- Crossroads of the World! - Tom.Bricker
Daily Disney - Hollywood Studios Balloons at Dusk (Explored)
Well guys, I'm back from a 5 day trip to Walt Disney World. Although I took my camera with me, with the 50mm f/1.4 mounted on it at all times, I didn't really get all that many photo opportunities. It was a family trip and we were touring with another family that had never been to Disney World, so just not a ton of time for pictures. All in all, I brought home 803 RAW files. Probably only 1/3 of those are keepers and probably only a 1/3 of the keepers are pictures I'd post on Flickr. So that equals out to be around 87 pictures - hopefully enough to post one a day until our October trip. I feel like I really got to know my camera this trip and I played around with exposure compensation a lot and using only the 50mm really made me think about composition. I used the tilted composition a lot because everyone seems to be doing that these days, and also because sometimes I just seemed to close so sometimes by tilting the camera you can get more in the frame. I did get one night at the studios when everyone else went back to the hotel so I did pretty good there. There were so many times that I wish I had my tripod and a wider lens though. We stayed at Pop Century so I got a few decent pics there also.
All in all it was a fun trip... some highs and lows:
Highs:
-Like I said before, I got to know my camera pretty well.
-Discovered that the 50mm f/1.4 is an AWESOME lens for dark rides.
-We were able to do pretty much everything we wanted to do.
-Had a fun day at Cocoa Beach and heard (to cloudy to see) the space
shuttle go off.
-Olivia rode all the attractions including Tower of Terror, Rock N
Roller Coaster and Expedition Everest - and loved them all!
-Met up with my brother and his family for a day at the Magic Kingdom.
Lows:
-Man was it hot!
-Holy smokes it was crowded
-Pop Century (I'm not sure if I'll ever stay at a value resort with
the family again)
-Bus transportation (I was on the fence, but I now know for sure that
I'm a rental car guy)
-People Mover being closed. I can't tell you how many times I walked
by wishing I could take a ride on the TTA.
-Missed out on experiencing the American Adventure because my family
thinks it's boring.
-Totally blew it (photographing, again) Peter Pan's Flight.
See where this picture was taken. [?]
Quick Exif:
Exposure: 1/40
Aperture: f/1.4
Focal Length: 50mm
ISO: 200
Pictured:
Hollywood Boulevard
Disney's Hollywood Studios
Walt Disney World Resort
Bay Lake, Florida
June, 2009
Thanks for droppin' by!
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This picture made it to Flickr Explore June 20, 2009 - #1 - thanks everyone!
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Disney Photo Challenge winner in "Twilight" - thanks for your votes!
Comments and faves
Bunnyrel, Nicole Gillam, Jessica Hellman, Grimes girl, and 389 other people added this photo to their favorites.
Jessica Hellman (48 months ago | reply)
there is sooo much that i love about this picture!
evelyng23 (48 months ago | reply)
so pretty joe. great lighting in this one.
Samantha Decker (48 months ago | reply)
Wow what a great shot...I can't wait to see what else you took on this trip!
Duane Matsen (48 months ago | reply)
wonderful lighting. That D300 is some great camera
Robert Shiu (48 months ago | reply)
Great shot Joe. I can't wait to see more.
Diznefreak -princesskelz- (48 months ago | reply)
ahhh great i leave Thursday. >.< and im not looking forward to crowds.
great photo Joe. cant wait to see what else you shot for us!! =]
Cody Townley (The Hatbox Ghost) (48 months ago | reply)
Another masterpiece!
Ping Timeout (48 months ago | reply)
another winning shot from disney !
Eugene1959 (48 months ago | reply)
This is an excellent shot.
Woj Photography (48 months ago | reply)
I always find it amazing too what few "keepers" are left after shooting hundreds of frames at an event. ;-)
Great lighting and comp on this one Joe. Looking forward to viewing the rest.
TiDi (Tidiphotography.com) (48 months ago | reply)
Great shot! lighting so beautiful!
Tom.Bricker (48 months ago | reply)
803 shots from a 7 day trip? Not too bad, although I'll bet you took some of those on burst mode, so you have, essentially, duplicates. If the rest of those 87 shots are like this, though, you have the rest of us scared. The more I looked at this shot the more I loved it. You and Matt have set the bar high with your recent trips.
It was said the other day that we'll all be like Ansel Adams after the October trip having learned from each other, and feeding off one another's creativity. Maybe National Geographic will have to do a WDW special!
--
Seen on your photo stream. (?)
CodyWDWfan (48 months ago | reply)
Welcome back, awesome shot!
PrairieHill (48 months ago | reply)
Nice color and clarity!
iTail ~ Steve Page (48 months ago | reply)
Great shot !! Have a terrific weekend!
You are my winner!
Please add this photo to
www.flickr.com/groups/mywinners/
*Symes* (48 months ago | reply)
Dude this one is awesome!
Kim's Pics :) (48 months ago | reply)
Great disney pic....the balloons and their reflections are wonderful!
reluctantmemoirs (48 months ago | reply)
This photo captures the Disney feeling. That is very rare. Well done!
EccentricCoffee (48 months ago | reply)
Beautiful!!! Colors, emotion, everything. Thumbs up!
Matt Pasant (48 months ago | reply)
I have experienced some of those highs and we share a number of the lows. I am a rental car guy too. Your practice of keeping one lens mounted is something I have thought about doing as i hear you do get to know your camera well. If this is any indication then you did just that.
Glad to hear you had a great trip.
Spinool (48 months ago | reply)
Great picture of these balloons - I like it!
Gifurama (48 months ago | reply)
Great focus over the ballons, you work in Disney?
