In this week’s mailbag, MousePlanet photographer Frank Anzalone responds to letters about his recent Disney desktops column, as well as another look at the Disney Swim with the Stars event from 2004.
Julie H. writes:
I just returned from a three-week vacation in Walt Disney World, staying at the Grand Floridian, and was feeling completely down. When I opened my computer and saw your photos they really cheered me up. They are so good, unlike our own which all seem to have been taken in the rain! Thanks again for sharing them with everybody.
We were in Walt Disney World at the end of June this year. That is a “rain every day” time of year too! I just tried to take those images ‘between the raindrops’ and storms! It was a challenge, but I enjoyed the quest too! Thank you so much for the kind words. I am touched that my pictures brought a smile to your face.
Jennifer writes:
Your desktop photos are really outstanding, and it’s so generous of you to share them with us. They broke my heart just a little bit.
It is my pleasure to share the pictures. I really enjoy wandering the parks looking for those ‘postcard’ shots. So take a moment to look at them, remember the magic that Disney works so hard on for us to experience and enjoy, and mend that heart! I have more pictures!
Tina D. writes:
Those desktop photos are wonderful! The most difficult part was choosing one. I’ll have to change it every day. Thank you!
Who says you have to choose? Variety is the spice of life! Enjoy them all—and, I’ll make things even more confusing for you—take a look at some of the desktop images from past MP articles. I currently have 173 desktop images on my computer; I have been collecting some special Disney images for a while. They change every minute, so I get a nice slideshow and reminders of my vacations!
Gary Mc. writes:
I’m always amazed at the pictures you get. You always seem to find the perfect angle that I would never think of taking a picture from. Do you get early access to take some of these pictures? There always seems to be someone walking by whenever I wanted to get that perfect picture. As always, thanks for posting these wonderful shots and for giving me a temporary sanity-break from my job.
Thanks for continuing to check out my pictures! That makes me smile today — a good sanity-break in my job!
I took all these Walt Disney World desktop images while on vacation with my family. As we wander the parks, I just keep my camera in hand. There is no special access for any given shot; it’s just a matter of waiting for the ‘moment in time less traveled.’
For example, look at the image of the huge guitar at Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster
If you saw the picture of Minnie at the entrance of Disneyland in the last desktop article, there was a long line of children waiting for their turn with Minnie. Talk about busy! It was 8:30 a.m. at the entrance to Disneyland. I just stood to the side, watching the flow and waiting. I found my angle to get that Disneyland sign in the background, watched Minnie’s head to get her looking the right way, and then pushed the button when I saw the shot. Sometimes you can just imagine the shot, and then you just need the patience to wait for it to happen! Regarding “the perfect angle,” my other clients (I am a marketing photographer) tell me that I have ‘good angles’ on my shots; angles they typically do not see or expect to see. My honest answer to that is: “I attribute that to my shooting at Disneyland for years and years.” I have taken pictures at Disneyland since, well, let’s just say, “When film was mostly black and white.” After the Nth trip, I started thinking, how many pictures can you really take of the castle? If you take a typical castle picture from straight on they all look the same after a while. So I decided to start looking at the castle from different angles, different sides, and different times of day. So really—that’s my secret! Every once in a while, venture off the beaten path. Take a moment to look at that same subject from a different view. Peggy writes: I don’t recognize the desktop photo that comes after the picture of Splash Mountain and it isn’t labeled. What is it a picture of? That picture is of the wave pool and Miss Tilly shrimp boat atop the volcanic mountain at Typhoon Lagoon. One night during our stay, Typhoon Lagoon had a late-night swim session for guests that were staying on property. My daughter and my wife talked me into going with them after a full day at the parks, but I took my camera to take pictures as they swam. I thought it was a pretty unique time, and I wanted to capture what I could! Annie L. writes: My son Paul was the little 5-year-old boy that Michael Phelps helped across the Disneyland pool on Oct. 7, 2004. Paul would like to get in touch with Michael and send him some pictures but we don’t know how to contact him. Can you help us? I have contacted the general publicity office at Disneyland and sent an email but have not heard back. I’m hoping since you took the pictures of this event you can help us or at least guide us in the right direction. What a thrill for your son to swim that day! It was a cute moment when the Olympians assisted him too. Priceless! Here are a few of my pictures from that event. I do not have contact information for Michael; my suggestion would be to go to his web site and try there. Tony R. writes: Usually I’m writing to compliment you on your fantastic photography talent. However, reading this article this morning, I was truly moved. Michael Phelps seems to be a genuine guy as well as a great athlete. I wasn’t too much into the 2004 Games, but this year, you couldn’t read a news site without finding something about Phelps and his accomplishments. What really touched me were your photos of him sitting down with that 5-year-old boy, talking to him, and putting that medal on him. The way Phelps and his teammates handled themselves with those youngsters says volumes about their character, even more so than their athletic achievements. I am much more impressed seeing what Phelps did for these aspiring swimmers than I could ever be watching him compete, no matter how many medals he wins. Thank you so very much for writing this article and providing those photos to tell the story. No matter what happens, it’s going to be a good day today. I am so glad you got that feeling through those images! You can imagine how I felt being there. It was a tender, real moment. The funny thing about that picture is—the action was not there on that part of the stage at that time; it was on one of the other athletes. I was there though (I watch all the time), and I sat right down on the ground with them to get that angle. Michael was awesome with that child. In the middle of Main Street with thousands of people all around, it was a one-on-one moment for that boy. It was very cool, and I am thrilled that I was there to capture the moment—and so was his mom!
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