Tonight we've got something a little different to present, but before we get into that, let's have a quick update, shall we? It's been far too long!

We've been MIA the past week because of an important trip to NorCal that we mentioned over on our Facebook page. We hope to share the purpose for the trip soon (it went really, really well) but for now we must leave you in suspense. With all of the pictures from our journey, folks on our Instagram profile were asking if we're taking a break from Disney; the answer is certainly not. We are, however, planning on incorporating non-Disney photos and content to our site and social media outlets. There's a lot in this world to learn from and be inspired by. We hope you'll enjoy the varied content as we post it unlike the fifty some odd people who abandoned ship on Instagram. If you should feel so inclined, we've got a great deal to offer on life preservers, so make sure to stop by our online store before you go... Silliness aside, you can't please everybody, right?

The new website is almost ready and, fortunately for us, our image host, Smugmug, completely reworked their system. Everything will be bright and shiny and new! We can't wait to share. In addition to that, we're finally going to start putting out some new content. We've got some great creative ideas for film and time lapse projects and we're brainstorming the long awaited and highly sought after tutorial. It sounds so good when you put it like that, doesn't it? Well we promise it's not just hype. So buckle up and batten down your socks!

House of Restless Spirits

Now, for tonight's "different" post! Last October we were contacted by Rob Ostir, a brilliant special effects artist, to come out and shoot a couple of SoCal haunts. (These great folks will be at the first ScareLA convention this weekend. So if you were put off by the cost of D23, check their booths and presentations out at ScareLA and tell them we sent you!) Admittedly, we were a little hesitant at first, not being big into Halloween. The promise was that these haunts were Disney inspired and Disney caliber. We were not let down. We met Rob in Santa Monica just after sundown to visit Eric Maurin's "House of Restless Spirits". After a few brief introductions we were given a VIP tour around the house and behind the scenes. This haunt specializes in subtlety and the attention to detail is incredible. Below are a few scenes we captured. They are very dark to preserve the integrity of the setting and best viewed large by clicking -

House at Haunted Hill

After finishing up at the eerie and subtle "House of Restless Spirits" we followed Rob up to Woodland Hills to visit Matt & Lori Ford's spectacular "House at Haunted Hill". Again, we received the VIP treatment from gracious hosts. We got a private viewing of the show and got to see the control center for the complex lighting setup. Below are a few of the scenes we captured -









(Your eyes don't deceive you. That's Neil Patrick Harris in that last shot.)

We were blown away by both haunts and by the talent and graciousness of Rob, Eric, Matt & Lori. A big thank you to them for letting us come have a field day shooting their brilliant work! We'll share some more scenes a little closer to Halloween. In the meantime, check them out this weekend at ScareLA and visit their websites -
Haunt1000 / Spectral Illusions - Rob Ostir
House of Restless Spirits - Eric Maurin
House at Haunted Hill - Matt & Lori Ford

Daily Photo Tour - A Haunting Halloween Harmony

Matt and I attended Mickey's Halloween Party for the first time this year. Although we felt its worth to be questionable at the time, our experience proved otherwise. The lighting alone was enough to put a smile on our faces as it opened up a whole new world just waiting to be captured. You know it's a good night when you see something and already have a vision for the completed image; this was no exception. We were on our way to the Golden Horseshoe when we heard this beautifully eerie harmony that stopped us in our tracks; the Cadaver Dans. They slowly floated by, shrouded in fog, materializing just long enough to serenade a few lost souls before drifting off into the dark night.

Daily Photo Tour - Mickey's Halloween Time

Halloween time is not Halloween time without a good Mickey pumpkin. This one glowingly greets you as you enter the Happiest Place on Earth for a not so scary time. That's not to say that tricks don't accompany the myriad treats within Disneyland Park. So as they say, "Look alive!"

Daily Photo Tour - The Harvest Hayride

What could be more fun than a wagon of pumpkins? A wagon of pumpkins at the happiest place on earth! It always amazes me the effort that goes forth into transforming sections of the Park for a short season like Halloween time. The attention to detail definitely has more than these Jack-O-Lanterns smiling.

