Category Archives: monochrome

Port of East Africa

Posted by Mike on

WDW in B&W – WBW39
Africa, Animal Kingdom, Walt Disney World

As colorful and visually stimulating as Walt Disney World can be, there is something special about a black and white image of the park. The removal of color allows the eye to focus on the details and textures of a scene. The gentle balance between shadow and light. Converting an image to monochrome does not lessen it at all.

This view of the port in the village of Harambe in the Africa section of the Animal Kingdom is a favorite view of mine. The amount of detail created by the Imagineers for nothing more than visual decoration is incredible to me. The guests can not walk down to the water nor is there a boat ride that passes by the port. It is the introduction to an area, the tone setter, the preamble for a whole section of a park.

I probably capture a dozen images of this view throughout the course of my day at Animal Kingdom. Actually, both views from the bridge into the village are as photogenic as hell. When the season is right, the sunset will occur over the building for the Festival of the Lion King and adds even more punch to my images.

But this one is an early morning capture with the sun rising over the Tree of Life behind me. I would have liked a few clouds in the sky but who is going to argue with a perfect Florida blue sky. The almost mirror-like surface of the water only “plusses” this view with detailed reflections.

This one definitely belongs in my WDW in B&W series…

Port of East Africa
Olympus E-M1 Mark III, M. Zuiko 12-100mm f/4, 1/100s, 17mm, f/11, ISO 200

Spring Hustle

Posted by Mike on

Chittenango Fall State Park

It was a beautiful day yesterday, a little too bright for waterfalls actually, but I didn’t care.  I would make it work.  I went to Chittenango Falls State Park.  I didn’t think I needed to check the website, I should have…  the gorge trail was still closed.  There went my plan for a majestic waterfall picture.  I managed to spend some time playing in the creek…

Spring Hustle

Spring Hustle
Olympus E-M1 Mark III, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 1/5s, 12mm, f/11, ISO 100

Monumental

Posted by Mike on

Taughannock Falls State Park

Saturday I drove down to Ithaca with the intent of visiting a few state parks. I assumed after my visit to Pixley Falls that there would be some good flow in the gorges in and around Ithaca. The forecast was for a partly cloudy day with a low chance for rain. I started my day at Taughannock Falls.

As I drove past the lower entrance I was surprised to see a fairly normal amount of water in the creek. I guess the middle of the state has had an earlier snow melt or possibly, this creek does not have the same amount of tributaries as the one feeding Pixley Falls. Either way, I drove up to the overlook location for a few images. I transferred one of the images to my phone and processed it with Snapseed and Prisma to give it a painted look.

 

Taughannock Art

 

After my obligatory post to my tens of fans on social media I started the walk up the gorge trail to the main attraction. There were only a few people on the trails but although the temperature was in the low forties, the gorge itself felt about ten degrees cooler. Luckily I was smart enough to bring my gloves since carrying the tripod does make my hands a bit cold.

At the end of the trail you are rewarded with a great view of the falls that are plunging from 215 feet above you. There was a slight breeze, I assume from the volume of the water, causing a mist to be working its way down the gorge. From the pedestrian bridge over the creek I was able to get a few images before everything started to get wet. The camera and lens are water resistant but why push my luck.

Without any of the color of spring yet visible in the gorge, or anywhere ese for that matter, I thought this image would look better as monochrome. I think it was a good choice. The details in the gorge walls definitely stand out…

 

Monumental
Olympus E-M1 Mark III, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 3.2s, 29mm, f/11, ISO 200