enjoy the evening. It was a great decision.

On my way to the parking lot I couldn’t help but notice the Tower of Terror against the blue evening sky. I didn’t have the tripod but I made my exposure adjustments, balanced the camera on a railing and grabbed this image. I really love the colors in this one…

MLCreations Photography: Hollywood Studios &emdash; Tower Blue

Tower Blue
Olympus OM-D E-M1, M. Zuiko 25mm f/1.8, 1/3s, f/2, ISO 400

The Force Glides Through

Posted by Mike on

Monorail Monday – Epcot, Walt Disney World

MLCreations Photography: Epcot &emdash; The Force Glides Through

The Force Glides Through
Olympus OM-D E-M1, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 1/320s, 21mm, f/11, ISO 400

Cityglow Sunrise

Posted by Mike on

Barge Canal looking toward Utica, NY

I got my butt out early Saturday! I made a plan and actually followed through with it. Too bad the approaching front didn’t know my plan… 😦

I wanted to catch the sunrise from the Barge Canal. The past few mornings have been wonderful for sunrises (at least as I looked through the shop windows at work). I noticed there was still a thin layer of ice on the barge canal and thought it would add some nice broken reflections for the sunrise.

At least the ice was still in the canal. As you can see from the picture the clouds were rolling in fast and there was very little of the rising sun that made it though to me. The color in the sky is a little sun but mostly the glow from the city lights of Utica.  I grabbed a few images while the time for sunrise approached but when the sun should have been visible there was nothing but clouds.  I did like the thin strip of white that moved through as I captured this thirty second exposure.

I’m listening to the wind race outside this morning as I write this post so I do not think I will have a chance for a sunrise this morning.  I was spoiled that week in Florida with all the sunrise opportunities.  I know there are pictures here for me I just need to find them!

 

MLCreations Photography: Landscapes &emdash; Cityglow Sunrise

Cityglow Sunrise
Olympus OM-D E-M1, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 30s, 40mm, f/11, ISO 400

Interrupted

Posted by Mike on

West Canada Creek

Frequent readers of my posts know how much I love playing in a creek. When I was young it was about building dams and diverting water to watch it flow over different areas of the creek bed. I use to spend hours with my hands in the water adding stones here and there to create a bigger wall for the water.

Now I am fascinated by flowing water. I love that I can capture a different pattern in the same area of a creek just by adjusting the time on my shutter. A second faster or a second slower and the entire scene changes. These water images all about that control over the capture just like my dam building was about controlling the direction the water was taking. I hope I never get tired of playing…

MLCreations Photography: Monochrome &emdash; Interrupted

Interrupted
Olympus OM-D E-M1, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 1/3s, 40mm, f/16, ISO 200

Pagoda Backside

Posted by Mike on

Japan Pavilion, Epcot, Walt Disney World

Our first day at Disney during the Christmas week was spent at Epcot. That was an unanimous decision as everyone has come to enjoy that park, although for very different reasons. For me it is about the exploring. There is so much to see and do at the park. My favorite is wandering around in all the nooks and crannies of the different country pavilions.

In the Japan Pavilion some additional outdoor seating was added behind the pagoda. I really enjoy how it was blended into the existing landscaping and hasn’t detracted from the beauty of this area. I especially like the red umbrellas used for the tables as they offset the normal color scheme. I tried to capture some of that in this image but didn’t find a spot far enough away to get everything in. Next trip I’ll find a better composition.

MLCreations Photography: Blog Post Related &emdash; Pagoda Backside

Pagoda Backside
Olympus OM-D E-M1, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 1/80s, 12mm, f/11, ISO 200

Wordless Wednesday: Ride the Rail

Posted by Mike on

Future World, Epcot, Walt Disney World

MLCreations Photography: Blog Post Related &emdash; Ride the Rail

Ride the Rail
Olympus OM-D E-M1, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 1/160s, 12mm, f/8, ISO 800

Forever Remembered

Posted by Mike on

Forever Remembered Exhibit, Kennedy Space Center

The first time I visited Kennedy Space Center this year I was so overwhelmed with seeing the Shuttle Atlantis that I failed to see the Forever Remembered Exhibit in the same building. This is an exhibit honoring and remembering the astronauts of the Shuttles Challenger and Columbia. Walking down the hall with the displays of each astronaut was very emotional. Each display had objects from the astronauts life, their hobbies and/or passions, along with a short bio and picture.

