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.

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

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.

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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.  

The Story Behind The Photo: African Drummer

"African Drummer" is a photo taken at Disney's Animal Kingdom theme park in Orlando, Florida. I was joining my wife's family in the park to meet them for the very first time and I was unable to see "The Lion King" show because it was sold out. So, while they were in the show, I decided to listen to the African music concert which was right outside the theatre. Upon listening to the music, I became captivated by one of the performers, the African Drummer. I must have taken at least fifty pictures of this musician over the course of a thirty-minute concert. His expression and intensity was absolutely riveting. What I love about this photo is that it shows the drive and focus this man had to execute the flawless sounds. Everything about the African Drummer creates the music he is performing, even down to the shaker instruments strapped to his wrists. To this day, I don't even know the name of this man, which rather adds to the mystery and wonder of this image. 

I stood right next to the stage less than five feet away and the stage only rose a few feet off the ground. I used a 18mm lens to capture the image in broad daylight. I used a wide angle to gain ambient visuals of the building in the background. I had taken images prior to this one without the building and the images felt too flat, lacking in depth of field. I felt like, with this building, the image had added story and depth. This photo was taken toward the end of the concert when our mystery man was sweaty from the heat and intensity of the music. As the beat of the music quickened, the drummer's intensity elevated to match the energy and  excitement of the crowd. By the time this photo was taken, he was so engrossed in his music that it was electrifying. The other thing I love about this image is how much texture it has, including the physical drum itself. It looks very rustic and worn, but it is still able to produce such a fun, friendly and powerful sound.

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

The Story Behind The Photo: Canopy Storm

"Canopy Storm": This photo, taken in the EPCOT theme park in The Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida, was staged in the middle of the afternoon around 3pm as a typical summer storm was rolling into the park. My wife and I had just entered the park and it felt as though we were in the middle of a hurricane. It was raining sideways and the winds were extremely gusty, shaking nearly everything in the area including the palm trees and the canopy as is shown in this image. While watching a storm and seeing its raw power, I realized that I had to act and take a picture of the storm. What ended up being captured was the storm's movement and direction. In the bottom left corner of the image, one can see a clear sunny day but, as the eyes move to the right, one can see the ominous storm clouds and the dark sky. 

 What makes this image so captivating is that it partially proves the Floridian fable, "It rains in the front yard and not the back." That is, in fact, true, but this image also utilizes the "golden ratio" which is more commonly known in photography circles as the "rule of thirds." "Rule of thirds" explains how the human eye moves when viewing an image. When the eye looks at an image, the eye breaks the image down to three groups horizontally and three groups vertically. Once the eye calculates this division, it focuses on four points of intersection. It may help to think of a cube in the center of the photo. The golden sun coming through in the top left corner of this image is the first area the eye settles on. Typically, if there is a primary point of interest on one or more of the four locations mentioned before, the eye will be pleased with the image even if it is less dramatic than a storm coming in. The power of Mother Nature is simply breathtaking. However, it is very difficult to capture such beauty and one needs to be ready at a moment's notice. This picture was taken on the first attempt. I tried several different angles and lighting techniques after this image but none were as successful as my original. 

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The Story Behind The Photo: The Confectionary

"The Confectionary" is a sweet shop in the Magic Kingdom (located in The Walt Disney World Resort, Orlando, Florida) filled with treats from wall to wall. This photo was taken after the building was completely repainted and the new coat of paint marked a monumental change in my life. It was on this day, at this moment, that I knew I found my soulmate for life. The sweetest gift in life is to love another person more than one loves oneself. The colors of this photo are so vibrant it felt like a blossoming spring as my love grew ever stronger for my now wife. If you are looking at this photo you are probably wondering how I captured it. The only way to capture the full scale of the building was to position myself low to the ground, very low. As in laying down on a sidewalk in Magic Kingdom low to capture a moment in time that was so beautiful it made me realize the great life I live. I photographed this image at 18mm in order to capture the full scale of the building and the perspective of the tree. I had originally taken this photo without the tree in the frame and sadly it didn't convey the depth of field or scale of the building. This shot, however, perfectly captured how I felt at that moment. The other benefit of the tree was to reflect the light of the sun which gave the image a glowing aura. After several attempts, with my girlfriend (who is now my wife) standing over my head keeping tourists from walking on me, this final shot was the ultimate gem. 

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