Category Archives: photography

31 Days to Go

Posted by Mike on

Walt Disney World

Although you probably could not tell by the posts on my blog it has been 10 months since my last trip to my second home (maybe my first home). My plans for an October trip were cancelled due to training for work (training which I just completed last week due to postponements). I changed my plans at Christmas time due to obligations at work (ended up sending the kids by themselves). So I am really starting to get excited for this trip coming up in 31 days. I’ll try not to be too obnoxious about it, but this post can serve as a warning… 😉

When I ended up having to cancel my plans in October I knew exactly the time frame I would plan to return to Disney. There are numerous special events throughout the year at Disney. I’m sure they started in the off season to try and entice visitors to the resorts in the slower parts of the year but have since grown to be expected events that draw very large crowds. In the spring/early summer time frame two events actually overlap by one weekend. The end of the International Flower & Garden Festival and the first of the Star Wars Weekends coincide on May 15,16 & 17 this year. My trip will be from May 13th to the 20th. I will be in Disney/Star Wars nerd heaven… 🙂

Reflecting (anticipating) on this year’s events I have been digging through my old images.  Here are a few from previous events…

Mickey Mouse

Philip & Aurora 2

Belle & Beast

Darth Vader Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1/100s, 70mm, f/5.6, ISO 100

Darth Vader
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1/100s, 70mm, f/5.6, ISO 100

Jedi Mickey Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1/400s, 46mm, f/5.6, ISO 100

Jedi Mickey
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1/400s, 46mm, f/5.6, ISO 100

Star Tours Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1/10s, 62mm, f/5.6, ISO 3200

Star Tours
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1/10s, 62mm, f/5.6, ISO 3200

Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden

Posted by Mike on

Springfield, MA

I had to travel to Springfield, MA for a training class through work. The class starts at 8am so I naturally left the previous day to ensure I would be here on time. It had nothing to do with me wanting to explore a different city with my camera. 🙂

I was hoping to explore the Springfield Armory which is a National Historic Site but the operating hours probably are not going to work out for me. What I did find as I wandered around the city near the hotel was the Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden. The sculptures are scattered throughout a museum quadrangle with a very large display in the center park. I wish I visited at a time when there were leaves on the trees to add a little more color and a less barren look to the area. It is still a very cool display…

Dr. Seuss 1 Nikon D7100, Nikkor 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5, 1/320s, 48mm, f/5.6, ISO 200

Dr. Seuss 1
Nikon D7100, Nikkor 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5, 1/320s, 48mm, f/5.6, ISO 200

Dr. Seuss 2 Nikon D7100, Nikkor 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5, 1/160s, 34mm, f/11, ISO 200

Dr. Seuss 2
Nikon D7100, Nikkor 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5, 1/160s, 34mm, f/11, ISO 200

Dr. Seuss 3 Nikon D7100, Nikkor 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5, 1/320s, 28mm, f/8, ISO 200

Dr. Seuss 3
Nikon D7100, Nikkor 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5, 1/320s, 28mm, f/8, ISO 200

Dr. Seuss 4 Nikon D7100, Nikkor 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5, 1/400s, 24mm, f/5.6, ISO 200

Dr. Seuss 4
Nikon D7100, Nikkor 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5, 1/400s, 24mm, f/5.6, ISO 200

Dr. Seuss 5 Nikon D7100, Nikkor 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5, 1/320s, 28mm, f/8, ISO 200

Dr. Seuss 5
Nikon D7100, Nikkor 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5, 1/320s, 28mm, f/8, ISO 200

Without My Glasses

Posted by Mike on

Sheraton Hotel, Springfield, MA
Over looking Connecticut River

Without My Glasses Nikon D7100, Nikkor 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5, 25s, 24mm, f/8, ISO 100

Without My Glasses
Nikon D7100, Nikkor 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5, 25s, 24mm, f/8, ISO 100

Big Thunder Across the Rivers of America

Posted by Mike on

Frontierland, Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World

Big Thunder Across the Rivers of America Nikon D5100, Nikkor 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5, 1/2000s, 24mm, f/8, ISO 400

Big Thunder Across the Rivers of America
Nikon D5100, Nikkor 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5, 1/2000s, 24mm, f/8, ISO 400

Always Catching Yellow

Posted by Mike on

Monorail Monday – Always Catching Yellow
Future World, Epcot, Walt Disney World

Always Catching Yellow Nikon D5100, Nikkor 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5, 1/400s, 46mm, f/9, ISO 200

Always Catching Yellow
Nikon D5100, Nikkor 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5, 1/400s, 46mm, f/9, ISO 200

Cloud 9

Posted by Mike on

In January of this year I received an email through the contact form on this blog. It was from a graphic designer is Chicago who was searching the internet for an image of an empty parking lot. He stumbled upon an image of mine from this blog post – Relieving Parking Lot Boredom. More specifically he was interested in the last image of the post – From The Corner.

This graphic designer, Brian Maher, BZA, was working on an album cover for an independent producer and was hoping I would allow him to use my image. I can honestly say that I was immediately overwhelmed by the thought that an image I had taken, one that was from the beginning of this photography journey would even be considered for something like this. Of course, the next thought to enter my mind was why not an image I considered one of my best? But I do not need to bore you with the internal machinations of my mind.

I had some serious thinking to do about this request.  It was actually a really good thing.  It forced me to evaluate why I do this photography thing.  What am I after?  What are my goals?  In the end I realized that I do this picture taking thing for me.  I love that other people enjoy my images.  And don’t get me wrong, when an image on Flickr makes it to explore and the LIKE count goes through the roof, my ego follows.

Part of my decision process also considered the effort Mr. Maher put forth to contact me.  To explain what he wanted to do and was willing to move on if I decided to not allow him the use of my image.  He went above and beyond, I respect that.  I allowed the use of my image only asking for credit and a link back to my blog.  I didn’t give it another thought until today…

I received an email from Brian.  He did end up using my image which you can see here – MANIK Nightfall. I really like what he did to the image. It is not unlike some of the manipulations I do of my own images to create the picture I see in my head. And I won’t lie… it is really cool that this is from one of my images!

If you can’t tell… I have been floating all day on cloud nine!