The Story Behind The Photo: Now Boarding at Platform 9 3/4

"Now Boarding at Platform 9 3/4"

The sound of a steam engine's horn echoes through the hall of Platform 9 3/4 as Muggles begin their journey into magic. This photo was taken at Universal Studios Orlando, Florida when Diagon Alley and the Hogwarts train first opened. The angle on this photo was taken from the queue of this exciting and realistic attraction. This image was shot at a focal length of 45mm. The angle was low in order to capture the light coming through the glass in the station ceiling.

I was inspired to take this photograph because this iconic train jumped off the pages of my memory and was right in front of me. I wanted to capture the thrill and excitement of pure imagination. With the light and the smoke, I hoped to capture the texture of the paint on the train as well as show the scale of the room. The entire set is very realistic and, though it is not a thrills or chills ride, the train has such a powerfully realistic feel that it is just as exciting. For as grand as the scale is, the set truly has an intimate charm which makes one feel as though one is living inside the world of the classic series, Harry Potter.

What are your thoughts on the image? What story do you see? Please comment below. 

The Story Behind The Photo: Thanksgiving Beat

"Thanksgiving Beat" was taken during Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City, November 2014. For many years, going back to my childhood growing up in New Jersey, I always dreamt of going to see the parade live in New York City because I would watch it every year on television. This past year, I was fortunate enough to see the parade live, in person, with my wife, as well as show off the city that I know and love in hopes that she would enjoy it too. It was wonderful to experience something new, especially with my wife, in a place that I had practically grown up in. My wife was dazzled by the sights and sounds and decorations all around her as she had never been during that time of year before. People say that Disney has always had the most magic, the most wonder. However, that day, as we stood in relatively warm weather (of 22 degrees), and snow gently fell around us, there was a magic unlike any we had ever seen before. People gathered for a parade that is known throughout the country, to see amazing balloons that sparked the tradition one hundred years ago and marching bands whose uniforms and instruments shone in the bright sun. It was a truly magical experience.
I took this picture with a 35mm lens in black and white as we had the unique opportunity to be, literally, on the sidelines. As the marching band was going by, I focused in on the drumming section where the drums showcased the picture of the logo of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. What I find appealing about this photo is that it is taken in front of Radio City Music Hall while a high school band is coming through on the parade route. I thought to myself, all of these members of the band must be thinking that the dreams of playing in Radio City are absolutely attainable. This story resonates with me because New York City is a place where opportunities are endless as long as they are earned. Anything in life is attainable in this city as long as one is willing to showcase one's work ethic into one's craft, including a high school drummer playing in the halls of Radio City Music Hall.

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The Story Behind the Photo: Pop Goes A Wheelie

"Pop Goes A Wheelie" was taken at Disney's Pop Century Resort at The Walt Disney World Resort, Orlando, Florida. This Big Wheel is one of the classic icons that this resort is known for and prominently sits in the 1970's decade. I had taken many photos at Pop Century because of the bright, bold colors and the fun icons, but also because this is the resort at which I worked with my wife and started dating her. The Big Wheel stood out to me because it is such a proud, large feature and, to me, it's like a magic carpet ride in the clouds, a way for a giant child to ride off into the sunset. This seemingly simple toy comes to a larger-than-life reality. There is a sticker on the side of this toy that states the weight limit is 844 pounds. It's just fun and full of pop!

I took this picture with an 18mm lens in broad daylight on a sunny day with bright, fluffy clouds as one can see in the photograph. This photo was taken standing up so the height of the bottom of the photo is approximately six feet off the ground. What I love about this picture is the proportions in the image, largely the Big Wheel itself. What I mean by this is the large sense of scale leads the viewer to believe that this wheel is taller than the building and sits in the clouds. Another great aspect of this photo are the words "Big Wheel" plastered against the side of the building behind it. "Big Wheel" is framed behind the handlebars and immediately behind the toy, as if it has its very own label announcing its presence. 

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The Story Behind the Photo: The Beast's Castle

"The Beast's Castle" is a photo taken in the Magic Kingdom theme park within the Walt Disney World Resort, Orlando, Florida. It was taken at sunset on a summer's eve, as the park was just beginning to light up for the night. It was the twilight hour and the peak of dinner reservation check-ins at the Be Our Guest restaurant which sits just below the castle in the picture. This is one of the premier restaurants in all of Walt Disney World and, can be argued, the most popular. Not only is it themed to the famous "Beauty and the Beast" film, it also gives the ecstatic diner a chance to step into an alternate reality where man and woman become prince and princess. I feel this picture, although taken outside of the restaurant, encompasses the feeling of someone being able to step back in time into a fairytale world. I always felt that this section of the park is truly a place where "dreams come true."

