Hidden Mickey

It’s a real thing.  At least as far as the public goes.  Disney has yet to officially acknowledge the Hidden Mickey phenomenon, although they do sell Hidden Mickey books in their gift shops.  hmmm….

Apparently it all started when EPCOT was being planned as more of an adult-targeted park including the sale of alcohol.  Since Disney characters and alcohol were taboo together it was established that none of the characters, especially Mickey, would ever be seen inside that park.  Well, the Imagineers took it as a challenge and started incorporating them into everything they could.  Voila!  Hidden Mickeys.

The general rule is that if it’s not associated with Disney then it’s not really an “official” Hidden Mickey.  It’s still fun though.

Not so hidden, but it makes for a great image. | Order a print of this image.

Not so hidden, but it makes for a great image. | Order a print of this image.

Auto Pilot

There’s a feature on the aerial camera that I didn’t think I’d be using, but it came in handy last night.  It’s not really auto pilot, but for a photographer it comes pretty darn close.  The camera can be set to snap a photo every 30 seconds for as long as I want.  So I can concentrate on getting some cool HDR series on the ground while the aerial cam just hovers and snaps away.  I used it last night to shoot an awesome sunset.  I sent it up as the sun was hitting the horizon and just left it there until I was done on the ground.  Pretty cool if you ask me.

Order a print of this image.

This is my go-to spot for awesome sunsets.  I’ve never been disappointed. | Order a print of this image.

And I did promise that I would reveal what last night’s photo actually was.  Here’s a before/after comparison.

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Unintentional

Aren’t most discoveries just a combination of knowledge, timing and just plain dumb luck.  As I was going through my images from this evening I simply looked at this image differently and it just hit me.  Out of the blue.  Crazy how that happens sometimes.

Can you guess what this is? I'll post the answer within tomorrow's post.

Can you guess what this is? I’ll post the answer within tomorrow’s post.

Rain

How untimely is it that the first drop of rain today fell at the exact moment the band officially took the field.  At least I snapped off a few images before then.

Click for more images from today.

Click for more images from today.

Subtle Movement

We all know that the clouds are moving, but it’s incredibly subtle movement.  At least to the naked eye.  I was driving home this afternoon and that cloud formation was just screaming for me to grab my camera.  I shot some video with the aerial camera, but I’ll have to play with the stabilization a bit before I post it (if I post it).  I didn’t really stabilize this one (as you might be able to tell) because the algorithm was getting confused by all the cloud movement – there’s no real reference point.

Crazy

The big downside to landscape photography is the incredibly early start times for the day, especially for shooting the sunrise.  On a good day I could be up as early as 3 and as late as 9 that same evening just to shoot the sun.  Am I dedicated or crazy?

I'm pretty excited to be heading into that time of year when the sunrise isn't at some ridiculously early hour of the morning!

I’m pretty excited to be heading into that time of year when the sunrise isn’t at some ridiculously early hour of the morning! | Order a print of this image.

Griffith Park

The whole time I was here I kept thinking how cool it would be to fly the drone over it.

That's the Hollywood sign at the very top right of the image.

That’s the Hollywood sign at the very top right of the image.

Customer Experience

“Adults are only kids grown up, anyway.”

– Walt Disney

If I’ve learned anything from any of my trainings throughout my entire life, it’s that successful businesses get that way by putting the customer experience at the top of their priority list.  The two companies that immediately come to mind for me are Apple and Disney.  Sure, they’re for-profit companies, but their ultimate goal is to deliver a customer experience like no other.  When you can put aside that “I’m gonna get rich doing this” attitude and focus on being creative and innovative it all tends to work itself out.  And Disney is exceptionally good at it.  To watch my dad over this past weekend was pretty cool.  At almost 80 years old, he enjoyed that park every bit as much as any of the adolescents who were experiencing it for the first time.

There were a lot of ways I could have gone with today's post, but this image worked no matter which way I went.

There were a lot of ways I could have gone with today’s post, but this image worked no matter which way I went.

Viewing Size

Every once in a while I’ll post an image that’s just not meant to be viewed on a mobile device.  Realistically, I’d love for these types of photos to be viewed on a large HD screen of some sort where you can get in close and see the whole range and all the detail.  This image is a prime example, but unfortunately it’s too big.

I’m wrapping up a whirlwind weekend in California that literally began back in February when I registered and began stressing about having to run (everything went well, btw), and I’m sitting in the airport a whopping 5 hours early for my flight.  So I need to kill some time.

