Norway During Golden Hour

Golden Hour has a way to make anything look just a bit more magical.

The Shot:

• Aperture:  f/8.0

• Shutter Speed:  1/60

• ISO:  200

• Focal Length:  25mm

• Camera:  Sony A6000

• Lens:  16-50 Kit lens

Have fun capturing the magic of Disney.

Bonsai

Bonsai trees on display at the Japan Pavilion at Epcot during the International Flower and Garden Festival.

The Shot:

• Aperture:  f/5.6
• Shutter Speed:  1/500
• ISO:  100
• Focal Length: 501mm
• Camera:  Sony A6000
• Lens:  16-50 Kit lens
• Technique:  3 bracket HDR post-processed in Lightroom

Have fun capturing the magic of Disney.

Frozen in Norway

The new Frozen attraction in Norway at Epcot.

The Shot:

• Aperture:  f/8.0
• Shutter Speed:  1/320
• ISO:  100
• Focal Length:  31mm
• Camera:  Sony A6000
• Lens:  16-50 Kit lens
• Technique:  3 bracket HDR post-processed in Lightroom

Have fun capturing the magic of Disney.

France in HDR

Having some fun with HDR effects.

The Shot:

• Aperture:  f/8.0
• Shutter Speed:  1/200
• ISO:  100
• Focal Length:  31mm
• Camera:  Sony A6000
• Lens:  16-50 Kit lens
• Technique:  3 bracket HDR post-processed in Lightroom and HDR Efex Pro 2

Have fun capturing the magic of Disney.

L'Artisan des Glaces, France Pavilion, World Showcase, Epcot

Who doesn't love Ice Cream!  If you are in the France Pavilion, be sure to stop by for an artisanal frozen treat from ice cream to sorbet.

The Shot:

• Aperture:  f/8.0
• Shutter Speed:  1/160
• ISO:  100
• Focal Length:  26mm
• Camera:  Sony A6000
• Lens:  16-50 Kit lens
• Technique:  3 bracket HDR post-processed in Lightroom

Have fun capturing the magic of Disney.

The Italy Pavilion, World Showcase, Epcot

The Italy Pavilion in the World Showcase at Epcot in Walt Disney World has a tremendous amount of architectural detail.  Take the time to admire the fine details that the Disney Imagineers put into this Pavilion.

The Shot:

• Aperture:  F/4.0
• Shutter Speed:  1/320
• ISO:  100
• Focal Length:  16mm
• Camera:  Sony A6000
• Lens:  16-50 Kit Lens
• Technique:  3 bracket HDR, processed in Lightroom

Have fun capturing the magic of Disney.

Hi Ho, Hi Ho, It's off to work we go!

More wonderful topiaries from the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival.

The Shot

• Aperture: f4.5
• Shutter Speed: 1/640
• ISO: 100
• Focal Length: 29mm
• 3 bracket HDR
• Camera:  Sony A6000
• Lens 16-50 Kit Lens

Have fun capturing the magic of Disney.

Beauty and the Beast

Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival

If you take a stroll around Epcot and the World Showcase during the International Flower and Garden Festival you may come across over 100 dazzling topiaries including many beloved characters.  In France you can find Beauty and the Beast.

This was an HDR image with the normal exposure set to f/8.0, 1/200 sec shutter speed, ISO100, at 16mm.

Have fun capturing the magic of Disney.

Morocco, World Showcase, Epcot

When I venture to the back of the Morocco pavilion, it's not very crowded.  Guests who don't get a chance to explore the very back of the Morocco Pavilion miss out on some lovely sights.  This is another example of where Disney uses forced perspective to make the surrounding buildings seem very tall and majestic.  There are also some great shops to explore back here.

HDR, f/8.0, 1/200 sec, ISO100, 16mm.

Have fun capturing the magic of Disney.

Mexico, World Showcase, Epcot

When you approach the Mexico Pavilion you can't help but to see the majestic structure that resembles a mesoamerican pyramid with steps leading up to the top.

When you enter the pyramid, you enter a gallery containing historical artifacts.  Past the gallery is a plaza where it is constantly twilight.  The plaza is an open air market with festive decorations, carts and shops.

The settings for this image were f/8.0, 1/125, ISO100, 16mm.

