Daily Photo Tour - Inventing the Future

The interesting thing about this building is that many forget what it stands for. Even within seconds of stepping onto the never ending carousel the idea of the future is forgotten, and it seems that all guests want to do is be entertained. Well, they're in the right place, but there's more to Disneyland than just being entertained.

Innoventions is a place where imagination can directly be cultivated into invention. It's a place where the dreams of the future can be fashioned right before your eyes. I'm not talking about fancy gadgets or video games that seem to flourish in this place, but rather the seeds of ingenuity that inspire. The creation of one thing will always enact another to create something more resourceful, efficient, or just plain better. The concept of Innoventions has the capability to do this.

I've always felt that Disneyland has been a huge source of ideas, creation, and ingenuity. I've also felt that Tomorrowland should be the heart and soul of our future, and in a small way continually ask the difficult question, "What's next?"

An Inspiring TED Talk - Adora Svitak: What adults can learn from kids

One place that I've found that answers the question of, "What's next" is TED. I've been watching a few TED talks the past couple days, and felt that this picture and this talk seemed to line up quite nicely. This girl has got a bright future ahead of her. It's refreshing to hear such a young person speak such inspiring words.

Adora Svitak: What adults can learn from kids

Daily Photo Tour - We Are Go For Launch

The Space Mountain queue is something that I've been wanting to photograph for a long time. I love it in there. It's a challenge but what's life without a few hurdles to jump, mountains to climb or obscure theme park pictures to take?

Daily Photo Tour - Waiting for a Ride

Growing up, there was this commercial that used to play what seemed like every commercial break. It was for a car insurance company called Survival. If that name hasn't instantly jogged your memory, allow me to clarify. This commercial and its numerous iterations would feature a guy walking along a road, jacket held over his shoulder by a finger or two. That makes you cool, or so I was led to believe by these commercials. The commercial would cut between Mr. Cool and, usually, a woman with bright lipstick driving a sporty car. When she saw how cool this guy along the road was, she would pull over and offer him a ride. Who wouldn't? At this point he would lean onto the door and ask two questions - "Are you insured?"...(yes)..."By Survival?"...(no). To which he would respond, "I can't take that ride." I haven't seen that guy in years. I assume that after turning down so many rides he probably died along the side of the road from dehydration or starvation or something. Seeing people wait in line for Autopia always seems to make me think of seeing those commercials growing up.

Daily Photo Tour - Headed for Tomorrow

While shooting at Disneyland, I always try to find unusual angles to take pictures. They're usually the ones where you wind up crouching over or, in my case, halfway in some sort of bush or fence. For some reason they end up being the ones I find most interesting, which is very convenient because there is little I love more than wrestling bushes. Unfortunately, this has resulted in creating some sort of a name for myself with Matthew and Kevin who usually find me hovering over bushes creepin' on something. I can't seem to do it without some comment being made, which I don't understand. There is absolutely nothing wrong with someone hiding in a bush with a camera.

Daily Photo Tour - Preparing to Depart on the Monorail

What better way to start the week than a trip aboard the Monorail? Better get on quick; she's almost ready to depart.

Daily Photo Tour - Leaving Station 77

Station 77, otherwise known as Space Mountain, is a fantastic place to transport yourself, leaving the baggage that often accompanies everyday life lightyears behind you. Call me crazy, but one of my favorite things about this E-ticket attraction is its exit.

Daily Photo Tour - The Star Trader

The nighttime neon glow of Tomorrowland is gorgeous. Vibrant colors that almost seem alive emanate from nearly every structure. The Star Trader is my favorite, with Mickey performing aerospace acrobatics one flip at a time until the whole series of movement is lit. It's a kick to watch but be careful not to let it suck you in or tomorrow will be here before you know it.

