Tiny Planet (Part 2)

I've written about this app before, but I had kind of forgotten about it till today. How could that be? This is such a cool way to play with your pictures.

Just look at this cypress tree, 

shot down by the ocean in Santa Cruz.

(Click to enlarge if you like).

Cranes at sunrise,

flying over Bosque del Apache.

This was shot 

from one of the Storybookland Canal Boats 

in Disneyland.

This is the exact same shot as above.

Through the miracle of Tiny Planet,

you can set the image 

to swirl from the inside out 

or the outside in.

This is a huge version of Maleficent.

It's made completely of Legos!

It hovers above the Lego Store in Downtown Disney.

I think this shot looks better than the original!

And here's the Sleeping Beauty Castle.

Doesn't it look like it belongs in the film Up?

These last two were taken from the same image.

It was dusk, 

and we were driving through an aspen grove 

in New Mexico.

Isn't the light beautiful?

Isn't this a lovely app?  

It's available in the iTunes Store for just $.99

Abandom Hope All Ye Who Enter Here

because there's a ton of pictures today!

Some are good shots, but a lot are memory shots of a damned near perfect day at Disneyland.  If the mood strikes you, all the photos on this blog are clickable for a larger version.

The weather was just sublime, a tad warm, but almost always a breeze to keep us cool.  We had decided beforehand that we would walk all we could, but avoid standing as much as possible.  It's strange how I can walk comfortably, but standing for more than five minutes seems to disagree with my body.

We started at the gate, where I presented an old one person two day commemorative passport I had in the collection. It originally had the ticket stub on the far right.

The Castmember at the gate looked at it and said "I'll have to call someone about this".  I said fine, since this was pretty much what I was expecting.

You see, main gate passes to Disneyland never expire, something I know, but many Castmembers do not.  So a "Lead" (supervisor) comes over and says he has to ask someone else, but do I want the ticket back?  I said I would like the larger part back after the transaction is complete.  After a few minutes, someone else shows up, they scratch their heads for a minute or two and say they'll be right back.  After about ten minutes yet another Castmember (presumably higher up) show us and informs me that they really aren't supposed to do this (meaning giving me two one day tickets rather than a one person two day ticket).  That said, they decided to make an exception in this case.  He hands me my larger part of my original ticket and two one day passes.

Cool, my friend Misty and I have just entered the park for a mere $22 total, saving ourselves $152!  The day is off to a good start.

Usually, I wait till I'm under the railroad bridge before I even think of taking pictures, but this view caught my eye.  Truthfully, it's my favorite shot of the day.  I considered leaving it for last, but this is such a long post, I figured it would be best to keep everything in order.

I do love the train station, 

and I have to admit, 

in the hundreds of times I've been to Disneyland, 

I've never spotted this view.

I was telling Misty how, 

no matter how often I come to the park, 

there's always something new to shoot.  

She said that's because every time I come, 

I bring new eyes.

I like that idea.

 I love that first view of Main Street 

as you walk under the berm, 

it just clicks with something in my head, 

and I'm taken to a good place.

They have a slew of new hats for the kiddies.

I meant to get a shot of the hats,

but when I spied the reflection, 

I decided I liked this scene more.

Having been to Disneyland so many times, 

I like to look at the details.

They've Cars-ified the monorail!

More details.

The Alice in Wonderland ride

has hundreds of unique details.

Another favorite is the StoryBook Land Canal Boats.

Each is themed to one of the animated favorites.

They're intensely detailed,
every one a beauty in its' own right.

Not a great shot,

but I always like the beginning of the journey.

Into the Mouth of the Beast,

Monstro the Whale.

And out the other side,

entering one of the most beautiful spots 

in all of Disneyland.

This is where Toad Hall sat for years.

They felt it needed to be updated, so they took it out

and replaced it with Agrabah.

There was quite a fuss, 

so they eventually brought Toad Hall back,

but in a new location.  

Unfortunately I didn't get a very good shot.

Still, I'm happy its been restored.

The beautiful Cinderella's Castle.

If you look closely,

you can see the pumpkin coach 

on the road going up to the castle.

They've also added Prince Eric's city from

the Little Mermaid.

Gepetto's Village.

This is one of my favorite parts of this attraction.

Just around sunset, 

I saw the dying sunlight on the castle.

We hustled over to see what shots we could get. 

Not the best of shots but the roses caught my eye

Then I noticed the reflection.

I like the castle in this shot, 

the roses not so much.

This one is a bit better, 

but neither is exactly right.

Maybe next time.

All day I was alternating 

using my iPhone 4s and my Canon sx40.  

I found that in the dark rides, 

the iPhone was vastly superior.

I was really impressed with this shot.

I shot this using my iPhone 

and the amazing ProCamera app.

Remember, this was taken in the dark
from a moving boat

(Please, click to enlarge).

All I did was manipulate for size 

and a bit of sharpening.

Next we go over to Downtown Disney.

The Lego Store 

has mounted this most impressive display.

It might not show, 

but this dragon is close to life size.

Now we're in the stores.

If I had a yard, 

this would have come home with me.

Also this.  

It stands about fifteen inches tall, 

and the boys are bobbleheads.

Too cute.

Now it was getting dark.

All day long we kept seeing these hats.

