Contemplative Cinderella

Posted by Mike on January 14, 2015

Fantasyland, Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World

Contemplative Cinderella
Nikon D5100, Nikkor 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5, 1/800s, 46mm, f/8, ISO 400

Opening Next Season

Posted by Mike on January 3, 2015

Asia, Animal Kingdom, Walt Disney World

Only 130 days to go. Yes, you guessed it, or was that a heavy sigh I just heard? Believe it or not but it will be just about 11 months between trips to Disney for me by the time I get back. It was not for lack of trying though. The trip in October was cancelled due to scheduled training for work (which was eventually rescheduled) and the trip in December, although technically not to Disney (I would have found a way), was side railed for me by work once again.

All my plans are in motion. I have the hotel stays booked. Yes, plural. I am using the last of this year’s DVC points for three nights at the Beach Club and the first four nights I am staying for the first time at Port Orleans Riverside. Initially wanted the French Quarter but who am I to argue with discounted rooms.

The timing in May could not be any better. I will be able to catch the last weekend of the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival and the first weekend of Hollywood Studios Star Wars Weekend. I pulled this same double dip in 2012 and was lucky enough to pull it off again. I had mentioned this trip to one of my Disney photography friends and she is coming down at the same time. There are already five of us working on meeting up for some photography fun and I have a feeling the group will grow before May.

As it is never too late to start thinking about what images and/or scenes you want to capture while in the parks I was reviewing some of my old images. I came across this view from my trip in March 2014 which I had flagged in Lightroom. Tonight was a good night to process it.

You come upon this scene as you walk past the temple shrine on your way to Expedition Everest. To me it highlights the amount of detail the Imagineers work into the parks to complete the atmosphere. The average park guest probably does not even realize what they hurry past on their way to the roller coaster. It is these types of details that I love to find and capture with my camera.

Opening Next Season
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1/200s, 28mm, f/8, ISO 400

Monochrome Monday: Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

Posted by Mike on December 29, 2014

Monochrome Monday: Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Frontierland, Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World

There is definitely something intriguing about converting my Disney images to black & white. Not every image will lend itself to the conversion and part of the fun for me is to find the right one. With a lot of my Disney images it is the color that helps tell the story or at the very least is a big part of the visual impact for the image.

To get a good B&W conversion there has to be more to the image. The elements need to convey the story with the texture and tone supporting the visuals to provide impact. The color version for this view of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad although appealing to me just didn’t have the punch I wanted. Hopefully I was able to create something more with this conversion.

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Nikon D5100, Nikkor 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5, 1/200s, 24mm, f/8, ISO 400

Cinderella Obscured

Posted by Mike on December 4, 2014

Cinderella Castle
Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World

This morning I return to a previously posted image. One that was actually captured with my old Sony point & shoot on a family vacation prior to me becoming interested (obsessed) with photography. I enjoyed the color version of this image with Cinderella Castle shrouded in early morning fog but I think this monochrome redo turned out even better. You can view the original on this post from last year… Photo Magic 2013.