I love Disney’s attention to detail. Not only do they give us large scale theming like the grand Grizzly Peak, with it’s waterfalls and rapids, they give us weathered off-road vehicles with bumper stickers!
Empty the Gun
It is one of the coolest things to be at the park so early in the morning that you can have a part of it all to yourself. With Fall just around the corner, Disneyland’s crowds are a little smaller and the weather a little cooler. In the middle of summer, this shot would probably not have been possible. But with kids back in school and the tourist season dying down, we didn’t even notice a crowd until 10:30AM.
We rarely have as much time as we’d like for a lot of the shots we take at the park. People are busy enjoying themselves, not worrying about getting in the way of a shot, which is how it ought to be. It was really nice though, to be able to set up my tripod and take this shot unhurried, and uninhibited.
The Mansion Crest
It’s almost that time of year again when the crypt doors creek and the tombstones quake. The Disneyland Resort will begin it’s Halloween season festivities officially this Friday. Of course, the Haunted Mansion will be overrun by Jack Skellington and his friends, but there’s nothing quite like the Haunted Mansion to help set the mood for spooks to come out for a swinging wake!
Water Off a Grizzly’s Back
I have to admit, I’m a sucker for waterfalls. Whenever I visit California Adventure, I consistently find myself driven to Grizzly Peak. The only tough part is deciding which side of the peak to take in. You can’t go wrong with either!
A lot of waterfall shots use a slower shutter speed to get the silky smooth look of flowing water. I love those types of shots, but I thought it would also be cool to freeze that motion for this shot. The texture from freezing the water’s motion has a more rugged feel, which seems to suit the Golden State area of California Adventure.
The Salt ‘n’ the Sea
This is a part of the Pacific Wharf area of California Adventure. You might recognize it as being the top of the food place that’s next to the place that gives out free bread. That’s how I know it. My wife knows it as the top of the place with clam chowder in a bread bowl. We were taking a break in the middle of this food court area when I noticed that there were words on the building. In person, these words are very difficult to see. Have you ever noticed that when you stop for a moment, that is usually the time you notice the most amazing things? If not the most amazing things, at least the things that keep you from thinking you’ve seen it all. Those are the best things sometimes. So this is the result of my endeavor to share one of those things with you!
Don’t Lose Your Head
This is Shrunken Ned, the jungle’s only self-service witch doctor. He is one of the coolest hidden treasures of Adventureland. You may well have seen him in one of your own adventures through the South Sea Traders shop, but you may well have missed him too. He kind of just hangs around, waiting to be patronized. I highly suggest paying him a visit, as the entertainment you’ll get is really a bargain. I got all manner of strange looks from the other folks in the store when I was pressed up to the glass with my lens. I’m not sure they’d noticed Ned before they noticed me getting this head shot. Make sure to heed his advice, as your party will be sure to get a good laugh at your expense.
