FINALLY - A Solo Day at Disney (EPCOT to be exact)

[makinorlando]

I decided yesterday afternoon when I realized that today was going to be a gorgeous day in Central Florida, that I was going to take the day off and after DD was safely (and unknowing of my plans) in school, that I was going to spend a few hours in EPCOT. I wanted to maximize my time on property, and knew that EPCOt would be the quickest to enter (my only "issue with MK!)!

So after a rough start - DD fell while riding her bike to school - so I rescued her and drove her - I was on my way by 9:07! It was a great drive down the Greenway - just me ALL by myself! I arrived at EPCOT, walked to security, and was through the turnstiles and taking my first picture at 9:52. I had to be back in my car on the way home by 2pm!

Here is a slideshow of my photos for today! http://s41.photobucket.com/albums/e291/makasper/EPCOT/Epcot%20Solo%20Day%205-12-2006/?action=view&slideshow=true

Tara and I will be heading to MGM tomorrow, and maybe hop on over to EPCOT to wander the other side of WS - I just did Mexico to France!

I loved this display of wine bottles in France. Very modern designs on the bottles. If I had not already done Wine Tasting in Italy, I would have tried one of them that was part of the wine tasting here. (Remember - I had to drive home to pick DD up at school!)

And a very pretty flower (I think an Iris) in Italy!

 

[campinggal]

Glad you were able to sneak in some solo time Martha!!! My DD is 9 too and I totally know how important solo kid free time is!

I'm envious of the gorgeous day you had- up here in NH- we had rain- and we are in for lots more this weekend. Actually the forecast is for 10 days straight of rain and overcast skys. UGH!

I love the colors in the wine bottle pic.

Off to look at your other photos!

 

[Quinn222]

Fantasic pictures!

 

[JR6ooo4]

Wow, that slideshow is packed with great shots. Did you delete any from the day?
Mikeeee

ps I am jealous you live so close.

 

[campinggal]

Just finished looking at all your pics- what a great day! Looks like you even got a shot of the arches in Japan without any people! Germany looked pretty empty too.

Since I know you are interested in learning more, one thought crossed my mind when I saw the Gecko/Tree sculpture part in shadow and part in the bright sun so you couldn't see his colors then when I saw Sleeping Beauty in the shadows. Remember to use your flash sometimes- even when it is sunny outside.

I'm just an hobby photographer too and still learning but one thing I use pretty regularly is my flash- even in the daytime. You should be able to set your flash so it will fire no matter what when you want it to, not when the camera thinks it should. This is particularly helpful if your subject is in the shadows- like Sleeping Beauty was. The camera won't fire the flash automatically because there is enough light but by setting it to fire, it 'fills in' the shadows so your subject is better lit.

I don't know if I have an example to show you but I'll look.

So- when will you go back and hit the rest of the countries solo???

Have fun at MGM tomorrow!

Liz

 

[makinorlando]

Thank you - I think I deleted about 10 or so after I got home. I went off with not enough memory, and had to delete some in the park - but they were ordinary or similar to another shot!

I have a few that I shot in Stitch mode that I need to go to the other computer and "Stitch!"

Wow, that slideshow is packed with great shots. Did you delete any from the day?
Mikeeee

ps I am jealous you live so close.

Thanks. I got into WS just at 11am, and many people seemed to stop at Mexico and Norway, so it was pretty quiet for a bit. About 12:30 the crowds seemed to pick up!

I usually do use my flash - I think I just forgot with Sleeping Beauty. It seems that no matter where I take SB's picture (2 character breakfasts and today) she always has the sun shining on her that makes the photo not so good! I just totally snoozed on that one. On the Canon S2, you have to have the flash up, so sometimes I forget to pop it up before I take pics. The same with the Geeko in the tree! I had totally missed that the last time we walked through there, and was trying "bracketing" with that one, and again forgot to put the flash up! Good thing is - when I do things wrong, I can go re-create the pic the next time.

I have a friend coming in from VA next weekend, and have convinced her to go to EPCOT with us (she's not into Disney, and has never been to EPCOT - we will convert her!) - so I can re-shoot the Geeko! It is "Characters in Bloom" weekend, so hopefully lots of characters, and SB NOT IN THE SUN! When they brought Beast out, the had him in the shade???

My solo time will probably not be for some time - since last day of school here is 5/23, and DD is not going to camp this summer - so I will be FULL time MOM and FULL Time working!

Just finished looking at all your pics- what a great day! Looks like you even got a shot of the arches in Japan without any people! Germany looked pretty empty too.