Have fun capturing the magic of Disney.

Morocco, World Showcase, Epcot

The Morocco Pavilion is the only pavilion on the World Showcase where the country aided in the design.  It is designed to look like a realistic Moroccan city with a realistic Minaret.

This was an HDR image with the normal exposure set to f/8.0, 1/400, ISO100 at 21mm focal length.

Have fun capturing the magic of Disney.

The Outpost on the World Showcase

As you make your way around the World Showcase, it's easy to miss this beautiful view just across from The Outpost.  There are some tables here and they are usually occupied so unless you're sitting there you may just walk by on your way to  Germany or China.  If you haven't see it, stop by the next time you are there.

This is an HDR image with the normal exposure set to f/8.0 1/200, ISO100, at 16mm.  The post-processing was done using HDR Efex Pro 2.

Have fun capturing the magic of Disney.

The Odyssey at Epcot

If you're walking from the Mexico pavilion to Test Track or attractions on that side of the park, you can take a short cut past the Odyssey.  There's also a bathroom here, and of course, the view is very nice.

This is an HDR image with the exposure set to f/8.0, 1/200, ISO100 at 16mm.

Have fun capturing the magic of Disney.

France, World Showcase, Epcot

The bridge leading to the France pavilion in the World Showcase in Epcot is inspired by the Ponts des Arts bridge in Paris.  The waterway running next to the pavilion represents the Seine as it flows through Paris.  This shot is taken from the International Gateway.

This is a three bracket HDR image with the normal exposure set to f/8.0, 1/160 , ISO100, 35mm focal length (1.5x crop).  I then post-processed the image in HDR Efex Pro 2 using a soft filter.

Have fun capturing the magic of Disney.

World Showcase Lagoon, Epcot

World Showcase Lagoon as seen from near the Canada pavilion.

This was an HDR image with the normal exposure set to f/8.0, 1/320 sec, ISO 100 at 19mm.

Have fun capturing the magic of Disney.

Morocco at Epcot in HDR

I decided to have a little fun with this shot of Morocco in the World Showcase at Epcot by applying some HDR post-processing to the image.

For this shot, I made an HDR image using three bracketed exposures with the normal exposure set to f/8.0, 1/160, ISO100 at 40mm.

Other than the basic merging and tone mapping, I also went for a soft effect when applying HDR post-processing.  I used HDR Efex Pro 2 for the HDR post processing.

Have fun capturing the magic of Disney.

Can you really see the Tower of Terror from Epcot

Fun Fact - Yes, you can really see the Tower of Terror from Epcot.  If you stand just about anywhere between the Mexico Pavilion and Disney Traders, and look toward Morocco, you'll be able to see the Tower of Terror in the behind the Morocco Pavilion.  

Disney Imagineers knew this when they built Tower of Terror so they added Minarets to the Tower of Terror to make it blend into the background as if it was intended to be part of the scenery.  No other Tower of Terror building has these Minarets.

To get this shot, I had to yes my longest zoom which is a 200m focal length (1.5x crop).  I used an f/8.0 aperture to get good clarity throughout the shot, ISO100 for minimal noise, and 1/250 sec shutter speed.

Have fun capturing the magic of Disney.

Victoria Gardens, Canada Epcot

Victoria Gardens in the Canada Pavilion in the World Showcase at Epcot is inspired by the Butchart Gardens of British Columbia.  To me, it's one of the most beautiful spots on the World Showcase.

This is an HDR image with the normal exposure set to aperture f/2.5, 1/60 ser shutter speed, ISO 125 at 35mm focal length.

Have fun capturing the magic of Disney.

The American Adventure at Epcot

The American Adventure at Epcot at Walt Disney World during Christmas.  

This is an HDR image taken with my Sony A6000.  The normal exposure was set to aperture f/8.0, 1/200 sec shutter, ISO 100 at 40mm focal length.

Have fun capturing the magic of Disney.

Happy Holidays - Epcot

During the holidays everywhere you look around the World Showcase at Epcot at Walt Disney World, you'll find something festive.

Just a quick snapshot with my camera set to aperture f/8.0, 1/640 sec shutter speed, ISO 100 at 16mm focal length.

Have fun capturing the magic of Disney.