Walking down that hall didn’t prepare me for what I saw when I turned the corner. The two pictures below are the displays I encountered as I entered the room. The first is a section of the fuselage from the Shuttle Challenger. The second is of the window frames from the Shuttle Columbia.  I was floored.  It all hit me like a ton of bricks.  I couldn’t move.  I just stood there in silence for what seemed like forever, the emotions from those two days flooding back to me.

I’m a child of the end of the Space Race.  Sometimes I think I was born a little too late.  I remember going down to the gym in school to watch the TV coverage of the lunar landings.  Granted I am not quite old enough to remember the first from Apollo 11 but I remember the last few.  I also remember the Apollo-Soyuz mission as well as Skylab.

I’m also the kid who was building model rockets and launching them into the sky out in the middle of the hay field.  I followed the development of the shuttle and you could say I was obsessed with anything to do with space.  I missed being in Florida for the first launch of Columbia in 1981 due to bronchial pneumonia.  I was listening to the radio somewhere in Pennsylvania as my Mom drove us to Florida for spring break.

I also remember that awful day in January 1986 when Challenger exploded.  I was a sophomore in college studying Aerospace Engineering.  I just returned from class when everyone was talking about the accident.  I didn’t believe them!  I didn’t make it to any more classes that day.  I sat on my bed watching the TV in complete disbelief.

The Columbia disaster hit me just as hard.  Even though I was an “adult” with kids and a job, the kid in me was floored as I watched the news that Saturday morning in 2003.  We left the TV all day.  I guess those dreams of space never really leave you.

 

MLCreations Photography: Blog Post Related &emdash; Challenger

Challenger
Olympus OM-D E-M1, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 1/40s, 22mm, f/2.8, ISO 1600

 

MLCreations Photography: Blog Post Related &emdash; Columbia

Columbia
Olympus OM-D E-M1, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 1/4s, 27mm, f/2.8, ISO 1600

 

I know I will be going back to KSC.  Visiting the center rekindled that passion I had as a kid.  I look forward to what happens next at the center.  The launch and landing by SpaceX of their Falcon 9 rocket was incredible.  Yes, there were a few hiccups along the way, but you can’t deny the accomplishment!  Hopefully next time I visit it will be for one of those launches.

Morning at the Bridge

Posted by Mike on

192 Causeway over the Indian River

We had just spent the last two days at Disney. It was Wednesday morning and I was planning on taking the kids up to Kennedy Space Center. I had time, they were not getting up any time soon. I had just downed the cup of coffee my mother-in-law had made so the caffeine was going to kick in at any time. When I looked out the window I could see the sunrise was going to be beautiful.

The day we arrived in Florida I had taken the kids over to Melbourne Beach.  My Leave Your Cares Behind post was from that little excursion.  It wasn’t a great day then but I didn’t care.  I was in Florida and on a beach.  On our way over to the beach I had spotted a little park right on the edge of the Indian River where the 192 Causeway crosses over.  I had a good feeling the view of the sunrise would be best from that vantage point.

When going out for sunrise pictures it is always best to arrive early.  You want to be there at least thirty minutes if not an hour before the sun is suppose to break the horizon.  The reason for the extra time is two-fold.  One, you want to be able to search out a good location (if you haven’t done so already).  The second is the light before the sun rises is actually the best.  The time just before sunrise and/or just after sunset is known as the blue hour.

During this blue hour the sky takes on an extra deep shade of blue, fading as the sun nears the horizon.  If you are lucky enough to have a few clouds in the sky, the sun will color those shades of red and orange as it rises.  This is what I was hoping to capture this morning.  I got lucky…

MLCreations Photography: Landscapes &emdash; Morning Bridge

Morning Bridge
Olympus OM-D E-M1, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 25s, 12mm, f/11, ISO 400

 

MLCreations Photography: Landscapes &emdash; Shoot the Middle

Shoot the Middle
Olympus OM-D E-M1, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 30s, 12mm, f/16, ISO 200

 

MLCreations Photography: Landscapes &emdash; Going East

Going East
Olympus OM-D E-M1, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 25s, 12mm, f/16, ISO 200