Tree of Life Carving

There are 320 animals carved into the Tree of Life in Disney’s Animal Kingdom.  I found this one of a giraffe along one of the trails which serpentine among the tree’s roots.

A carving of a giraffe peeks out from the roots of the Tree of Life in Disney's Animal Kingdom.

Spaceship Earth

Epcot's "castle" is Spaceship Earth

Riding the Monorail from the Magic Kingdom, you get a tour of Epcot’s Future World attractions and gives you a different prospective then when shooting from ground level.  The Monorail’s windows acted like a polarizing filter to give the sky and clouds a brush-like appearance behind Spaceship Earth.  Inside Spaceship Earth is a newly refurbished and updated ride which takes you back to the dawn of Man and into the future as it edu-tains you about communication.

Twilight Zone Tower of Terror

Twilight Zone Tower of Terror in Disney's Hollywood Studios.

I saw this angle of the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror last December but didn’t have a tripod with me.  Disney Imagineeers know lighting and these colors set the mood perfectly for, in my opinion, the best themed attraction at Walt Disney World.

For super clear and sharp night photos, you need a tripod for the long exposures needed to capture the light and color.  This was a 25 second exposure at f/8 and ISO 200.

Sitting with Roy

Walt Disney had the dreams to create his animated movies and themeparks. Roy Disney, his brother, made those dreams happen with his skills in finance. In the Magic Kingdom there is a statue in tribute to Roy where you can sit down with him and Minnie Mouse with Main Street USA and Cinderella Castle as the dreamy backdrop.

Sitting with Roy Disney. My daughter sits with Walt Disney's brother and Minnie Mouse in the Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World, Orlando, Florida.

Sunset Blvd.

While walking down to ride the Tower of Terror on Sunset Blvd., I stopped to watch some of the Streetmosphere performers in  Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Streetmosphere performers entertain guests on Sunset Blvd. in Disney's Hollywood Studios.

View 61: The Swan Resort

The Swan Resort is part of the Starwood Properties and is one of two non-Disney owned resorts in Walt Disney World. The Dolphin is the other whose pyramid buidling you can see in the background.

This is where I am staying at Walt Disney World this week. It’s sunny and warm during the day and cool and pleasant at night. Amazing, just two days ago I was snowblowing my driveway so I could get to the airport. Here’s wishing all my family, friends and neighbors back home a warm “Hello!”.

Back to the Magic Kingdom

And Epcot, Animal Kingdom and the Disney Hollywood Studios.  Yes, folks, I told you I was a fan(atic) of Walt Disney World.  Be prepared for more photos like the one below over the next few days/week.  Hoping for better Internet connectivity this time so I can post while I am there.  See ya in March!

Cinderella Castle in the glow of the late afternoon Florida sunshine in Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom. Beats the cold and snow of upstate New York!

Assignment 2: Storytelling

As you know, I check out the Pioneer Woman Photography blog from time to time. A little while back one of her photography contributors, Ivoryhut, posted an excellent article about how to create a photo that tells a story. After reading her article, I reviewed my photos to see if any of them were telling a story. Here’s one from last summer (thought snow weary folks would appreciate this) which tells the story of the South New Jersey shore.

Ocean City (New Jersey) Beach.

You see sand, sun, life guard boat & stand, umbrella, shorebird, surfer, blue sky and ocean surf…all of which tells the story of what it’s like to be on the New Jersey shore on a late summer afternoon.  What no people?  Ah, imagine yourself there.

The assignment is to go out and capture a story within ONE photograph starting right now until Sunday. March 1, 2009. You may post as many photos as you like but each should be unique. Not looking for a photo essay here. Read over Ivoryhut’s article and see how she put her storytelling photos together. I know you can do it, too. Here’s a hint, the use of maximum depth of field or hyperfocus will help a great deal in creating a storytelling photo.

As before, do not send me your photos. What I would like you to do is post them on your blog, flickr or other photo sharing site, personal website or any other place on the Internet where you can place a link to it here by making a comment to this blog entry. Then we can visit those sites, enjoy all the great photography and some wonderful storytelling, too. Please, have your photos posted by Thursday, March 5, 2009. Don’t have a place to post? Might be a good time to start up a blog or join a photo sharing community. As I did for Assignment 1, I’ll put together a recap with my comments.

If you have any questions, leave me a comment and I will be happy to answer them. By the way, I would really appreciate it if you would help spread the word about this so we can get lots of people to participate. Thanks!

Orange Out!

The word spread quickly around Syracuse that an Orange Out was being called for when Georgetown’s Mens basketball team would come to town on Saturday, February 14. Websites and blogs proclaimed it. Even going so far as to propose a ban on anyone NOT wearing orange entering the Carrier Dome for the game. A nice thought but, as it turned out, there were a lot of fans who wore blue, white or no SU colors at all. Sigh, why can’t Syracuse go all out when asked? Really, we need some more spirit around here!

31,841 mostly Orange-clad people attended the Big East Men's Basketball game between the Syracuse University Orange and the Georgetown Hoyas on Saturday, February 14, 2009.

This Photo is Available in a Special Commemorate Print.  Click Here for More Information.

The Syracuse University Bookstore was selling special shirts for the game for only $10. A bargain for anything SU sells. I guess the University can get behind something if they can make some money on it.

Special Orange Out T-shirts on sale in the Syracuse University Bookstore before the game.

The SU students knew what an Orange Out was all about. Their section was almost completely bright orange. As a fellow Alum, you made me proud!

Some of the Syracuse University Student section showing their colors at the Georgetown game.

As promised, some of the Georgetown fans made it up for the game. They stuck out like a sore thumb with their drab grey and blue colors. The policemen ensuring their safety get a bye on the Orange Out as they were working.

A small group of Georgetown fans break up the Orange Out but watched as their team lost in overtime.

While the Orange fans had a scare watching their team’s 16 point lead dwindle to a tie at the end of regulation. SU won it in overtime, 98-94. Go Orange!

View 60: Winterfest Ice Carving

Ice carver, Adam Vural, uses 300 pound blocks of ice to create sculptures in Clinton Square during Syracuse's Winterfest.

Winterfest time in Syracuse, New York, is held annually during President’s week. Since Syracuse is the home of hundreds of inches of snow every year, you’d think there would be no problem holding such a festival. However, in the past, the weather has been uncooperative. This year looked like a repeat with temperatures reaching near 60 degrees F the day before Winterfest was to begin.

Adam Vural's main carving tool is a chainsaw to create his beautiful ice sculptures.

The Syracuse Wintefest committee need not worry. Temperatures returned to normal the next day and has held throughout the weekend. Today was a one of those rare winter days with crisp, cold air and beautiful blue skies. Looking up the Winterfest schedule, I decided to check out ice carver, Adam Vural, who was set up next to the ice skating rink in Syracuse’s Clinton Square yesterday morning.

By the time I got to Adam’s location, he had already completed three ice carvings and was working on the fourth which was the 09 part of the year 2009, having already completed the 20 part. There were a few people watching him including another photographer and two videographers. Adam must be used to having an audience and hearing the clicks and whirls of media equipment. I was amazed at how he welded a chainsaw to do some very intricate work as he went about creating his carvings.

Ice carver Adam Vural puts the finishing touches to a Valentine's Day themed sculpture.

While the day was sunny and bright. The temperatures would allow Adam’s carvings to be enjoyed all day long. Now, if only some of the restaurants and cafes would have been open to serve a hot breakfast, there might have been even more people around to see Adam’s talent.

Adam Vural concentrates on getting his ice sculpture just right.