I believe they're from the new Cars Land.

I asked this fella if he would pose for a shot, 

and he was happy to oblige.

Bad shot, but good for the memory.

After all, who wears a tire on their head?

Next time I'll take a day time shot.

This was taken with my iPhone!

Fantasyland at night.

I've tried for years to get shots of fireworks, 

always with minimal success.

But once again, my sx40 came through.

And one final yee haw.

The perfect end to a perfect day.

Next time I go to the park,
I'm going to shoot even more.

I'll be bringing my new eyes with me.

Remember

It's Never Too Late

To Live Happily Ever After,

because

Back from LA (and More Rambling)

So many thoughts running through my head today, very strange.

I have a lot of pictures to cull through from the trip.  It was short and almost perfect, but I'll write about that later.

Today, my thoughts are on health.

It was easier than I thought, eating healthy and continuing my exercise program.  I continue to try to live in the present, not letting old failures drag me down.  It seems that as long as I remember that this is now and not a presdestined repeat of my past, I do well.

As to the walking, I find I rather enjoy it, but I am having a bit of a time with my leg muscles.  I hardly believe that just walking could affect me so, but perhaps that's why my thighs and calves are sore?

I'm going to try new shoes and see what that does.  So far, Adidas seem to be the best for my feet (size 10, very wide, exceptionally high arch, high instep and a tendency towards Plantar Faciitus).  I'm also ordering a pair of walking shoes specifically made for people with Plantar Faciitus.  Since I'm ordering from Zappos, they will send me the shoes and I'll be able to try them on in the comfort of my own home, then send back the ones I don't like.  And they pay the postage both ways!

Don't you just love Zappos?

In looking for food that was good and healthy, we came across a place called Zankou Chicken in Glendale (we were staying with friends nearby).

While we walked in ordering chicken, I saw that they had shawarma, which I just had to try.  Have you seen the Avengers?  If so, you'll get the shawarma reference.  I had never heard of it before the film, but seeing it on the menu, I just had to try it.  And Oh My God!  It's my new favorite way to eat beef.

Sort of like the meat they use for Gyros, this was seasoned unlike anything I've ever had before.  To the best of my tastebuds, I think cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, garlic and then there's more flavors that I just cannot identify.  If anyone knows, please share.

Then, there was this garlic sauce.  It was, I swear, the nearest thing to heaven I've ever tasted.  I bought extra to bring home so I could try to re-create it.  If I am successful, be sure that I'll share.

In closing, I'll add just one shot.  We had stopped to stretch our legs when we spotted this little one up in a rafter building his (or her) mud nest.  I liked the way it just looked at me, like I was really intruding into a spot where I had no business. 

Keep in mind that with my SX40, 

I was probably twenty feet away!

That's it for today, pictures tomorrow.

And remember

It's Never Too Late

To Live Happily Ever After,
because

 

The Dregs of LA

.

Well, the last of my pictures
(at least from the Los Angeles trip).

All of these were taken with the iPhone,
and feature a variety of subjects.

This is Tiger, I took this using Camera Fun.
It's a free app the lets you see results
live before you shoot.
This effect is called Canvas.

I wish I could remember what app I used for this.
Probably Instagram, but I can't say for sure
We were driving down the freeway
and I liked the look of the sky.

Just a plain shot,
taken as we were driving
(not me, but the car was moving)

This was taken at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater
after the Mary Blair event.
Probably as close as I'll get to the Oscars!

This was taken during our
visit to the first Apple Store in
the Glendale Galleria.

On the Jungle Boat Cruise in Disneyland.

Inside the Haunted Mansion,
shot from a moving car in the dark.
I was pretty pleased with the results,
since I'd never use my real camera in a dark ride.

This is the tree that was the model
for the Swiss Family Robinson Tree House.
Isn't it a beauty?

I was pretty happy with this shot.
Taken in Downtown Disney
at night, hand held,
I did just a bit of manipulation.

Once again, I have to say I'm really impressed with the camera in the iPhone 4s (are you sick of hearing this yet?). While I don't think I'll be giving up my Canon yet, it's just so darned handy to have the phone. And with the new operating system for iPhones (ios5), now even when the phone is off, it's a quick one second access to the camera, making it my go to choice when an quick photo op arises.

Soundsational!

.
I loved the parade, but unfortunately, we weren't in the best spot for photography. That said, I did get some shots of the performers.

I have to say, these people are the best. Dancing, smiling, wearing heavy costumes, and keeping it up all along the parade route. And it was hot!

So on with the parade.

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

I loved this dress.
what fun would it be to twirl in this?

A bit of detail from one of the floats.

Talk about colorful!

I loved this shrimp.

This colorful costume
is based on the colors Mary Blair
used in many of her
South American paintings.

The Arucuan Bird,
again from South America.

I love this detail,
it was some twenty feet up in the air.

More costuming.

Dancers from the Lion King.

This is Evinrude.
Snuck in from the Rescuers.

Butterfly Woman.

Here come
the Mary Poppins Chimney Sweeps.

And Mary herself.
Is this carousel horse something?
It goes up and down,
just like it should.

And here's my favorite float in the parade.
I believe he's the Master of the Hounds.
He's based on one of Kevin's
incredible paper sculptures.

And those are all the pictures
I took of the parade!