Disney Photo Friday: Splashes and Sunshine

Here's a shot from a while back of Splash Mountain. I really can't wait to get back to Disneyland to get more shots. I also really just need to get back into the swing of posting more photos in general. 

Trunks Mandatory

This month I'm going to post a fair amount of Jungle Cruise/Adventureland shots. I finally got around to editing my Disney shots in lightroom over photoshop, and man...it's a difference. I've totally fallen in love with that program, and just how simple it can be to batch edit photos. So, to start things off, here's a shot of the infamous Elephant Bathing Pool, and as you can see, they all have their trunks on.

A Glance at Race Day

Here's some shots from around Carsland. I need to practice more at shooting on-ride shots along the side of the car, because I want more shots like the one posted below to turn out along various parts of the track.

LAX Photos

I really can't wait to get down to L.A., mainly because there's SO many different things to photograph. I love urban art and architecture, so when my family went to pick up some family from their trip to China, I went around LAX and snapped some photos. Here's two of them that I really liked. I'm still trying to work on long exposures with so much light around me. I'm used to standing out in the middle of a field in Bakersfield shooting stuff and making the dark sky light up, so this is a fun new challenge to me. But, I think these turned out well, and would love your opinion.

Blasting Through A Solar Flare

I love this ride. It's old, and admittedly needs some upgraded love, in my opinion. However, it's still a lot of fun. Every time I'm with family or friends, we're on a constant competition to see who gets the high score. But, I don't think it's fair for the rest of them, because I found out where all the high score hidden targets are. Do you know where they are? 

Is This Your Sign? Magic On Main Street

This has to be one of my favorite stores on Main Street. It's small and quaint, but it has some cool history. Steve Martin got his start here before he went on to be an actor. In fact, there's a photo of him near the cash register. Also, this is the only building (outside of the Coke Corner's red lights) that has colored bulbs, outside of the traditional white that adorn the rest of the buildings along Main Street.

Disneyland Forever: An Orange Start to a Magical Kingdom

I'm trying to get back into a habit of posting more photos I've shot. Most of these have been sitting on my desktop for a while, and I've done nothing with them. A while back a friend of ours signed us into Disneyland, and we got to check out the new 60th Celebration stuff. All of the shows are fantastic, and the upgrades to the attractions are top notch. So, let's start this off with a opening shot of the new fireworks show, Disneyland Forever.

This show's technology is fantastic. Steve Davison and his team took the projection mapping from previous shows they've done in other Disney parks and brought it home for the 60th. It starts out with orange groves, as it once was before Disneyland was built. To see something like this, even projected, gives a really surreal idea of what it must have been like for Walt to look at trees, and see where his Castle would go, or where the world of Tomorrow would be. Tying it back to what was once there was really awesome to see, and to think that imagination truly has no limits is inspiring, to say the least. 

A Year Later...

It's been a year of marriage. It's insane how fast 365 days go. Yes, I know all the older couples reading this are scoffing and going "just wait until 10, 15, 25, 45 years of marriage". Also, props to whoever's married for 45 years and reading this. Congrats, you're a minority in your group to be on social media.

Anyways, I'm ecstatic. This past year has been amazing. Starting off with getting married, and honeymooning in New York City and Disneyland, then kicking it off with finding our own little place in the world with our apartment. Traveling, spending time with friends and family, mixed with working full time and overloading on units at school to graduate early, one could say we're more than busy.

Which is why I'm really thankful Hailey planned this anniversary trip. I had no idea what we were going to do until we got there. We spent the weekend at the central coast doing basically nothing. We began the weekend with couples massages and facials, which I have to admit, was amazing. I've never been a guy that's all gung-ho for getting oils and lotions rubbed all over. I'd rather just throw a towel on the beach, put on Jack Johnson and take a nap. But that changed thanks to my wife.

After we did that, we grabbed some lunch, and then went to check into our bed and breakfast, yet another first for me. It's a weird concept to me that someone will renovate a few rooms in their house and then charge people to stay there. But, it was still a lot of fun. We had this room tucked away in the trees with a private patio, and all the amenities any other hotel would have.

Haley's great at planning things. She usually picks out things we haven't done yet, and this was a weekend filled with it. New restaurants, food I haven't tried, and wine tastings! I know, this is long winded, but I'll shut up and just post the photos now.

She's 21! But seriously, she only got carded twice the entire weekend. 

This stuff was goooood. 

Clavo had great wines...but this guy totally stole the show. 

He's apparently the bosses new puppy. Took everything in me not to take this little retriever home with us.

California is one ugly state. I mean, look at this. 

Little town, but lots of fun. 

First dinner, Off The Hook, right on the water. 

After a really good dinner, which I forgot to take pictures of, I grabbed my camera and walked around taking some long exposure shots of the bay. 

Then, drove out to the rock to get the other side of the view! 

Next day, we just did a bunch of hanging out, playing games, and then before dinner, drove out and took some photos. Yay for tripod and self-timer on my camera! 

She makes me look way better than I deserve to look. 

I'll always be her groom, she'll always be my bride. 

Seriously. She's beautiful. 

The hottie with the dork in a button up. 

DOLPHIN! 

Mine?

Yup. Mine. 

Now for dinner at Giancarlo's. Here's the deal. The dude in the middle, he's Giancarlo Cucumo. He's 100% Italian, from Italy. Hailey's aunt married this guy, and we're all thankful for it, because he cooks like a damn god sent from the heavens. 

Pork belly. Never had it until that evening. But now I want it every evening. 

Can't say the same about oysters, however they did taste good. Again, new first for me. 

Butternut Squash raviolis. Sweeter than I thought they'd be. But man were they great. 

Pinwheel ham and cheese pasta...thing. I can't remember the official name of this, but it was probably my favorite. 

Steak, palenta, and a bed of gnocchi pasta. YESPLEASETHANKYOU. 

Family! Darian, me, Hailey, Lauri and Giancarlo. Really really thankful for the meal they gave us for our anniversary. Seriously. If you're ever in Morro Bay, you've GOT to check this place out. It's absolutely stellar.

Also, can't end an anniversary/birthday trip without dessert! 

Tiramisu good. Diabetes bad. Still worth it. 

Bed and breakfast stairs photo. That's the best caption I've got. 

Also, thrift shop/antiquing. New favorite thing to do. Y'know, because you find snoopy phones..

Weird Mickey record players..

And $8.00 buttons you can still get at Disneyland. But hey, I guess paying $8 to say you went over $125 to get in to the parks is worth lying to some..

Driving back home, we had to stop and shoot photos. Y'know, because this isn't Bakersfield and there's actual colors here. 

BAMBI!

So, that was our anniversary trip. We had a lot of fun, and it was really relaxing and much needed after hectic school schedules, work, and the drone of regular life. But now we're back in Bakersfield and saving up for the next excursion. Thanks for reading this far down, I really appreciate it. I know I type a lot, but this is my blog and I do what I want. Until next time, thanks for reading.