Two Movies
Nikon D5100, Nikkor 35mm f/1.8, 1/1600s, f/8, ISO 400
Wordless Wednesday – Two Movies
Category Archives: Disney
Pangani Forest Exploration Trail
The Animal Kingdom park at Walt Disney World has never received the respect I think it is due. Most tote the park as a half day visit but if you only invest that much time you are missing out on a plethora of opportunities. Last year in May when I had my first solo photography visit to WDW I discovered areas of the Animal Kingdom I had never seen in any of my previous visits. Now I know to slow down and look in every nook and cranny of this wonderful park.
One of my favorite areas to explore is the Pangani Forest Exploration Trail which is accessed very near the exit for the Kilimanjaro Safari ride. There are an amazing amount of animals on display and for someone with a camera the available views are very natural. On this last visit the gorillas were not afraid of the midday sun and I was able to get some nice images of the adult silverback.
Quit Watching Me
Nikon D5100, Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6, 1/400s, 125mm, f/8, ISO 800
I Still See You
Nikon D5100, Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6, 1/160s, 200mm, f/8, ISO 800
Wheel Well Motel
I so enjoyed my trip to Disney but the work it takes to get back into the groove almost feels counter-relaxing. This week has been very busy and my opportunities to get out exploring with the camera have been zero. This leaves me with filling my posts with more images of Disney. Not something I get tired of seeing but I promise to move past this phase soon… 😉
Disney, to me, is all about the details. I enjoy looking for things most people walk past and hardly notice. This image is from the Cars section of the Art of Animation resort. I rode the bus to this resort one night since the line for the bus to my resort was ridiculously long. Disney never completed the second phase of the Pop Century resort and a few years ago converted the building shells into the Art of Animation resort. Luckily for me the two resorts are connected by a walking bridge and after ‘peeking’ at the details on my walk back to my room I grabbed the camera to do some exploring. It didn’t matter that it was almost midnight that night, the details were calling me…
Wheel Well Motel
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17070mm f/2.8-4, (1/5, 0.4, 0.8, 1.6, 3 & 6s bracket), 17mm, f/11, ISO 400
Disney and Photo Magic 2013
I am so far outside my comfort zone with this Photo Magic 2013 event at Walt Disney World. I’m having a great time and meeting a lot of great people. Here are a few of my favorites so far…
Tomorrowland
Nikon D5100, Nikkor 35mm f/1.8, (10, 25, 30s bracket), f/16, ISO 400
Chim Chim Cheree
Nikon D5100, Nikkor 35mm f/1.8, 1/200s, f/1.8, ISO 1600
Oscar’s
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1/1600s, 17mm, f/8, ISO 400
Nights, Lights and Reflections
I was feeling a little homesick, well, more accurately second homesick, so I decided to look through my unprocessed Disney images. What can I say, this is me…
In recent years my visiting habits have changed dramatically. I am no longer in a rush to see and do everything. I have slowed down and taken the time to enjoy all the little details that are prevalent in the parks. Amazingly some of the best detail and atmosphere can be enjoyed at the resorts themselves.
I fell in love with the resorts around Crescent Lake a few years ago. The area “behind” Epcot is my favorite quiet spot in Walt Disney World. This prompted me to purchase my vacation club points at the Beach Club Villas. I know, I’m spoiled. The ability to take a leisurely walk around the lake or have two parks within walking distance does have its advantages. I’m a morning person and most days will be up and out of the room before sunrise. This allows for some great photography. On my most recent trip, sadly almost 9 months ago, I was able to capture some early morning images of the Boardwalk with great reflections in Crescent Lake.
Boardwalk Floating
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 30s, 17mm, f/16, ISO 200
Night Lights
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 30s, 28mm, f/22, ISO 250
Star Wars Weekends
Walt Disney World started hosting Star Wars Weekends at the Hollywood Studios park in 1997. Over the years this annual event has grown in size to now run for four consecutive weekends every spring. I made my first trip to this event last year.
Generally the very first SW weekend coincides with the last weekend of the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival so I was able to attend both events. I was hoping to pull off a repeat trip this year but work related issues prevented me from going. Seeing how today is the first day for this year’s events I thought I would post a few re-worked images from my trip last year.
Stormtrooper Entrance
Nikon D5100, Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6, 1/320s, 62mm, f/8, ISO 100
Star Tours
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1/10s, 62mm, f/5.6, ISO 3200
Jedi Mickey
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1/400s, 46mm, f/5.6, ISO 100
Darth Vader
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1/100s, 70mm, f/5.6, ISO 100
Flower and Garden Festival
Over the last 20 years the Epcot park in Walt Disney World has presented an International Flower & Garden Festival for 8 weeks in the spring. The entire park is budding with horticultural displays, events and activities. I was fortunate enough to spend a few days at last years festival with my new camera and was totally blown away with the whole presentation.
I had planned on attending again this year but my plans did not come to fruition. With the melting snow and hopefully emerging greenery here in Upstate NY I wanted to share some of the images from my trip. One of my favorite displays was the bonsai competition. A majority of the entries were on display in the Japan pavilion in World Showcase. Looking at the images last night I wish I had spent more time getting better compositions and watching my backgrounds. I’m sure I could do a better job now…
Icon and Details
Maybe I’m a little home sick for my second home or maybe it is the rainy, dreary weather here in Upstate NY that has me looking at my pictures from Walt Disney World but either way you are stuck seeing more of them. I didn’t capture as many pictures during my latest trip as I have in the past and but I feel the ones I have posted so far have been of a better quality.
The two images below are from the Animal Kingdom, specifically in the Asia section of the park. The first is from the walkway between Expedition Everest and the Finding Nemo show looking back at the Tree of Life, the seating area for the Flame Tree Barbecue and the Everest shrine. The second is a detail image of the temple near the Everest shrine. I think I capture this view on every visit.
Icon and Details
Nikon D5100, Nikkor 35mm f/1.8, 1/320s, f/16, ISO 400
Everest Temple
Nikon D5100, Nikkor 35mm f/1.8, 1/200s, f/16, ISO 400
MLCreations Photography 