This picture was taken with a 55mm lens and at an angle that provides great depth of field for the image. The castle that sits atop the hill is actually small scale but, by taking this picture at an angle that starts with the large entryway and turns to the castle in the background, it makes it feel like the castle is sitting far away in the distance. In addition, to make the castle appear large, I took one step back and zoomed in on the castle. This created the illusion that the castle was larger than it is in real life. The glow from the lanterns complement the glow of the setting sun and sets the mood for the romantic setting of the photograph. On this night, my wife and I were lucky to have a reservation at Be Our Guest with our two dear friends, Jenelle and Tyler and it ended up being both a fun, and romantic, evening.

What are your thoughts on the image? What story do you see? Please comment below.

The Story Behind the Photo: Diagon Fireball

"Diagon Fireball" was taken at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Diagon Alley, Universal Studios, Orlando, Florida. This was taken on the opening weekend of Diagon Alley when swarms of people piled into the lifelike streets to see their favorite fantasy world become a reality. The detail in this section of the park is exquisite and top-notch. When entering Diagon Alley, the walls are so high that one can't see anything outside of this world. This completely engrosses a person into the imaging of the land. After walking through the brick wall of the famous book series, we passed the Leaky Cauldron on my left and underneath a train track. It is at this point where we saw the infamous dragon of Gringotts. The dragon breathes fire every thirty minutes and, if I didn't know better, I would have thought the dragon was real. Before entering this world, the idea of a dragon was pure fantasy but, after entering Diagon Alley, those muggle thoughts were dashed away. Not long after we entered this section, we saw, and felt, the fire for the first time.

I wanted to capture the realistic look of the dragon so I stood under the train trestle and I used an 18mm lens to capture this image. Another important thing to note is that this image is completely straight. The camera is not tilted, unlike some of my previous photos. Diagon Alley truly is multi-dimensional, in that it has no straight lines on any part of the set, creating a natural curve for this shot. What I love about this photo is how it captures the grittiness of the land yet, at the same time, it stays clean and inviting, maintaining a flare for adventure. I had taken several photos in the same angle before, but without the fire. I felt like the dragon was missing something and then, almost a half hour in, this was it. In the end, my goal was to enhance the realistic look of the dragon as much as possible and I felt like this photo, with the fire coming out of its mouth, was by far the best.

What are your thoughts on the image? What story do you see? Please comment below. 

The Story Behind The Photo: The Retreat Salute

"The Retreat Salute" was taken at five o'clock in the evening at the Magic Kingdom in the Walt Disney World Resort, Orlando, Florida. Every evening in the park, cast members bring down the American flag and, earlier in the day, one US military veteran is selected to be a part of the ceremony and receive the flag. On the day this photo was taken, it was a crystal clear and cool day in Florida. For a rare moment in time, Autumn had finally arrived and I couldn't wait to take advantage of such a gem. The seasonal decorations, along with the crisp weather, inspired me to go out and people watch, never forgetting my camera, of course. This photo was taken from the second floor of the train station on Main Street where I had taken photos from the start of the ceremony to the end, but this one stood out among all the others. What I love about this image is that it showcases a veteran who is saluting (pictured in the bottom left in the orange shirt), it has an excellent view of the flag as the folding begins, and it has an overall feel of old Americana. 

This photo was taken at 250mm and has strong composition which adds to the story of the image. The flag is right in the center of the frame and lines up extremely well for the "rule of thirds" (see my previous post on "Canopy Storm" for an explanation). An honor guard cast member folding the flag is a perfect point of interest that draws the eye away from the center frame. The precision required to carry out this ceremony and the fact that it is done to honor the men and women who are in the armed services is astounding and made for, in my opinion, an excellent capture.

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The Story Behind the Photo: Painting The Night

"Painting the Night" was taken on May 1st, 2014 at Disney's Hollywood Studios in Orlando, Florida on its 25th Anniversary. These fireworks were set off behind the once iconic, and now gone, Sorcerer Mickey's Hat in the center of the park. The day was headlined by celebration parades and cast members who had dedicated their lives to the park for 25 years. This fireworks show was a literal "bang" at the end of the night to commemorate a spectacular quarter of a century. The image you see above is the last firework explosion in the show. The amount of colors and sounds were overwhelming and even this amazing photo doesn't do it justice. In order to take this photo, I actually needed a slower shutter speed than I would have normally used to allow for the colors to collect over time. By using the slower, extended shutter, I was able to capture the colors and the tips of the fireworks, enunciating the glow. 

I was fortunate enough to be in the company of my wife as we celebrated a park that mirrors our age. We turned 25 the same year as the park and have many fond memories. Michael Eisner, former CEO of the Walt Disney Company, once said, "We welcome you to a Hollywood that never was and always will be." I feel like this picture captures the essence of this quote because it encompasses all the glam of the Golden Age of Hollywood, while exaggerating the idea of what it could be. Today, the Hat is gone, but the spirit behind the sorcerer will never leave this majestic place. To Hollywood Studios, thank you for an amazing 25 years. Here's to the exciting future of what's to come.

What are your thoughts on the image? What story do you see? Please comment below.