Category Archives: photography

Follow the Yellow Brick Road

Posted by Mike on

One aspect of Disney photography that has eluded me is dark ride photography. Getting images inside an attraction while the ride vehicle is moving with minimal light and ‘no flash photography, please!’ just was not something I was able to accomplish. The very first group event at Photo Magic 2013 was riding The Great Movie Ride at Hollywood Studios. Oh boy! I listened to the advice being offered by members of the group. I switched to my fastest lens (35mm f/1.8) and thought… ‘I can do this!’. OK, maybe I didn’t actually think that. I was still unsure of myself but what the heck, it was only space on a digital memory card and the delete button would be right there.

The fixed lens did present a few challenges. I know there were a few scenes I was not able to capture and some close up opportunities that escaped me but I did manage to come away with a few good images. I learned a few tricks, got a better appreciation for using the higher ISO settings on my camera and figured out how steady myself as the vehicle was moving. In the end it was a great experience. It was fun riding the attraction with such a large group of photographers and listening to the click of the shutters as everyone was trying to grab their view of the ride. Heck, I might even spend more time next visit trying to get those scenes I missed…

Follow the Yellow Brick Road Nikon D5100, Nikkor 35mm f/1.8, 1/200s, f/3.5, ISO 6400

Follow the Yellow Brick Road
Nikon D5100, Nikkor 35mm f/1.8, 1/200s, f/3.5, ISO 6400

RGB Details

Posted by Mike on

I decided it was better for me to go playing around the bone yard at work during lunch than go out and spend money. Yesterday was not the greatest of days but during lunch the rain had stopped and the overcast skies produced some nice soft light. Here is some of the interesting stuff I found…

Details - Red Olympus E-P3, Olympus 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 II R, 1/100s, 17mm, f/4, ISO 400

Details – Red
Olympus E-P3, Olympus 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 II R, 1/100s, 17mm, f/4, ISO 400

Details - Green Olympus E-P3, Olympus 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 II R, 1/400s, 14mm, f/5.6, ISO 400

Details – Green
Olympus E-P3, Olympus 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 II R, 1/400s, 14mm, f/5.6, ISO 400

Details - Blue Olympus E-P3, Olympus 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 II R, 1/80s, 17mm, f/4, ISO 400

Details – Blue
Olympus E-P3, Olympus 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 II R, 1/80s, 17mm, f/4, ISO 400

Wordless Wednesday – Two Movies

Posted by Mike on
Two Movies Nikon D5100, Nikkor 35mm f/1.8, 1/1600s, f/8, ISO 400

Two Movies
Nikon D5100, Nikkor 35mm f/1.8, 1/1600s, f/8, ISO 400

Pangani Forest Exploration Trail

Posted by Mike on

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

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

I Still See You
Nikon D5100, Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6, 1/160s, 200mm, f/8, ISO 800

Backyard Creek

Posted by Mike on

It has been a long week and it isn’t over yet. This is physical inventory weekend at work. The entire week leading up to today has been in preparation for this crazy, hectic day of counting parts. I have been helping out for about eight years now. To be honest, it is a great time but it hasn’t allowed me to get back into my normal routine.

Last night after work I had about an hour of sunlight left and with the recent rains it was the perfect time to go ‘play’ in the creek in the back yard (the back yard being the woods behind the house). I don’t think I will ever loose my fascination with water. I brought along the ND filter to allow me to slow everything down and see what patterns I could find in the water. I had a good time and it was the perfect way to relax before today.

Autumn Submerged Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1.6s, 28mm, f/11, ISO 100

Autumn Submerged
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1.6s, 28mm, f/11, ISO 100

Sticks -n- Stones Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, (1, 2 & 4s bracket), 17mm, f/11, ISO 100

Sticks -n- Stones
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, (1, 2 & 4s bracket), 17mm, f/11, ISO 100

Wheel Well Motel

Posted by Mike on

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

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

Sometimes They Surprise You

Posted by Mike on

This isn’t the post I was planning on creating today but I wanted to share this from my daughter. I went to Binghamton on Sunday to visit her at college and bring her the spoils from my trip to Disney. She asked if she could put some of my pictures on imgur.com. Both of the kids surf imgur and I know they share stuff on the site but it hasn’t been a stream I chose to follow.

Yesterday she posted on my Facebook page that the gallery she created has been getting some likes and a lot of views. Curious, I asked how I could see what she had done (in a moment of vanity I really wanted to read the comments, lol). Here is the link she sent me:

My father’s photography

Needless to say, I didn’t make it to the comments, at least not right away. She floored me. Now I have to be nice to her and not pick on her so much…

I love you Robyn.