Since I know you are interested in learning more, one thought crossed my mind when I saw the Gecko/Tree sculpture part in shadow and part in the bright sun so you couldn't see his colors then when I saw Sleeping Beauty in the shadows. Remember to use your flash sometimes- even when it is sunny outside.

I'm just an hobby photographer too and still learning but one thing I use pretty regularly is my flash- even in the daytime. You should be able to set your flash so it will fire no matter what when you want it to, not when the camera thinks it should. This is particularly helpful if your subject is in the shadows- like Sleeping Beauty was. The camera won't fire the flash automatically because there is enough light but by setting it to fire, it 'fills in' the shadows so your subject is better lit.

I don't know if I have an example to show you but I'll look.

So- when will you go back and hit the rest of the countries solo???

Have fun at MGM tomorrow!

Liz

 

[JR6ooo4]

Oh, I forgot. Sorry to here about the bike crash.
Mikeeee

 

[makinorlando]

Oh, I forgot. Sorry to here about the bike crash.
Mikeeee

Oh - DD didn't need stitches - sorry - I meant Canon Photostitch - panoramic photos - I need to merge them together!

 

[Dan Murphy]

Those are great, look really nice. It sure looked nice and sunny there.

Is that an S2 IS???

 

[makinorlando]

Those are great, look really nice. It sure looked nice and sunny there.

Is that an S2 IS???

Thanks Dan. It was a gorgeous, low humidity day!

Yes it's the S2.... I am so happy with this camera, and your photos were some of the first I noticed taken with one! So I have you to thank for all the fun I am having!

 

[Tuffcookie]

Great pictures! I am looking forward to being there in 27 days!
I'm hoping DS will be so surprised and grateful to be there that he won't say a thing about how many pictures I'm taking!

TC

 

[Charade]

Nice!!

What's going on in Japan? Construction/refurb?

 

[JR6ooo4]

Oh - DD didn't need stitches - sorry - I meant Canon Photostitch - panoramic photos - I need to merge them together!

I knew that. I won't go into how bad I banged up my knees as a youngin'

I am curious how the stitching goes. I did not have good luck with the canon stitcher bundled with the XT. It left big seems (or is that seams?) very visible in the sky in my pics.

I have been using panorama factory since before buying tthe XT. Please post a sample when you get them done.
Mikeeee

 

[mhutchinson]

What I found helps with stitching is that you need to set overrides on the camera so that all your settings remain constant, full manual. Set the balance once and use it for all the shots you are planing to use for the stitching. This will keep the colors a constant shade (most noticably the sky) as well as shadows and reflections will be consistant in their tones and brightness levels.

Mike

 

[Haley Whippet]

Loved your pictures!
Deb

 

[makinorlando]

I knew that. I won't go into how bad I banged up my knees as a youngin'

I am curious how the stitching goes. I did not have good luck with the canon stitcher bundled with the XT. It left big seems (or is that seams?) very visible in the sky in my pics.

I have been using panorama factory since before buying tthe XT. Please post a sample when you get them done.
Mikeeee

I was off at MGM all day - and now I CAN"T sleep!

Here are a couple Photo Stitchs that I had done previously. I have not gotten to do the others. I took some in Stitch mode - at Lights Motor Action today as well

This is not one from EPCOT on Friday, but another that I have done.

This was my first -

 

[JR6ooo4]

I like this one. The way it transitions from the foliage to the open walk and the buildings in the distance. It describes disney very well. (was it disney)

But I can see a seam near the middle. ou can see it in the sky and the pavement. That is what happend with mine when I used the canon software. Maybe I did not find a blending button or something like that. If you have those original files and do not mind mailing them to me I would love to try panofactory and see how it does.
the top one looks great. the row of chairs and flower planter. I can't stand it. It has only been 6 weeks but I'm going to go price another trip right now.....
I have to have something to look forward to.
Mikeeee

 

[makinorlando]

This was my first one, and I think it might have been the difference in exposure. It was only my second day of using the new camera, so this was shot totally auto, with the exception of being in stitch mode!

It was at the BC pool looking toward the Boardwalk. I will see if I have the originals.

I will be curious to see those I took yesterday at Lights Motor Action turn out. No time to work on them today!

I like this one. The way it transitions from the foliage to the open walk and the buildings in the distance. It describes disney very well. (was it disney)

But I can see a seam near the middle. ou can see it in the sky and the pavement. That is what happend with mine when I used the canon software. Maybe I did not find a blending button or something like that. If you have those original files and do not mind mailing them to me I would love to try panofactory and see how it does.
the top one looks great. the row of chairs and flower planter. I can't stand it. It has only been 6 weeks but I'm going to go price another trip right now.....
I have to have something to look forward to.
Mikeeee