Room With a (Theme Park) View

Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa has a bank of rooms with incredible views of the California Adventure Theme Park and on one of those balconies late at night or early in the morning is one of my favorite places to be.

This photo was taken at dawn in October 2009 through a thick fog covering the park. Usually that man-made mountaintop with the beastly profile has waterfalls that are part of the Grizzly River Run white water raft ride and they create a peaceful white noise. But at the time this photo was taken no one had turned on the waterworks yet. Only the birds were making any noise. The moment was serene.

The amber color wasn’t part of the scene but is part of the original photo through white balance manipulation. Giving the sky an amber color is a sure way to add an ominous, darker undertone to any photo… as evidenced by this second photo where I used the same technique. It is with great pride I present the fifty-five year old icon of joy, happiness and childlike wonder that is Sleeping Beauty’s Castle here made to seem foreboding.