I thought this would be a little fitting for the fact that we are at the intersection of another New Year. I've accomplished a lot this year. I quit smoking after over ten years with the habit. I also got a new camera in my Olympus OM-D E-M1, which I've been enjoying very much.
The best thing has to be proposing to my now fiance Jenea. As luck happens, the only date available on a weekend day in October for our wedding day was the 19. Which is the date on our first day at Walt Disney World, where I proposed in Epcot. We didn't even noticed until we booked the reception hall. LoL. Needless to say, that date got a whole lot more special.
Please let me know what you all think as any suggestions are welcomed and appreciated.
I hope that everyone has a very happy and very safe New Year's Eve and a very Happy New Year!
Enjoy!
Tuesday, December 31, 2013
POTD - Crossroads Of The World
Thursday, December 26, 2013
POTD - Vertical Atrium
I shot I've taken, and many other people have taken. It seems more often than not, and just as I did it the first time I shot here, that the composition is a landscape or horizontal orientation. I figured I would flip that idea on it's end, and this is what we're left with. I wanted to make sure I got a good exposure of the outside as well. It shows off how much light is actually let in, that's why I left the inside shadows a bit darker. Please let me know what you all think as any suggestions are welcomed and appreciated. Enjoy!
Tuesday, December 24, 2013
POTD - A Heavy Portrait
One of my favorite shots I've ever gotten on Kilimanjaro Safari. As we were passing the White Rhinos, our driving explained that this was the new male. Then there was some loud noise and tussling in the group and he breaks away in a run. Just as we get going again and pass, he's right next to the vehicle and turns around. He was such a beautiful animal that you could see the obvious power in as well. Please let me know what you all think as any suggestions are welcomed and appreciated. Enjoy!
Monday, December 23, 2013
POTD - A Golden Contemporary Monorail Monday
On the way across the water to the Magic Kingdom on the Ferry, I caught this really nice golden hour shot of the Contemporary and Bay Lake Tower with some massive beautiful clouds behind them. Then I just noticed the nose of a Monorail coming out. I timed my shot and ended up with this one. I love that I was able to incorporate all four elements, between both hotels, golden hour, clouds, AND a monorail. Please let me know what you all think as any suggestions are welcomed and appreciated. Enjoy!
Sunday, December 22, 2013
POTD - Sun Bleached And Open For Business
One of my favorite things, these market boats right outside of Harambe in Animal Kingdom, really help add to the sense that this is a living breathing town in Africa as it's intended. The paint and cloth on these beauties has faded a bit more over the years, but I believe that helps the theme along. I at first was uneasy about how bright the sun is in this shot and how much contrast it created. Then I noticed that it may help the composition, faded boat in the bright sun, now we know why it's faded. LoL. Please let me know what you all think as any suggestions are welcomed. Enjoy!
Saturday, December 21, 2013
POTD - Sweet Spells In Tall Palms
Night shooting on our second night at Hollywood Studios was a whole lot of fun. I was really pleased with the glow coming off the top of Sweet Spells in this one. Please let me know what you all think as any suggestions are welcomed and appreciated. Enjoy!
Friday, December 20, 2013
POTD - Let The Light In
First off, the "merge to 32-bit TIFF" plugin made by Photomatix for Lightroom is absolutely stunning for getting very realistic and editable HDR images. That's what I used to edit this one here, Animal Kingdom Lodge is one of those places I always want to stop at, whether it's to eat, or just hang out and take photos. This time it was both, we stopped by Jambo House here to shoot photos, before heading down to Kidani Village for lunch at Sanaa. Please let me know what you all think as any suggestions are welcomed and appreciated. Enjoy!
Thursday, December 19, 2013
POTD - Jambo From The Grass Lands
Cruising the open spaces of Kilimanjaro Safaris at Animal Kingdom, we came across a family group of giraffes. As I shot away and as everyone was trying to get photos of the baby, I stuck my head out the other side of the truck to get this. At first, I wasn't trying to get the other truck in the shot, but I kind of like it in there now. It tells just a bit more of the story I think. Please let me know what you all think as any suggestions are welcomed and appreciated. Enjoy!
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
POTD - New & Detailed
I know this is a pretty common shot of these new architectural details in new Fantasyland, but how can you avoid this shot? I must say, and this is seeing it all not quite done, but new Fantasyland is absolutely stunning thus far. The level of detail and subtle touches to blend it well with the surrounding areas I think has been done exceedingly well. The inclusion of these castle walls and arches I think adds a very good touch to the area. Please let me know what you all think as any suggestions are welcomed and appreciated. Enjoy!
Monday, December 16, 2013
POTD - Monorail Monday - Red On Blue
To me, there's not too much better than to see Monorail Red cruising on the line. The red always pops against that Florida blue sky. There's not too much special about this shot, I did have to run to the beam in order to even have a chance, but I was happy with this one. I like that while the monorail is the focus, the kinetics of the park and people in it still continue below. Please let me know what you all think as any suggestions are welcomed and appreciated. Enjoy!