Daily Photo Tour - When Dopey Chuckles

It's Halloween Time again at Disneyland and that means the pumpkins are out in force. I'm always impressed by what they come up with each year at Big Thunder Ranch. Pumpkin carving is an art form in itself and the creative ingenuity employed in forming the myriad Disney/Pixar characters is inspiring. I especially like these two of Dopey and Chuckles; they make a good pair.

Daily Photo Tour - Halloween at the Hub

Happy Halloween! Where better to celebrate than at the hub of Disneyland with Walt and Mickey? There the legendary partners stand, lit by the glow of jack-o-lanterns themed to the lands of the Park. There are sweets of all kinds to be had from candy and churros to cupcakes and ice cream. Can't you just taste them? At Disneyland you can be sure that there will always be more treats than tricks and the tricks you do find are just some good ol' Disney magic. Wherever you find yourself this evening, remember that dreams really can come true and there really is such a thing as too much candy.

Daily Photo Tour - Halloween Hoe-Down

Halloween can sometimes be thought of as a diabolical holiday filled with evil spirits and gruesome characters, but not at Disneyland. During Halloween Time, there is a sense of wacky spirit and goulish fun throughout the park. It's surprising to see such a holiday turned into a great time for families and young children. There are only few days left to experience the wonder of Halloween Time at Disneyland.

Singin' Scare-Dy-Crow

The Sleepy Hollow

A Haunted Entrance

Daily Photo Tour - Pinocchio Pumpkin

With all the pumpkin carvings taking place at Big Thunder Ranch, it's no surprise to find Pinocchio amongst them. The pumpkins seem to improve with every year, capturing even more personality from each character. Take for example this Pinocchio pumpkin, he's been lying and he knows he's been caught. If he's not careful, he may remain a pumpkin forever.

Daily Photo Tour - The Great Mickey Mouse-O-Lantern

You don't have to wait all night in a pumpkin patch to see a great pumpkin. All you have to do is take a trip to Disneyland to bask in the glow of a giant pumpkin fashioned after everyone's favorite mouse. Mickey's smile flickers along with the happy Halloween Time spirit at Disneyland that frequently finds music in the air of a quartet singing songs about happy haunts and ghosts who grin. If you're not able to make it to the Park before the great Mickey Mouse-O-Lantern comes down, staring at this picture for a while might help. Sharing it with all of your family, friends and acquaintances will certainly help. Bookmarking this sight, clicking "Like" on our Facebook page and following us on Twitter will help even more. To top that off you can simulate the flickering of the lantern by adjusting your monitor's brightness up and down quickly and unevenly.

Daily Photo Tour - Happy Halloween Time

Halloween is fast approaching, and I find it funny that all I can think about is Christmas. There is this sense that as soon as Halloween is over, it is all down hill. The end of the year is closer then we think, and I know in just a little bit of time, we'll be looking back on the year thinking where it all went. But for now, It's Halloween Time!

Daily Photo Tour - Halloween Serenade

There is no shortage of pumpkins at Big Thunder Ranch and the Halloween decor seems to overtake the entire area, not that I'm complaining. The vintage Halloween decor adds a charm to the season that I think you'd be hard pressed to find elsewhere. We discovered this damsel one afternoon as we were exploring the area and were pleasantly surprised to find a couple of pumpkin cowboys playing cards just across from her.

Daily Photo Tour - The Main Street Pumpkin Patch

One of the great wonders of Autumn and the harvest season that comes with it is the pumpkin patch. Disney isn't ignorant of this, so naturally they slapped one right on Main Street. The only difference is not many roadside pumpkin patches can compete with the giant Mickey Mouse-o-lantern sitting atop this gathering of gourds. As much as we love to get pictures of these spots empty, it's also nice to show the crowds that come and to have their picture taken in front of this Disneyland Halloween Time staple.

