Portrait of the Mind Entertainer as a Dittel Man

IMG_0005, originally uploaded by bjhiggins.

As I feared, I was unable to keep up the torrid content production pace that I was rocking at the beginning of this return to blogging. I let the blog fall by the wayside as all of my other side projects (and my actual job) began to occupy the majority of my time. I figure I'll post more Disney pictures at some point, but I needed to branch out and dip into the archives a bit in order to freshen things up.

I went to Ithaca College for one semester. I was a film major, and I left when I realized I didn't want to be a film major. I have some wonderful memories of the place, and some less wonderful memories, but one thing that I really owe to that school is that it really got me into photography.

Photography was a required class for film majors, and we had to have film SLR cameras. Prior to that, I had only used point-and-shoots and disposable cameras; I often tried to be the disposable camera auteur, but seriously, there is a limit to what you can do with those things, especially when shooting indoors. I got my SLR, a Nikon N65, and I became a photo kid.

I'm going to post a number of shots that I took for my photo class, because I still regard these shots as some of my favorite photographic work. I figured I would begin with an image that was supposed to be for a portrait assignment.

While visiting home, I was hanging out with Eric Dittelman, and I decided to use him for my pending portrait assignment. I took a number of pictures (and I will post more of them on here eventually), but when I developed the negatives and started looking at them, this one stood out immediately.

We had been sitting around, watching episodes of "The Simpsons" (the Season One DVD had recently been released). and I hopped behind the couch and snapped this shot. Eric in the foreground, Bart on the television. It was perfect. If you've spent any time with Eric, you know how much he loves The Simpsons, so this image really captured who he is.

The teacher told me I couldn't use it for the portrait assignment, because you can't see his face.

Despite that, I think this is a perfectly fine portrait, because while it doesn't necessarily show his eyes or nose or mouth, it does show who he is.

The End

DSC_0558, originally uploaded by bjhiggins.

Tonight marks the series finale of LOST, a show that many of us have devotedly watched for years. The finale promises to answer many of the lingering questions that have haunted viewers for years, but I think I found the answer to one of the most pervasive questions about the show when I was at Disney's Hollywood Studios.

For most of the series, everyone was wondering where the Island was.

Based on this billboard, I'm guessing that's NOT a typo but rather a clue, and the island is actually in Californifia.

Alternatively, seriously? Disney? Proofread a little.

SpectroMagic

Dale, originally uploaded by bjhiggins.

Another color isolation piece from Photoshop.

I really liked this shot in its initial form. I love reflections, and I think they can be a visually fascinating source for photography. What I was especially pleased with was the fact that I managed to get some decent captures of SpectroMagic, when I had no intentions of attempting to shoot it earlier, since most of my prior attempts were largely busts. However, I decided to give it a whirl, and I was pleasantly surprised.

I've always loved the night parades at the Magic Kingdom. I have many pleasant memories of watching the Main Street Electrical Parade and SpectroMagic, getting the music stuck in my head, seeing my favorite characters with their costumes turned into overglorified Lite Brites. With SpectroMagic due to be replaced by the returning Main Street Electrical Parade (although I'm unsure of how long this replacement will last), I can say with certainty that I'll miss seeing this show waltz its way down Main Street.

The Surge

DSC_0882, originally uploaded by bjhiggins.

Probably my least favorite part of a Disney day is being stuck in the surge. Whether it's at the beginning of the day or the end (but especially at the end), getting stuck in the mob of people herding their way toward the exits leads me to be entirely on edge. Tempers are usually running high. People, like the little girl in the foreground of this picture, are often exhausted. Strollers are pushed with no regard for the ankles and heels of those in the immediate vicinity. It is utter chaos.

Which is why I love the sight of those balloons. Once again, they just bring me back. It makes the disorder a lot more tolerable.

Wishes

DSC_0839, originally uploaded by bjhiggins.

I took nearly 700 pictures of the Wishes fireworks display at the Magic Kingdom. I have already posted one such picture on the blog, and figured that, at least for this trip, it would be best to limit it to only a couple shots. If you want to see the rest, visit my flickr page.

This shot comes from the grand finale, where the sky is lit up so brightly with fireworks that you can see the castle in silhouette. It is organized chaos, an amalgamated dreamscape of colorful explosions and fantasy imagery.

I love that you can also see the silhouettes of the crowd, watching intently, taking in this pure spectacle.

Balloons

DSC_0074, originally uploaded by bjhiggins.

First off, I often like using Dutch angles. I know how they're traditionally used in cinema, and I'm not using them for any specific purpose beyond I like it, and it looks neat. I'm not making any grand statement about balloon sellers at the Magic Kingdom or anything; I just decided to tilt my camera and shoot.

I must say, though, the balloon seller on Main Street is the ultimate throwback. It seems like there's always a cast member trying to sell you things on Main Street, whether its a PhotoPass photographer, or a cart selling lightsabers and glow necklaces. The balloon seller, however, fits. They just belong on Main Street. The balloons have evolved, certainly, but the concept brings me back to my childhood. It's precisely the right type of throwback.

Little Things

DSC_0021, originally uploaded by bjhiggins.

One of the fun things to do in Disney World is to slow down.

Coming from me, this is a surprising statement. My touring style is mostly "Go! Go! Go!" as I venture from one attraction to the next, trying to do as much as possible. However, it's important to remember that Disney World ITSELF is an attraction, and the small details can be just as fun as any ride.

Take, for example, this shot. It's Pooh in a Bobby Hat. This was in one of the shops in the United Kingdom section of World Showcase, and it's something that would easily be overlooked. It's a fun little sight that made me smile, which shows that sometimes, you just need to slow down and look around.