「my+」 (48 months ago | reply)
50mm lens with f/1.4 is always rock n roll... glad that you have this remarkable shot budd, happy for u !
{ southernbella89 } (48 months ago | reply)
I live right here but we stayed at the pop century once and I would never do it again either. I'm just not a big fan of those hotels they have that are supposed to be the "holiday inn" "budget friendly" ones. I wasn't real impressed at all.
I also learned my lesson the other day when I went to the Magic Kingdom by myself for the sole purpose of just taking pictures: WAY too hot!! WAY too crowded!! I will be waiting till school starts to go again and will probably go in the fall around OCT/NOV when it's starting to cool off again but right before the Christmas decs go up so I don't spoil that trip!! =)
Great picture of the balloons though!! I reallly like it!!
DisneyDreamin [deleted] (48 months ago | reply)
Great balloon shot...I always love those.
We were lucky when we were there at the beginning of May...crowds were lower & it was hot but the humidity hadn't set in. I've been many times in June & July so I know what it's like. :-(
I hear you about POP...it's a great resort but I feel like you never get away from the parks & crowds sometimes when you stay there. I absolutely love the GF but we don't always stay there...depends on the budget & who I'm going with...it's a really expensive trip when we stay there. My all time favorite resort is the Port Orleans French Quarter...small & quiet. I even prefer it over some of the Deluxe resorts.
Can't wait to see the rest of your pictures. Glad you had a great trip. Welcome back!
--
Seen in my contacts' photos. (?)
Sarah B in SD (48 months ago | reply)
I love this image, and it sounds like minus the weather & crowds and it was a good trip with the family...we are shooting for fall 2010 in WDW...
Liz Caruso (48 months ago | reply)
wow, the largest version is INSANE with all the reflections. great photo!
shoppnmom (48 months ago | reply)
LOVE THIS SHOT! Absolutely stunning!
I'm with you on the WDW transportation! Give me my rental car!
Scott Barlow (48 months ago | reply)
Awesome photo and welcome back!
I look forward to seeing everyone of those 87 photos, since I only have the 50mm 1.4 lens!
Happy Father's Day!
Ben Hewitt (48 months ago | reply)
Welcome back ! glad you had a great time !! It was hot wasn't it !! especially carrying a camera around too. Great shot. Were you at MK on Sunday 14th by any chance?
Don Sullivan (48 months ago | reply)
Spectacular shot. The lighting and reflection clarity in the balloons is amazing.
I've thought about trying just the 50mm F1.4 one day myself. I still haven't gotten the hang of consistent results with the new camera I got last winter, maybe that would force/help me to figure it out.
Looking forward to the rest of the shots from your trip.
Wallyspam (48 months ago | reply)
Beautiful colors! I wondered where you were ;)
Scott9432 (Back... Again) (48 months ago | reply)
Beautiful Shot, absolutely Perfect!!!!
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Scott9432 (Back... Again) (48 months ago | reply)
Hi, I'm an admin for a group called World of Disney - At Dawn and Sunset, and we'd love to have this added to the group!
IceNineJon (48 months ago | reply)
Sounds like you had a great trip. Can't wait to see the shots that came out of it!
~Life by the Drop~ (48 months ago | reply)
Excellent Joe. There is much joy in walking around Disney with just one prime lens- more often than not that is exactly how I travel around there. Looking forward to seeing some more.
SarahBarbie (48 months ago | reply)
JESUS! Absolutely amazing! My envy grows with every photo you post!
Ray Horwath (48 months ago | reply)
Welcome back Joe. I was there from the 6th through the 18th, and I agree: It was VERY hot and humid. We've had cooler weather in our July trips. I've been waiting for your return to see what you post! :-)
Amanda's Weekly Zen (48 months ago | reply)
Love the shot! Yeah it has been a very crowded year and FL is having one of its hottest Spring/Summers.
{ southernbella89 } (48 months ago | reply)
IT WAS WICKED!! We live here and I will NEVER go during the summer EVER again!! Now I know why my parents always took us as kids during the school year in the middle of the week!! The intense Florida heat plus the crowds are just too much!!
Cory Disbrow (48 months ago | reply)
Joe, I cannot wait to see the rest of the shots you snagged on this trip, especially if they're all like this! I really dig the tilted composition here, and the bokeh on the BFH is excellent.
DugJax (48 months ago | reply)
Very creative shot with cool lighting. Looking forward to seeing the rest of your pictures from this trip.
dawnzy58 (48 months ago | reply)
Glad you had a great trip Joe, looking forward to more creative shots! Love the shine and focus on the balloons, fantastic shot.
_BlackCherry_ (48 months ago | reply)
That red ballon really catches my eye, just great..
Burnsland (Steve Burns) (48 months ago | reply)
Great shot, Joe! The reflections in the balloons make it just right.
Jason M. Childs (48 months ago | reply)
just fantastic.
marshmallowtwist (48 months ago | reply)
That is a beautiful photo.
I feel the same as you about Pop Century. It was okay, but I wouldn't pay to stay there again unless it was my only option because all the other onsite resorts disappeared or something.
Angela(Gruber) (48 months ago | reply)
Great shot!
I loved Pop when I went... if I could afford to I would rather stay at a better hotel I guess (for me Pop is a once in a lifetime splurge as it is), but with the amount of time actually spent IN the hotel room I would much rather save the money on the hotel and use it for a couple of nice dinners or something. It wasnt very busy when I went though (or noisy) and I think that would make a big difference.
tonyboytran (48 months ago | reply)
dang it joe.. this shot is awesome!
Theresa.Bridget. (48 months ago | reply)
Beautiful balloons, this is always the type of shot I picture getting when I shoot these, but it never quite turns out that way. Can't wait to see the rest of the shots from your trip good job!