Daily Photo Tour - Haunted Holiday Decorations

When the decorations go up around Haunted Mansion, it seems to get ten times more crowded in New Orleans Square. But, I don't mind it. It wouldn't be the usual holiday season if hoards of people weren't waiting in the queue inches away from each other complaining and whining. Oh wait, that's not complaining and whining, that must be their anticipation to ride Haunted Mansion Holiday! Either way, holiday attitudes and all, the decorations are awesome, and couldn't be anymore detailed. The Imagineer's at Disney always add just the right amount of decorations to give the Mansion an authentic Halloween touch!

Daily Photo Tour - Happiest Halloween on Earth

Even if you're not the biggest fan of Halloween, you can't help but feel some excitement for the season when you come upon these gargantuan gourds and a masked Mickey. The fab five smile down on you as you enter through the gates to the happiest Halloween on Earth and they are just a prelude to the many smiling pumpkins awaiting your arrival. Disneyland has everything your heart could desire for the Halloween season, from pumpkin muffins and popcorn in a casket to Ghost Galaxy and Haunted Mansion Holiday. There's something for everyone and plenty to keep you busy celebrating the whole month through. It's enough to make even the most stubborn Halloween critic have a good time.

Daily Photo Tour - Halloween Chuckles

Carving gourds with all manner of pointy tools is not the first thing that jumps to my mind when I think of art, but it truly is. Back in the Big Thunder Ranch the Halloween festivities have been in full swing with artists carving classic Disney characters, both old and new, out of pumpkins and gourds of all shapes and sizes. The likenesses are inspiring. I especially liked "Chuckles" from Toy Story 3.

Daily Photo Tour - 'Tis the Halloween Season

'Tis the Halloween season at the Disneyland Resort. Even the creepiest of shops like Port Royal Curios and Curiosities in New Orleans Square have done themselves up in a bone-chilling fashion. Though I'm sure the bones are warming up in the spiraling embrace of those holiday lights. I love how Disney will incorporate their holiday experiences into every nook and cranny of the Park so that it will carry on in their standard of an immersive experience.

Daily Photo Tour - Hazy Halloween Time

I love those moments when you see something new or something familiar in a new way. Finding the Hollywood Tower Hotel through the trees on Main Street was one of those moments and the Halloween Time decor the icing on the cake. When you think of Disneyland and Main Street, the Tower of Terror is definitely not the next logical step. For me that's what makes it. This idea isn't typical and challenges us to see something differently and allows me to share one of my "aha!" moments with you.

Daily Photo Tour - Halloween on the Frontier

The Big Thunder Ranch in Frontierland is full of amazing, vintage Halloween decorations. It's hard to describe the feeling, but walking into the Ranch is like stepping into another time, a simpler time. I love the all the whimsy in the old decor. There's so much innocence to it and a spirit of fun. And if I do say so myself, that is one happy cat.

Daily Photo Tour - Halloween Time Expressions

If you take a moment to glance up at the shop signs along Main Street, you will be greeted by many smiling faces. Okay, so maybe some are snarling rather than smiling, but they will make you smile nonetheless. There's so much character to these pumpkins. They each have their own unique expression, which is quite impressive. I couldn't help but smile as I worked on this picture. There's just so much life to these faces. If you find a moment to spare for these silly little gourds, be sure to watch for the ones in the windows, they can be easy to miss!

Daily Photo Tour - Halloween Time Glow on Main Street

The reds, oranges and yellows of the Halloween Time decorations at Disneyland fit right in on Main Street. At night they glow vibrantly beneath the many lights and lamps adorning everyone's home town. The giant Mickey pumpkin is definitely the grandest of the decorations and it's painfully obvious when trying to wait for the crowds to thin out to get a picture. From Park open to close couples and children, families and friends wait to have their pictures taken in front of either side of the gargantuan gourd. But if you wait long enough, you can capture quiet moments like this as security makes their final sweep down Main Street to bid you a good night.