Photography
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.
Don’t Be Afraid to Express Yourself
These lovely ladies were part of a Brazilian drum corp marching in New York City’s 2009 Pride parade. I post their photos in honor of today being National Coming Out Day. You don’t need painted nails and sequins to live openly and honestly as yourself. Just fortitude, self respect and the desire to live the truth and set a positive example. Sequins are optional.
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Marriage Equality March
One year ago today my partner and I participated in the Marriage Equality March on Washington DC. And here we are a year later still waiting for the state of New York, supposedly always ahead of the curve in civil rights, to allow us to marry right here in our home state.
A protest by Californians occurred the day before the march outside the Washington Monument.
Our Friend Until the End
Continuing my string of consciousness thread from yesterday’s post starring Kitty, this photo is a portion of the pet cemetery outside Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion in Anaheim. The primary headstone with the dog in this photo reads, “Buddy Our Friend Until the End.” Pretty earnest and melancholy compared to bad puns on the majority of the other headstones. This blending of serious and goofy, mashed up together next to one another, is a recurring theme and one of the many reasons the Haunted Mansion is my favorite attraction.
You can learn more about the cemetery and tons of other secrets on this DoomBuggies page.
Zombies, Yoga and My Cat
What do zombies, yoga and my cat have in common? The answer is this overhead view of Kitty asleep in his fancy Container Store box with his plush zombie Rupert.
My New York City Aerials
Yesterday’s post of an aerial view of rural Michigan from a jet on approach to Detroit brought to mind these two photos I snapped from an airplane on approach to LaGuardia airport. I wish I could know which approach would be used ahead of time so I could choose the right side of the plane. More often than not, when we approach up the Hudson I’m on the Jersey side of the plane and when we approach over Queens I’m looking out to the east. On this flight I chose wisely.
Over Snowy Detroit
Keeping with today’s Motor City theme here’s a photo I snapped from the air on my approach to Detroit in January of this year. It almost looks like a scale model. I love how the lazy curves of the river contrast with the angularity of all the man-made giblets.
Empty GM Renaissance Center
In January 2010 I stayed in the hotel within Detroit headquarters for General Motors known as the Renaissance Center. I was up before dawn and on my way to Cobo Hall for an early tech rehearsal of the GM Auto Show press conferences for which I was Creative Director. Although sleepy and slightly late I stopped on my way around the building core to snap this photo.
Customer for Life
In May 2009 my partner Mark and I stumbled on the most fabulous guest/character interaction we’ve ever seen at a Disney Park in the Hollywood Backlot area of California Adventure in Anaheim. This little baby was giggling and giggling at the sight of Goofy. The baby reached out his hands towards him just as Mom lifted him up and forward.
So what’s a good dog to do but go in for a full embrace?
I have no doubt in my mind that Goofy made that kid a customer for life.
Spooky Goofy
Last year at Disneyland’s HalloweenTime Goofy was sporting a skeleton costume and walked around like a zombie. Painfully cute!
When Two Holidays Collide
Can’t wait for the Haunted Mansion’s Nightmare Before Christmas overlay again this year at Disneyland! I wonder what the ballroom ginger bread house will look like?
WDW Haunted Mansion June 2010
I totally intended for these photos to be as fully awesome as they turned out. One hundred percent intentional. No, really.