Friday, December 13, 2013
POTD - Blue Hour, First Night
This was the very end of our first night this past trip. Up at 3:00am to catch a way early flight, engaged around noon, and bellies full of Flying Fish made us quite exhausted. We took a stroll around the Crescent Lake area so I could shoot some photos. One of the last ones before heading back to the room early that night was this one. Later in the week we did finally come back to Jellyrolls for our first visit. I'll say without hesitation that if you haven't been here, even if you aren't a big drinker which I am not, this place is a ton of fun and a great way to spend an evening at WDW. Please let me know what you all think as any suggestions are welcomed and appreciated. Enjoy!
Thursday, December 12, 2013
POTD - ...Any Volunteers?
I got several things marked off the to do list this past trip. I hadn't been actually on the Liberty Belle Riverboat in quite some time. As it had no wait when everything else was a mad house, it was an easy choice. That was all in planning to get shots of the big attractions along the river. This had been a shot that I've wanted for quite some time. Shooting right down the barrel of the front door to the Haunted Mansion. This is quite easily my favorite attraction, which is great because I was deathly afraid of this attraction as a child and wouldn't ride it. LoL. I was actually pleased that we had some clouds roll in just as we rolled around the bend to the mansion. Please let me know what you all think as any suggestions are welcomed and appreciated. Enjoy!
Tuesday, December 10, 2013
POTD - With Hearts So Brave And True
Our first time in New Fantasyland, though it's not quite finished, was awesome. The level of theme throughout these new areas is outstanding. We went straight for Voyage of the Little Mermaid in the morning to get that out of the way without too much wait. I wanted to go through the whole queue to see everything. I shot a bit as I went, this was definitely one of the favorites. The attention to detail and the distress on everything was well done. This was handheld with the Nikon and 35mm f/1.4. Please let me know what you all think as any suggestions are welcomed and appreciated. Enjoy!
Monday, December 9, 2013
POTD - Party On A Monday
I had a thought, since I'm on day five of six in our long holiday hours at work, that we all might need some smiles for Monday. I get four days off in December and average about a 65 hour week through the holidays. Which isn't ideal, but money is made so I can't complain. I also get to still share photos with you all. This is another bokeh pano with my good friends the gators at Port Orleans French Quarter. I really do love this technique, really increases ones versatility and it's really cool to see one of these finished from all the work that could go into them.
This is my first one that I've done with a really wide, almost pano wide, composition. I think it works well with the street and subjects, but want your opinions as well. Please let me know what you all think as any suggestions are welcomed and appreciated. Enjoy!
Friday, December 6, 2013
POTD - Sid Cahuenga's One Of A Kind
I was really happy while roaming around DHS, while Jenea was riding attractions with some other friends, to shoot and enjoy Sid Cahuenga's. It's something I always remembered as a kid going in here and seeing all the signatures and just enjoying the atmosphere. I've seen photos of what it's become and was not too pleased. This apparently keeps happening to various areas around the parks, where functionality is first seated to theme and detail. My only hope is that this does not keep trending this way, as I'd hate to lose great photo spots like this one. Please let me know what you all think as any suggestions are welcomed and appreciated. Enjoy!
Thursday, December 5, 2013
POTD - Cleared For Launch
One attraction I didn't want to miss while we were there was Star Tours. It was down getting the current refurbishment while we were there in 2011. I'm not sure what it was, but that ride got my stomach all kinds of turned upside down. I can only guess it's the combination of 3D and simulator, because the simulator alone never used to bother me. I'll have to give it another go next time I'm down then I may be down with Star Tours. That sure won't stop me from going through this awesome queue line! Please let me know what you all think as any suggestions are welcomed and appreciated. Enjoy!
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
POTD - On Guard
This has quickly become the unofficial mascot of new Fantasyland it seems. This isn't something that hasn't been done before, just putting my own spin on it. I have more ideas for this spot next time I'm down though. I was happy with the way the late morning light created some interesting shadows. Please let me know what you all think as any suggestions are welcomed and appreciated. Enjoy!
Monday, December 2, 2013
POTD - Monorail Monday - Seeing Double
It wasn't until I was home, through editing the Olympus shots, and onto day 2 of shots from the Nikon before I noticed something about this shot. Completely by accident, while getting a good angle to shoot monorail orange here, I composed monorail gold in the frame as well. Got to love when a plan comes together, even if it wasn't a plan to begin with. We ended up with a lot of clouds that week, which I'm not stranger to living in St. Louis. Though we didn't have as many of those "classic Florida skies" as we normally do. We both decided this trip that so far, and we haven't been for the Holidays keep in mind, is our favorite time was our last trip which was right as Flower and Garden was starting in March. Please let me know what you all think as any suggestions are welcomed and appreciated. Enjoy!