This is what you see the moment you enter Diagon Alley at Universal Orlando. The books and world of Harry Potter instantly come alive all around you. For a fan of the series, it doesn't get any better! Pictured on the right is Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, the joke shop founded by Fred and George Weasely, located at Number 93 Diagon Alley.
This photograph was captured with a Sony NEX-7.
Epcot may not have lived up to Walt Disney's original vision but it's still my favorite park. This is the China World Showcase. If I have any complaint about Epcot it's that there's still room to grow and several countries conspicuously missing. Did you know there are up to ten spaces available for other countries today? You can read more about it here.
Here's my top five wishlist:
Australia
Spain
Russia
Brasil
Kenya or Tanzania
What are your top five?
This photograph was captured with a Sony NEX-7.
I love the symmetry of the homes and Boardwalk Inn at Wild Dunes. It's a beautiful place to be from the air and the ground.
This photograph was captured with a DJI Phantom 3 Professional drone.
This is the view of Charlotte from Blue Blaze Brewing in the Historic West End.
This photograph was captured with a DJI Mavic Pro drone.
The Mona Lisa is a victim of her own success. She lives in a basketball court-sized room behind green bulletproof glass, stanchioned off a dozen feet from her admirers. Visiting her was the most anticlimactic art experience I've ever had.
And it was fascinating. The room is large and packed with people. You can see her at the far end of the room as you enter but by the time you work your way through the crowd, the magic of the artwork has vanished. All you notice are the security measures and all of the humanity pressed against one another. Interestingly, it seems that most people feel the same way. As you collectively slink out of the Mona Lisa's basketball court, you want to make something good out of your famous art pilgrimage so you carefully investigate the artwork on the other walls. This further perplexes guests as they arrive to a room full of people looking at anything but the world's most famous piece of art.
This photograph was captured with a Nikon D90.
In honor of International Women's Day, this is my strong little woman tackling her first indoor mountain. She loved it and it was great to see her determination and grit on the way up the wall. Even better was the loud "WHEEEEEEEEEEEE!" every time she descended back down before doing it all over again.
Life is full of ups and downs but if we recognize the downs simply as a tack in direction on the way to the top and enjoy them, the climb to the top will be that much more rewarding.
WHEEEEEEEEEEEE!
This photograph was submitted to National Geographic's "Strong Women" photo assignment. If you're a member and you think this shows the future of strong women, I'd appreciate an upvote!
This photograph was captured with a Sony a6300.
The Neon Piano Bar on the Carnival Ecstasy cruise ship is a peaceful place to get a pre-dinner drink as you watch the sun set over the ocean. Later at night, the piano player shows up and it gets much more lively. It is decorated with neon signs from famous bars all around the world but the centerpiece of the room is this round ceramic piano. The real piano is set back on the stage above the ceramic piano, which faces the crowd and serves as a really unique bartop for patrons who want to get close to the action.
This photograph was captured with a Sony NEX-7.
The streets of Brussels are filled with great design. From the diverse architecture to the giant cartoon murals around every corner, Brussels is a visual delight. The typography of this local drugstore really caught my eye. Drugstores are often marked with the generic "Drogueries" in Belgium and France.
Charleston's Fort Moultrie sits right on the beach, just outside of Charleston Harbor. I'm not sure what this little building, perched along the edge of the beach, was used for. It was probably a pillbox for observers or the entry to a supply tunnel. I could Google it but I prefer to think it was a brick outhouse with a million dollar view.
This photograph was captured with a Sony a6300.
This photograph was submitted to National Geographic's "Strong Women" photo assignment. If you're a member, please give it an upvote!
Four year-old Annika climbs at Inner Peaks. This was her first visit to a climbing gym and she clicked in to her harness and took off, straight for the top. Experienced climbers commented that she skipped the painstaking process of planning a path and just did it. Girl Power!
This photograph was captured with a Sony a6300.