I shot a series of images of LA and the surrounding area today while in Griffith Park so I decided to try something – a mega/super/ultra, or whatever you want to call it, panorama image of LA.  It turned out great, but it’s going to be sized to fit your screen so it’ll appear really thin.  I posted it on Flickr (500px has a limit of 15,000 pixels on the longest side!), but it’s still sized to fit.  Bummer.  I wonder if I can get it printed full-size…

16 individual images. File size is 2.82 GB. Dimensions - 30926 X 3121 or 128.9" X 13" or 3.273 M X .33 M!

16 individual images. File size is 2.82 GB. Dimensions – 30926 X 3121 or 128.9″ X 13″ or 3.273 M X .33 M! It’s 10.6 feet long!

Forward Thinking

“Times and conditions change so rapidly that we must keep our aim constantly focused on the future.”
– Walt Disney

Even Walt Disney knew where TV & movies were headed. Even back in 1955!  Wink, wink.  Nudge, nudge. 😉

Even Walt Disney knew where TV & movies were headed. Even back in 1955! ;)

In Character

The employee (aka cast) culture at Disney Parks fascinates me – specifically the characters.  I seem to only remember the fully costumed characters when I was young and visiting Walt Disney World.  You never actually saw a real person.  But times, and culture, have changed.  Now there are real life people portraying the Disney characters in the park, which creates an entirely different dynamic for interaction.  I never used to hear the characters make any sounds (especially speech) at all.  Now you can have an entire conversation with them.  The added fascination for me is the fact that now the real-life characters need to work harder to remain in character.  They can no longer hide behind the comfort of being silent and not being seen and can simply use body language to remain in character.  It’s just fascinating – which probably explains why I have a degree in psychology.

btw – this photo is horrible, but Alice is the one who prompted this post and this is the our selfie with her (which is technically really a “groupie”).

So we asked Alice if she knew what a selfie was. She responded "Why yes, a self-sufficient photograph." Awesome.

So we asked Alice if she knew what a selfie was. She responded “Why yes, a self-sufficient photograph.” Awesome.

Fourteen

I’ve seen this back home in Winchester and I’ve seen lots of discussion threads because of it out here in CA.  Still can’t find a solid reason for it.  Why a 14 mph speed limit?

  1. It’s different and catches your attention
  2. 15 mph is too fast (and sounds too much like 50 when spoken with certain accents)
  3. 13 mph is too slow (and unlucky)
  4. 14 is a multiple of 7 so it’s twice as lucky
  5. 14 mph is the speed of a horse-driven carriage at a “furious” pace
  6. The trams travel at 15 mph so theoretically a car should never overtake a tram

And so on and so on and so on.  I tend to fall into the reason #1 group, but I like them all.

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The “World” Has Spoiled Me

There’s obviously a lot that’s different between the two parks.  After the location (obviously) the biggest difference is simply the size.  There’s just more real estate in Florida.  But after today’s adventures, the biggest difference for me now is the Disney experience.  You get more of it in Florida.  I’m not knocking the parks in California – don’t get me wrong.  I enjoyed my first day in Disneyland.  It’s fascinating to pick out the similarities and differences between all the rides.  For instance, in Florida it’s the Swiss Family Robinson Tree House.  In California it’s Tarzan’s Tree House.  Neat.  Anyway, where was I?  Oh yeah, right smack in the middle of Anaheim.  That’s the biggest difference for me – the fact that you’re navigating through a city as well as the parks in California.  The public transportation is Anaheim’s.  In Florida, you’re completely immersed in all things Disney (that is, of course, if you stay “on campus”).  The public transportation is Disney’s.  Walt Disney World has a sprawling 43 square miles (or 27,258 acres) of real estate whereas Disneyland operates on about 160 acres.  So you see, the “World” has spoiled me.

The nightly fireworks show at Disneyland Park.

The nightly fireworks show at Disneyland Park.

27 Hours

I get an extra 3 hours to post today.  Woohoo!  The downside is that I’ll only have 21 hours on Monday. Boohoo.  We were all dragging today after 5 hour flights and being up 18 hours we wanted to remain active to avoid going to sleep too early.  It was Laguna Beach or bust.  I’ve always seen the big waves in pictures or TV, but it was cool to see them in person.  We were also pretty distracted by the $15,000,000 homes up on the cliff.  Yep.  Six zeros and seven figures!

