Category Archives: photography

S.S. Down The Hatch

Posted by Mike on

Echo Lake, Hollywood Studios, Walt Disney World

Wednesday started at Epcot. More rides (definitely ride Guardians of the Galaxy:Cosmic Rewind) and photography. I wanted to get any topiaries I missed, try a few food items at the kiosks and of course, experience more rides. I was also going to Hollywood Studios for the After Hours event but planned on going early to capture pictures.

OK. I know Disney is expensive. Most days it feels like everything is a cost. The After Hours event was so much fun! Fewer people in the park, ice cream, beverages and the premier rides available as often as you like.

I ran around all evening before official park closing grabbing my pictures. I then put the camera away and enjoyed the next three plus hours of the event. I rode Rise of the Resistance twice, Smugglers Run two more times, Star Tours, Rock -n- Roller Coaster, Slinky Dog Dash, and most open rides multiple times. The Mickey Bar was as good as I remember but even better due to the heat. I had a great time.

Hollywood Studios doesn’t really have a park icon. Magic Kingdom has the castle, Epcot has Spaceship Earth, Animal Kingdom has the Tree of Life but at the Studios there is such a mix of themes nothing stands out to me as an icon (I know, I don’t talk about the hat). I used to like the water tower with the Mickey ears but I think that is only a memory now.

To me, Hollywood Studios is the area around Echo Lake. I like both Hollywood and Sunset Boulevards as well. All these areas turn it up a notch when evening hits and the neon turns on. This is the Studios to me…

S.S. Down The Hatch
Olympus E-M1 MK III, M. Zuiko 12-100mm f/4, 1.6s, 16mm, f/11, ISO 200

Gliding Through

Posted by Mike on

Epcot, Walt Disney World

My first day at Disney was spent at Epcot. I was fortunate at 7am to get a boarding group for the new Guardians of the Galaxy ride. My problem began when I found out I was in boarding group one and needed to get on the ride before 9:40am! I was still on my way from the East Coast. So much for going to the resort. I drove directly to Epcot.

The ride was amazing!

I spent a good portion of the morning riding everything in the front of the park and photographing the topiaries. Of course, I couldn’t be at Epcot with out capturing the monorail! There will be more monorail images coming…

Gliding Through
Olympus E-M1 MK III, M. Zuiko 12-100mm f/4, 1/500s, 16mm, f/8, ISO 200

Stand Alone but Stand Tall

Posted by Mike on

Castaway Point Park, Palm Bay, FL

Stand Alone but Stand Tall
Olympus E-M1 MK III, M. Zuiko 12-100mm f/4, 3.2s, 12mm, f/11, ISO 200

Silhouette Pier

Posted by Mike on

Cocoa Beach, Florida

The plan was to go south along the coast. I was thinking either Juno Beach or Jupiter Inlet. When I got to the end of 192 and should have turned right onto A1A, I turned left. Cocoa Beach and the famous pier was north, as well as, Kennedy Space Center. I really wanted to go see some rockets.

The sunrise was OK. Not many clouds to help with the color. The pier though was good. I was wanting an image like I have captured in the past but I’m happy with this one. There are others, of course, but I’ll start with this one…

Silhouette Pier
Olympus E-M1 MK III, M. Zuiko 12-100mm f/4, 8s, 23mm, f/11, ISO 200

Signal the Sunrise

Posted by Mike on

Sebastian Inlet, Florida

My first stop for a sunrise was Sebastian Inlet. It is only 30 minutes south of Palm Bay and has given me plenty of amazing images over the years. The jetty curves into the inlet of the waterway between the Indian River and the Atlantic Ocean. The sun would be rising directly over the jetty.

It was definitely worth the short drive. I shared the area with plenty of fisherman but I was there to capture a different trophy. The clouds on the horizon were exactly what I was hoping to see. I have plenty of images to share but this is one of my favorites. It was captured twenty minutes before the sun would cross the horizon.

Signal the Sunrise
Olympus E-M1 MK III, M. Zuiko 12-100mm f/4, 3.2s, 29mm, f/11, ISO 200

A Florida Sunset

Posted by Mike on

Melbourne Beach, Florida

A Florida Sunset
Olympus E-M1 MK III, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 0.5s, 30mm, f/11, ISO 200

Small Steps

Posted by Mike on

Pixley Falls State Park

Small Steps
Olympus E-M1 MK III, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 0.8s, 21mm, f/11, ISO 200

Bellamy Harbor Night

Posted by Mike on

Bellamy Harbor Park

It was the night of the full moon. OK, not until 11:38pm. And yes, we all know I would be sleeping at that time. It didn’t stop me from going to Bellamy Harbor to look for images.

I waited until the sun had set and thought I might find an image with the moon rising. Until then, I walked around the park pointing my camera at everything. I was a little surprised at the number of people still enjoying the park.

There was plenty of color in the sky so I had to get an image from the Mill St. bridge.

The Harbor
Olympus E-M1 MK III, M. Zuiko 12-100mm f/4, 1.6s, 14mm, f/11, ISO 100

The grand view of the harbor and park is good but I wanted something a little more “intimate”. Wait, is that right for a landscape image? Oh well, I gave it a try…

The Low View
Olympus E-M1 MK III, M. Zuiko 12-100mm f/4, 2s, 25mm, f/11, ISO 100

Enough of the standard views, how about something different. One with the bridge. That might work, the angle can be a little tough but I have confidence in you…

Mill St. Bridge
Olympus E-M1 MK III, M. Zuiko 12-100mm f/4, 4s, 28mm, f/8, ISO 200

The light is fading, the sky is getting darker. The full moon is going to be bright. Think! The water tower? Maybe. Go give it a look…

Hide ‘n Seek Moon
Olympus E-M1 MK III, M. Zuiko 12-100mm f/4, 2.5s, 34mm, f/5.6, ISO 400

There are images all around, you only have to look. It was a great night at the harbor…