Gregg L Cooper's photostream  

The skyline here is Ocean Blvd. In the 1930's this was some of the most prestigious real estate in California, and featured the VIlla Riviera Hotel, (seen here on the right side with the pointy spire) the second tallest building in California at the time it was built in 1929. (Only L.A.'s City Hall was taller...) The Villa Riviera is a gorgeous old building complete with gargoyles, and was once owned by Joseph M. Schenck of Twentieth Century-Fox, and survived the devastating earthquake of 1933 with only superficial damage. Today it has been converted to luxury apartments, but the lobby is preserved in all its glory...

This view of the Long Beach Marina will be one of the areas we explore during my HDR for beginners seminar and evening photo-walk coming next month...
Sadly, the enormous whale mural painted by marine artist Wyland on the exterior of the Long Beach Arena is rapidly losing its fight with time...

My son Justin and I were scouting some photo-shooting locations in Long Beach Harbor earlier this week for a upcoming seminar. It was raining when we arrived, but the clouds moved out after an hour or so and left us looking at this view of Queen Mary under some God-Lighting....

I will be hosting a couple of photo walk-around and Beginner HDR seminars here in Long Beach, California in the month of March. Tentative dates are March 2nd & 3rd and March 23rd & 24th. These will be two day events with a photo-walk on the first evening, followed by a classroom seminar the following morning where we will work on the images from the previous evening. This is a start-up venture from a new travel tourism and education company that I am proud to be a part of. If you are interested, drop me a note and I will fill you in on the details...

Have a great weekend everyone!
Gregg
corsair13@sbcglobal.net

Adventureland...Home to Indiana Jones Adventure Temple of the Forbidden Eye, Bengal Barbeque, and notorious hangout for mischievous,often nefarious, and usually hilarious Skippers of the Jungle Cruise...
And strollers...
They are everywhere...
I hate strollers...
There was a time about 15 years ago when I couldn't live without a stroller...
Now I can't seem to take a photo in Adventureland without one it it, or two, or three dozen...
Ah well, it helps to keep the Photoshop skills sharp!

Don't forget to check out this week's Disney Photography Podcast at ISO 5571!
www.iso5571.com/

Carnation Plaza Gardens is one of the original fixtures in Disneyland, built in 1956. It has seen the performances of countless big name bands, and even more not-so-big name bands, and marked the appearances of many, many school bands and guest performers putting it all out there for Disneyland Guests to enjoy.

According to Disney On Stage magazine, ( onstage.intunemonthly.com/issues/V4i1/stage_that_walt_bui... ) The Carnation Plaza Gardens and the Big-Top covered stage is, "...the longest-running big band stage in the world," (Stan Freese) says, rattling off a list of the stars who have graced the venue over the years. The roster includes Cab Calloway, Bob Crosby, Jimmy Dorsey, Artie Shaw, Lionel Hampton, Les Brown, Buddy Rich, Woody Herman, Stan Kenton, Harry James, Eartha Kitt, and Benny Goodman--whose orchestra was the first big-name group to perform on the stage, back in 1961. "

The red and white big top has always been a great place to relax and catch a good band at play on a crowded day in the Park. This area used to have Carnation Ice Cream served there when I was younger, a great place to get a hot-fudge Sunday and cool off...

Now, sadly, this area will be transformed into a princess meet n greet area with a little extension of the Fantasyland castle theme for the princesses to frolic about in. I am really very saddened that this area, one of the original items in the park is to be lost...
But hey, the digging has not commenced yet...

On another topic, it was my great pleasure to be a guest this week on the new Podcast Show ISO 5571 www.iso5571.com/ where Cory Disbrow, Ryan Pastorino, and Tom Bricker discuss all things Disney and photography. We had a great discussion about HDR photography at Disney parks and I had a great time chatting with the guys! Check out ISO 5571, it is really COOL!

And while I am on the Soapbox, I might as well let you all in on some other exciting news...I am working with a new upstart photo education and touring company to provide educational seminars and photo tours to anyone that desires that sort of thing...
I have been asked to headline a few seminars on beginner level HDR that will include some walk-abouts with tripod and cameras as well as classroom instruction. I will post more information as this adventure comes to fruition...
If you are interested in participating in the HDR lectures, send me a message, or e-mail me...I will be happy to provide particulars as we currently know them...

Have a great weekend!

Gregg
corsair13@sbcglobal.net