Germanialand This is the German area of Epcot at DisneyWorld. I know it’s always a bit disappointing when I say this, isn’t it? I wish it was all real too… but, it is close-enough to real, so that’s not so bad. It’s like getting a pretty good milkshake or an above-average massage. No one complains about these things. And I didn’t complain while here either… the architecture and feel was pretty cool… the food was good… no bitter-looking German tourists… a pretty good combo! :)- Trey RatcliffClick here to read the rest of this post at the Stuck in Customs blog.
Where the Princess Dwells at Night…
I called for a little PhotoWalk at Disney! It was really really really fun - and getting this shot was tough! I think +William Beem +Gilmar Smith +Keith Barrett or perhaps +Ali Elhajj got a video of me trying to convince half a dozen Disney workers to "sweep water" in front of my camera, which was splayed on the ground. At first, one guy didn't want to do it because he might get in trouble... then the other acquiesced... and then, before they knew it, they were all being controlled like crystal farmers in Starcraft... we eventually got all the water in the right place!I had to go over and whip out my sweet Android phone to show them some photos from Google+ -- I found the one from Paris with the puddle - I said I needed a puddle about thiiiiis big … and eventually we got it all engineered out. They were all very helpful and nice… I convinced them all to come onto Google+ to see the final result -- so I hope they are here! Hi guys - Y muchas gracias!- Trey RatcliffRead the rest at the Stuck in Customs blog.
Sometimes, I’d rather be in Disney World Actually, maybe I should change that title to: "I think I'd like to always be in Disney World!" They shoot off fireworks every night in the Magic Kingdom, and I feel bad if I miss it.  I'm sure that's a strange thing to feel bad about...  To get everything in, I have to plan the days and nights like a neo-Clark Griswald to ensure the perfect storm of technology meets up with whatever spectacular events are happening that day.  For this shot, I had got reservations three months in advance at the California Grill restaurant, which has a nice majestic view of the show, as the restaurant empties out onto the roof of the Contemporary Resort.  There is not much of a viewing area up there, and there were a bunch of people around me while I tried to get my tripod in place.  I could deal with the crowds and fleshy shouldering, but the one thing that always annoys me is people beside me with little cameras that use their flashes to take photos of something a mile away.  Sometimes they see I have a big camera, and they turn to ask for advice.  They ask, "Do you think my flash helps?"  I am really a totally nice and approachable guy, but since this is one of the very few things that annoy me, I usually just give them a shameful negative nod of the head.This doesn't have anything to do with the shot, but I had some great sushi in that restaurant.  It was made by a Japanese female sushi chef, and she is one of only three "official" sushi chefs in the world (or so the matri'd told me).  The Japanese do not let women be sushi chefs normally, as their hands are too "weak".- Trey RatcliffClick here to read the rest of this post at the Stuck in Customs blog.
The RAW Fireworks (and yes, that is a handheld single shot) So, I have in my hot little hands an Advance Copy of Photomatix Pro 4.0 (BTW, the STUCKINCUSTOMS Coupon Code will still save you the most money).  Wow this thing is cool!  I'm in the middle of a full review/preview.  This isn't really it... just a preview of a preview.  I know... how lame of me, but I am so excited that I want to leak out a few details.Today's fireworks photo below from Disney World a few nights ago was just processed with Photomatix 4.  This is from a single RAW photo.  This was a handheld shot as I was walking along a pathway near the Crystal Palace.  Amazing, eh?- Trey RatcliffClick here to read the rest of this post at the Stuck in Customs blog.
The Magic of Disney If you want to see how I made this (and how you can too!), visit my HDR Tutorial. I hope it gives you some new tricks!This was taken this evening at MGM Studios in Disney World before we went to go see the big fireworks show. The only problem with making your family and 6-year-old son (he is now 8) stand around while you set up your tripod and take a bunch of shots is that it gives them ample opportunity to see little toys they cannot live without.I took so long to nail this shot that we ended up buying two things that lit up in garish colors and made a lot of racket.This is a 5 exposure HDR shot at 100 ISO. Whenever there is anything like streaming lights, sun rays, search lights, and the like, the HDR process always makes them pop a bit.- Trey RatcliffClick here to read the rest of this post at the Stuck in Customs blog.

The RAW Fireworks (and yes, that is a handheld single shot)


So, I have in my hot little hands an Advance Copy of Photomatix Pro 4.0 (BTW, the STUCKINCUSTOMS Coupon Code will still save you the most money). Wow this thing is cool! I'm in the middle of a full review/preview. This isn't really it... just a preview of a preview. I know... how lame of me, but I am so excited that I want to leak out a few details.

Today's fireworks photo below from Disney World a few nights ago was just processed with Photomatix 4. This is from a single RAW photo. This was a handheld shot as I was walking along a pathway near the Crystal Palace. Amazing, eh?

- Trey Ratcliff

Click here to read the rest of this post at the Stuck in Customs blog.
Photomatix Pro 4.0 (BTW, the STUCKINCUSTOMS Coupon Code will still save you the most money). Wow this thing is cool! I'm in the middle of a full review/preview. This isn't really it... just a preview of a preview. I know... how lame of me, but I am so excited that I want to leak out a few details.

Today's fireworks photo below from Disney World a few nights ago was just processed with Photomatix 4. This is from a single RAW photo. This was a handheld shot as I was walking along a pathway near the Crystal Palace. Amazing, eh?

- Trey Ratcliff

Click here to read the rest of this post at the Stuck in Customs blog." href="javascript:openLB(889283814,'',XLarge,'',568,768);">The RAW Fireworks (and yes, that is a handheld single shot) So, I have in my hot little hands an Advance Copy of Photomatix Pro 4.0 (BTW, the STUCKINCUSTOMS Coupon Code will still save you the most money).  Wow this thing is cool!  I'm in the middle of a full review/preview.  This isn't really it... just a preview of a preview.  I know... how lame of me, but I am so excited that I want to leak out a few details.Today's fireworks photo below from Disney World a few nights ago was just processed with Photomatix 4.  This is from a single RAW photo.  This was a handheld shot as I was walking along a pathway near the Crystal Palace.  Amazing, eh?- Trey RatcliffClick here to read the rest of this post at the Stuck in Customs blog.

The RAW Fireworks (and yes, that is a handheld single shot)


So, I have in my hot little hands an Advance Copy of Photomatix Pro 4.0 (BTW, the STUCKINCUSTOMS Coupon Code will still save you the most money). Wow this thing is cool! I'm in the middle of a full review/preview. This isn't really it... just a preview of a preview. I know... how lame of me, but I am so excited that I want to leak out a few details.

Today's fireworks photo below from Disney World a few nights ago was just processed with Photomatix 4. This is from a single RAW photo. This was a handheld shot as I was walking along a pathway near the Crystal Palace. Amazing, eh?

- Trey Ratcliff

Click here to read the rest of this post at the Stuck in Customs blog.
See photo in original gallery.