Anandapur, Asia, Animal Kingdom
Walt Disney World
Coca-Cola
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1/250s, 24mm, f/5.6, ISO 400
Coca-Cola
Tag Archives: walt disney world
Into the Distance
Expedition Everest, Serka Zong, Asia,
Animal Kingdom, Walt Disney World
Into the Distance
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1/250s, 19mm, f/16, ISO 200
Harambe Village
Harambe Village, Africa,
Animal Kingdom, Walt Disney World
One of the aspects of my Disney photography that I tried to work on last year was getting more people into my pictures. I think I do OK on the landscapes and the detail images but I have found that I like seeing people in the parks. Don’t get me wrong I really do enjoy a nice image of the parks sans people but I find myself more engaged with the image if there are people involved.
People add a sense of scale to a landscape image. They can make an image of the parks feel warmer and more inviting. I always proclaim how anti-social I am but in truth I find myself having more fun when I join the world. To this end I ventured outside my comfort zone last year and started capturing more atmosphere with my images.
One of my favorite areas of the Animal Kingdom park is Harambe Village in the Africa section. There is so much life in this village. It doesn’t hurt that the walkways narrow a little as you make your way through the village to your favorite attractions. Disney has also added a lot of character in the way of wood carvers sitting outside the stores performing their craft and a couple of entertainment options as well in the middle of the village.
Burudika is an African band that performs numerous shows every day. I find myself stopping whenever they are playing. They are very entertaining and they usually get the crowd dancing in the streets.
When I go back this year I am focusing even more of my efforts to capture the energy within the parks. The images below are my first attempts from last year, hopefully I will be able to improve on these…
Wood Carver – Justus
Nikon D5100, Nikor 55-200mm f/4-5.6, 1/640s, 55mm, f/5.6, ISO 800
Burudika
Nikon D5100, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 1/1250s, 32mm, f/5.6, ISO 800
Burudika 1
Nikon D5100, Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6, 1/2500s, 145mm, f/5.6, ISO 800
Burudika 2
Nikon D5100, Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6, 1/800s, 116mm, f/5.6, ISO 800
Burudika 3
Nikon D5100, Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6, 1/1000s, 180mm, f/5.6, ISO 800
Burudika 4
Nikon D5100, Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6, 1/2000s, 122mm, f/5.6, ISO 800
Contemplative Cinderella
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
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
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
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.
Cinderella Obscured
Sony DSC-W55, 1/160s, 19mm, f/5.2, ISO 100
Cinderella Castle
Cinderella Castle, Magic Kingdom
Walt Disney World
Cinderella Castle
Nikon D5100, Nikkor 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5, 1/1000s, 24mm, f/8, ISO 400
MLCreations Photography 