This place has not only been my second home growing up, but it’s my weekend home where I’ve spent countless hours “keeping the magic alive.” With one look at this picture, I’ve remembered why I work where I do, and why I go there on my days off. For me, this picture represents the part of Disney that guests don’t always see.. Even though you took it in plain sight as thousands of guests were looking at the same thing, you chose to capture the aftermath of the fireworks.. The smoke, fog, and ash that created the sparks that flew overhead and made everyone forget about their two hour wait at Dumbo. For me, the smoke and fog is kind of like the castmembers… We’re what keep the magic going, but we’re often overlooked and unnoticed. The fireworks may be the main show to be seen here, but to me, the smoke and fog is the spirit of the show. One of my favorite things about fireworks, especially Disney Fireworks shows, is that last second when the final firework fades and the show’s over. Disney Fireworks always have that unbelievable, so abundance full and loud rip-your-heart-out kind of grand finale, and even though all the fireworks fade, the smoke still lingers for that little bit longer, keeping you looking to the sky even though the show’s officially done.

This shot seems dark to me.. Not haunting, but rather, intriguing. I’ve seen thousands of captures of the castle, but never a picture that captured as much energy and awe as this one does. I’m completely taken about at how much feeling this brings out from me.. Pride for my job, the magic I feel when I’m a guest, and just that overall overwhelmed feeling of what Disney can accomplish. Pictures of fireworks are never my favorites… It seems like no matter how hard people try, they can never really capture that feeling you get when you actually see the show. It’s never as impressive through a camera lens as it is in person. For anyone who has yet to see Walt Disney World’s Wishes, I would recommend seeing this picture. This is it.. The real deal. I’m really tempted to send this to some past Fantasyland college interns that I’ve worked with in the past and have since moved across the country, as this is just a reminder of the massive impact that we can make on guests. Seeing this show after a long day of work in the heat of July makes it all worthwhile, and makes me thrilled to go back to work the next morning and make the guests feel this kind of magic.

Most shots involving the Kingdom in any way, shape, or form, I love because they remind me of being a kid somehow; This one I love because it’s the opposite effect to me. It makes me love Disney but not from a kid aspect, but very much a grown-up kid perspective. People love Disney World because it makes them feel like a kid again, but I love Disney World because it makes me feel alive. I think that after spending two years of my life living and working here, I appreciate it all so much, and realize the mass amounts of people that go into making the park what it is, from Mickey Mouse himself to the seventeen year old girl stacking 5,000 strollers backstage at the end of the day. This just makes me so proud of my heritage.

I’m sure people will comment and say how Cinderella Castle should be centered and the shot should be tighter, but I’m gonna disagree right now. If the shot were centered, you’d miss out on all the aftermath seen on the left quarter of the picture. If it were cropped at all, then it would, flat out, take away from the massiveness of the sky overhead. The framing on this is perfect. The off-centeredness of this makes it even more appealing to me.. Because, even though it’s not symmetrical, it still works, somehow. Just my five cents.

Alright. And on this note, I end my mini-novella. Amazing job, lover. I think this is my favorite picture of yours… So far. Thank you, my prince.

great picture

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Rafe_MR_metal

Heh.. One more addition

After being with you, this show has so much more meaning to it to me. There's not one time I see it and don't think of the night I brought you in May. People may watch the show from the front of the castle, but my favorite spot is still in the back with you, off the beaten path, where we can catch trickles of the fireworks through leaves on a palm tree and the edge of a building outside one of my favorite rides.

Alright. And they lived happily ever after.
(I love you, Nathanial.)

Ok, I'm sorry but I'm not going to read Jensey's comment. Not right now anyway. I think it might take me a year to read it and I only have a few minutes left connected.

Anyways, a beautiful shot here. I love how magic it feels. I think the lighting of the fireworks and the smoke they emit help with that, along with the lighting glowing on the castle. Such a happy feeling type of shot. I can't really critique it or give an indepth comment though because I like it how it is.

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www

Nate, you've captured the magic of a fireworks show without even showing any actual fireworks. I agree w/Jensey that there's just something about fireworks and Disney and the fireworks at Disney that make you feel in a way that you don't usually feel. There's just something about watching fireworks that can make you feel like a kid again...staring amazed waiting for the next set of fireworks to explode across the sky, drawing you into their simple, yet astounding, magic. When the show ends and the smoke starts to fade away it's like coming up for air again when you didn't even know you were holding your breath...the magic that held you captive under its spell has ended, but a little bit of that feeling lingers with you, the way the smoke liners in the night air.

Beautiful!

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chicadarina: I'm still working on the mission you placed me on. I know you like more of the Alias type. (And by Alias, I mean Michael Vartan)

Why's Santa Claus so jolly? Because he's got 3 ho's.

Thanks for the comment, Nicci. I like how you broke down the human effects of the fireworks... Pretty neat.

Really creative shot! The fireworks are amazing, and the smoke that resides over the castle adds to become a nice effect as well. Great work man I really like this one.

The smoke really is what makes the character behind all of this. Thanks for the comment!

This doesn't feel like a shot to be critiqued, in my opinion, but I'll give it a go at your request anyways. I remember Disneyland from the year of 2000. They had a special show for the new millenium. It was simply amazing, and I still see parts of it replaying in my head today. Yet it saddens me that I had not discovered photography at that point in time.

To me this is a funny photo. Some areas are great, and some I think, are a detriment to the shot. Anyways, good points:

The smoke filled trees to the left are lovely and create that fantasy/Disney feel. They're not alone in creating the atmosphere though. The smoke and firework remnants in the sky are amazing, especially the way in which the smoke seems to mimic the shape of the castle.

The section of fireworks on the far right just above the trees is really intriguing. The lines are colors are just magical (Yes I know its Disneyland ) and I wonder if you have a shot from that session that highlights this more, as it would make a really nice separate deviation.

What captured my attention in this photograph is the beginning (or remnants) of fireworks at the top of the image. The 'sparkles' against the green/black night sky to me, capture the emotion that is Disney.

And the bad points, I know as this isn't a studio shot, that there's not a lot that can be done to fix the following, but I list them in the hope that the thoughts will be with you in future shots

The color of the castles towers, mainly the blue, does nothing for me. It looks like a tacky Photoshop-Neon-Glow-job to be quite blunt. Of more use to you: The flare that wipes out part of the castle towers to the left is someone disappointing

Overall, a nice shot that's very effective in capturing the essence of the subject.

First off, nice shot. Really. Looks like it's quite a pretty fun show to attend, too

Now, onto the (really slight) critique...

The composition is quite good, maybe placeing (sp?) the castle a little more to the right (so as to have it perfectly on the right third of the frame) would've been better. But, rules are meant to be broken, right ?

The only thing that I think would've made for a really gorgeus shot would've been a little more light on the castle, but this isn't something that you could've done (unless you had a nice 20kW spot at hand ). Maybe you could try and play a little in PS to add a little light to it (some masking, a little tweaking of the levels... or, maybe easier, a little Shadow/Highlight in PS CS...)... Dunno...

Anyway, great shot nonetheless

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Do I contradict myself?
Very well then I contradict myself,
(I am large, I contain multitudes.)
[Walt Whitman]