Tag Archives: sunrise

Relaxin’ Blues

Posted by Mike on

Crescent Lake, Walt Disney World

When I stay at one of the resorts around Crescent Lake as I visit Walt Disney World, my favorite way to start the day is to walk around the lake before sunrise. The loop around the lake is shy of a mile so I definitely get warmed up for the day’s exploring in one of the parks. It is also a great location for sunrise images and pretty much any direction you point the camera is an amazing view.

On the side of the lake with the Yacht & Beach Club resorts there are plenty of areas of white sand beaches and lounge chairs. I don’t normally partake in the chairs as they are generally still covered in morning dew when I am out and about, but I would definitely sit in one of these to enjoy the sunrise. The view of the lighthouse with the Boardwalk resort in the background is a favorite of mine. You can see the start of the sunrise as the sky is barely turning pink on the left above the buildings.

Relaxin’ Blues
Olympus E-M1 Mark III, M. Zuiko 12-100mm f/4, 0.6s, 21mm, f/8, ISO 200

Obscured

Posted by Mike on

Bellamy Harbor Park

My go to spot for a sunrise image at Bellamy Harbor is gone! It is next to the flow control gate on the Barge Canal. I could go right to the edge, place my tripod and have a clear view of the harbor, the canal, the Mill St. bridge and the sunrise. I’m thinking the city was having problems with unauthorized access to the gates. They put up an eight foot, chain link fence on both sides of the canal.

I knew this yesterday as I was driving to work but the call of the morning colors had me driving the car to my old spot. I wasn’t positive what I could capture but I knew I needed to stop and get an image. Lucky for me the hinge side of the gate in the fence had a large enough gap to allow me to get the camera through and still work the controls. That apex of grass below the bridge is where I used to setup for all those annoying images of Bellamy Harbor Park and the Barge Canal. Now all you will get is this…

Obscured
Olympus E-M1 Mark III, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 1/13s, 15mm, f/11, ISO 200

Suspended

Posted by Mike on

Crescent Lake, Walt Disney World

I suppose you cannot escape what you like. You are drawn to it through an unconscious process. You might not see it until after further introspection…

For me, with my photography, it is a good reflection. Maybe it is a result of a fascination with water. Whatever the reason, I will stop to capture a reflection, heck, I’ll re-compose an image to improve a reflection if it is within the frame.

Walt Disney World is no exception to this proclivity. I can admit a good percentage of my favoritism for the Crescent Lake area is the draw of the water and the chance for including a reflection in my photography. The last morning of my recent trip resulted in ideal conditions to highlight this quirk in my nature. A long exposure combined with fast moving clouds allowed me to create this unique view of the Yacht & Beach Club resorts.

Suspended Yacht & Beach Clubs
Olympus E-M1 Mark III, M. Zuiko 12-100mm f/4, 20s, 21mm, f/16, ISO 100

Floating Boardwalk

Posted by Mike on

Crescent Lake, Walt Disney World

If I was asked what my favorite part of my trip to Walt Disney World was this time I would say it was the area around Crescent Lake. This is the resort area behind Epcot when you exit through the International Gateway. It is where the Yacht & Beach Club and Boardwalk resorts are located.

Each morning I would start my day with a walk around the lake to capture the sunrise and the resort areas still lit up for the night. If you are lucky enough to have the wind be non-existent and you are early enough before any activity starts on the lake you will be rewarded with mirror-like reflections. I was this fortunate on the last morning of my vacation. Add to this enough clouds in the sky to for some drama and you come home with a few amazing images.

This is the view of the Boardwalk resort from across the lake. I was in a second floor room facing the lake, one room to the right of the building with the Boardwalk sign on its roof. It was a great location for sunrise and sunsets.

Floating Boardwalk
Olympus E-M1 Mark III, M. Zuiko 12-100mm f/4, 1.3s, 12mm, f/11, ISO 200

Toward the Light

Posted by Mike on

Crescent Lake, Walt Disney World

Toward the Light
Olympus E-M1 Mark III, M. Zuiko 12-100mm f/4, 3.2s, 14mm, f/11, ISO 200

Wake Up Beach Club

Posted by Mike on

Crescent Lake, Walt Disney World

Although I really wanted to sleep a little longer, I got moving early enough yesterday to walk around Crescent Lake for pictures. This is literally the first image I grabbed. As I was walking toward the Yacht Club, as soon as I crested on the bridge over the waterway I stopped and setup the tripod. I couldn’t resist that sky!

I spent the next 45 minutes before the sun showed itself photographing the area around the lake. It is generally a good time to be out. Only a few people are out and about this early. There is minimal activity on the lake and if the wind is low you can get great reflections. There will be more images coming…

Wake Up Beach Club
Olympus E-M1 Mark III, M. Zuiko 12-100mm f/4, 3.2s, 20MM, f/8, ISO 200

Natural Framing

Posted by Mike on

Bellamy Harbor Park

Although yesterday morning was colder than Saturday’s evening I ventured down to Bellamy Harbor to capture the sunrise. Another cloudless outing, which to be honest, feels a little boring as far as an image goes. I walked to the edge of the canal next to the flow control gates to get my typical morning view of the harbor. I grabbed a few images and wasn’t necessarily “feeling it” so I headed back toward the car. About half way back I stopped to see if I was missing anything and realized this is the view I wanted. Some natural framing to the harbor added some interest to my image. The morning was not a complete wash…

 

Natural Framing
Olympus E-M1 Mark III, M. Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8, 5s, 14mm, f/11, ISO 200