The view from the homes that don't overlook the Pacific Ocean. The less expensive houses. These houses are only worth $5,000,000.

The view from the homes that don’t overlook the Pacific Ocean. The less expensive houses. These houses are only worth $5,000,000.

New Chapter

Started my next chapter last night teaching Broadcast Video Production in the building I called “home” for seven years.  Can you see me?  Not a lot of time to get out and shoot today as I pack for California.  Hopefully I’ll have some great images to post along the way.

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Golden Hour

When you can get above all the mess on the ground level, that golden hour is more like a golden hour and 15 minutes.  My class ended at 6:30, but I was determined to get the sunset today because I just had a feeling that it was going to be a good one.  I think I made a good call.

Order a print of this image.

Order a print of this image.

BMX

A little BMX action at the park today.  I’d never shot a BMX race before and I haven’t the first clue about the sport, but it’s cool that we have a track here in Winchester.

There will eventually be a BMX category in my galleries.

There will eventually be a BMX category in my galleries.

Pride

pride
/prīd/
noun
1. a feeling or deep pleasure or satisfaction derived from one’s own achievements, the achievements of those with whom one is closely associated, or from qualities or possessions that are widely admired.
  • “the team was bursting with pride after recording a sensational victory”
    • synonyms: pleasure, joy, delight, gratification, fulfillment, satisfaction, a sense of achievement; “take pride in a good job well done”

 How is Handley Different?  by Dr. V. Doug Joyner

From letter jackets to lunch lines, Handley isn’t outwardly intriguing, nothing differentiates us from any other high school across the nation-but step inside the checkered hallway; have a seat in the auditorium; cheer for the football players at a game and you will find there’s something else that lingers in the hallways.  It’s an unfettered force that the community refers to as “Handley Pride”.  It’s the one thing that sets us apart from the rest.
It’s embedded into the glistening marble hall, woven into the upholstery of the auditorium, and saturates the Handley Bowl on a sparkling autumn afternoon.  The fundamentals associate us with every other school, but pride fractures the concord, and keeps the student reputation from being slandered into uniformity.
As a profile is examined and its features begin to tell a story, the inner thoughts come to the surface.  Even though the picture hasn’t told its story with words the wrinkle of a brow and a shy smile tell more eloquently than words the sorrows of the character.
Most important to the piecing together of a person are the eyes.  Are they quick and alert?  Do they search for something beyond the four walls of the picture?
When a teacher watches many profiles agonize over a test or listens to one lone profile struggling over an oral presentation, they see focus in their student’s eyes.  Focus and motive to achieve, to be known, to excel outside of the four walls of a classroom.
As we live our daily lives, our personalities become exposed, and we expose those of others.  Each situation, whether within the walls of Handley high or experienced elsewhere, defines us. Our surroundings mold us emotionally- no two of us are the same.  We are who we are; our appearance is unique, our mindsets are one of a kind, our experiences differ.
Through our activities, we have revealed ourselves to the school.  As the school year has progressed, the definition of our individual profiles has become sharp, and we have placed our profiles along the halls among all other Handley attendees-past, present, and future.  Our profiles, representing our lives – stay – waiting to expose our experiences for those who follow.

I disagree on that part about Handley not being outwardly intriguing.

I disagree on that part about Handley not being outwardly intriguing.

 

Look, Up In The Sky…

So today I had somebody actually follow the camera to where it landed just to find out more about it.  I was just flying over Shenandoah University and demonstrating it for a couple of friends and a guy drives into the lot, runs over and said that he followed it from the main campus because he wanted to know more about it.  I gave him my card.  Cool.

DJI01856

The almost-complete Health and Life Sciences building on Shenandoah University’s campus in Winchester, VA

Night Vision

An entirely different ballgame flying this thing at night.  But still as much fun.  I was in such a hurry to get up and start shooting that I forgot to change the settings for a better night-time image.  Not too shabby for being shot at ISO 100.  The fact that the flag is lit up doesn’t hurt.  And, no, the camera isn’t that close to the flag.  It’s probably about 30 feet away.

That's one BIG flag. I've been living my house now for 10+ years and it's still a little eerie to hear this flag flapping in the wind at night.

That’s one BIG flag. I’ve been living in my house now for 10+ years and it’s still a little eerie to hear this flag flapping in the wind at night.