Bayshore Drive — seen here along the water — is a beautiful waterfront road. With the bay on one side and grand, historic homes on the other, it's a really nice place to be. The city in the distance is downtown Tampa.
This photograph was captured with a DJI Phantom 3 Professional and edited in Adobe Lightroom.
Any Harry Potter fan will attest that the Merpeople are frightening. The Merperson statue in Diagon Alley at Universal Studios Orlando lives up to expectations. The square around the Merperson was extremely busy so I had to get out the tripod and slow down the shutter to remove the Muggles from the frame.
This photograph was captured with a Sony NEX-7 and edited in Adobe Lightroom.
This one is for my daughter.
In a nod to the rich history of Disney topiaries and the future of the Norway Pavilion at Epcot, Anna and Elsa currently pose in front of the Akershus Royal Banquet Hall. While they're very well executed, they almost seem too well done to me. As a kid, I remember seeing boxwoods transformed into Mickey and Goofy. There wasn't a lot of detail, but you knew that a skilled arborist spent a lot of time turning those bushes into Disney character replicas. Clearly, the Disney Imagineers have taken topiaries to an entirely new level with these characters!
This photograph was captured with a Sony NEX-7 and edited in Adobe Lightroom.
Most French cities have a Rue de la Soif but you'll never see it written on a street sign. It literally means "thirsty street" and is more of description of the clientele and businesses than it is a proper name.
If you are on the Left Bank in Paris and somebody directs you to a restaurant or bar on Rue de la Soif, head over to Rue Guisarde. It only stretches one long block so it's tricky to find the first time but you'll know it when you see it! As a bonus, you'll also find a little art project by Invader on the wall at the entrance to the "Rue."
This photograph was captured with an iPhone 4 and edited in Adobe Lightroom.
Sunday means the Simpsons, right?
When I found out there was a Moe's Tavern at Universal Orlando, I had to go!
We had a nice little break in Moe's. It's a pretty solid homage to the real deal from Springfield. I went with the standard Duff. The way too upbeat substitute bartender said Duff Dry was like Guinness. I wanted to try it, too, but we only had a few minutes. A few guys came in while we were there and one of them ordered a Flaming Moe. There was no fire but there was a lot of (dry ice) smoke.
This photograph was captured with a Sony NEX-7 and edited in Adobe Lightroom.
Pinky's Westside Grill was born out of "Penguingate" (I never knew it actually had a name) and quickly became one of Charlotte's new favorite locals.
Pinky's has been visited by Guy Fieri for Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives but don't hold that against it!
This photograph was captured with a DJI Phantom 3 Professional drone and edited in Adobe Lightroom.
Figure Eight Island has a beautiful little protected bay that connects to the intracoastal waterway. I had a lot of fun flying my drone over the ICW straight from the back deck of the house we were visiting. Not a bad place to kick back and relax!
This photograph was captured with a DJI Phantom 3 Professional drone and edited in Adobe Lightroom.
Prints of this photograph are available at Smugmug
This Imperial Guardian Lion protects the entrance to the China World Showcase at Epcot. These statues were popularized during the Han Dynasty (beginning in 206 BC). They are often stationed in front of Imperial palaces, temples and homes of government officials.
This photograph was captured with a Sony NEX-7 and edited in Adobe Lightroom.
You can purchase a print of this photograph at Smugmug
It's Wednesday and that means it's time to post another photo from Universal Studio's Wizarding World of Harry Potter. I can't even begin to describe how well done Diagon Alley is! There are so many perfect details, including the Hogwarts Express rumbling in on the elevated tracks overhead on a regular basis.
It was absolutely packed when we were there. I would love to go back and shoot Diagon Alley at night and on an off-day with fewer muggles — although I do like that it looks like they're apparating everywhere in this photo.
This photograph was captured with a Sony NEX-7 and edited in Adobe Lightroom.
You can purchase a print of this photograph at Smugmug
You have no doubt seen many photos of the beautiful Sacré-Coeur Basilica that sits atop Montmartre. I have even posted one in the past.
What surprises me is how nobody ever turns the camera around when they get to the top of the "mountain." There's a quaint little town at the top and sweeping views of Paris below.
This particular photograph is both ruined and more interesting because some city planner decided it would be a good idea to direct people in search of a lavatory to either the Eiffel Tower or the street at the bottom of the large hill. I imagine quite a few people ignore the sign and use the bushes all while enjoying the tremendous view. It's just that kind of neighborhood, even if it is anchored by a beautiful basilica.
This photograph was captured with a Nikon D90.