Daily Photo Tour - The Path to Tomorrow

For some the pathway to tomorrow may appear well lit. A warm glow glistening across a smooth path beckoning to take you somewhere with just one step. More often than not, it's a dirt road, barely lit by moonlight; a treacherous path that would tire even the most dedicated. I don't know why some paths are harder than others, why some seamlessly take you into tomorrow with just one step while others take a thousand. But I do know one thing, the most rewarding path is the one you manage to survive, beyond your own expectations. It's the story worth telling.

Daily Photo Tour - Making Progress Toward Tomorrow

Whenever I think of Tomorrowland, it brings forth inspiration, ingenuity, and ideas of building a better tomorrow. Have you ever thought of exactly what we are doing as a society? I'm not talking about going green, recycling bottles, or stopping polar ice caps from melting. I mean, those are all great. But, what happened to the idea of "dreaming and working and building a better way of life?" What are we doing as a society to make our lives better? Yeah, blame it on the economy. Blame it on Uncle Sam. Blame it on the alcohol (see what I did there), but when it comes down to it, it's how hard we work, and what we do with our money, time, and talents. I'm just saying, when was the last time we had a huge breakthrough in anything? I hear people complain all the time about Tomorrowland and how it needs to be updated and brought current so that it actually is a land of what tomorrow could hold. The sad reality is, I don't think we really know where we are going as a society, and I think we are unsure of what tomorrow holds. One thing is for certain though, it's only a matter of time until someone gets fed up and makes this thing called life move a little bit forward.

"Progress is people getting release from drudgery, gaining more time to enjoy themselves and live richer lives. As long as man dreams and works and builds, this progress will go on in your life and mine." -The Carousel of Progress ride soundtrack

Daily Photo Tour - Reach for the Sky

When you're a kid, anything is possible. You believe with your whole heart that the dreams you hold inside can actually come true. You believe that wishing on a star isn't just a gimmick in a Disney movie. You wonder about the outcome, but believe for a moment that the mountain to climb really isn't that daunting. Unfortunately, at some point all those wishes become falling stars in the sky, and they never come to fruition. But that's just part of growing up right? You can't hold on to everything forever, and we sure don't live in Neverland.

What is it that gets in the way of our dreams, our hopes, and our passions? What's holding you back? Is it work, school, family, time? Nope. It's none of these. Once upon a time you peered over the edge, and with the innocence and imagination like a child, you looked up into the sky and knew that you, and only you could make your dreams possible. Walt was right when he said, “All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.” The only thing knocking those stars out of the sky is you!

So what is it that's stopping you? Is it guilt, confidence, fear, weakness? Is it the thought of failure? Let me tell you something, the dream you have, or the passion inside of you, it isn't there by chance. It's there for a reason. But it takes making your dream come true to find out why. It literally is the best journey you could take in your entire life. So like a child, look out into the depth of the sky and believe in that idea, that passion, that thing that makes you feel alive, and make it come true.

Daily Photo Tour - The Fleet

The night time views in Disneyland never cease to amaze me. This lagoon and the placement of the Matterhorn is just one of those unique scenes in the park. While the three of us where meandering one night, we worked our way up the monorail platform and found this spectacular view. It's no question that transportation has been a long constant theme here in Tomorrowland. The fleet of submarines is hard to miss amongst the amazing backdrop of the Matterhorn, lagoon, and passing monorail.

Daily Photo Tour - Ghosts in Space

Disneyland doesn't seem to advertise much for Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy. Maybe they just know that once you're in the Park and night falls, you're going to find out about it one way or another. Chances are that way will be by seeing and hearing the stunning effects that take place on the iconic out of this world mountain. One thing is for certain - there are definitely ghosts in space.

Daily Photo Tour - Pizza Port

This delectable little establishment is a great way to beat the heat while in Tomorrowland. The golden glow off of the Moonliner caught my attention one afternoon. Tomorrowland is always a great place to be during golden hour. The sun seems to gleam and shine off of pretty much anything.

Daily Photo Tour - Space Mountain: A Rite of Passage

I can't imagine Disneyland without Space Mountain. It's always been that one ride that dominates the skyline. At night it becomes even more of a spectacle with its futuristic glow. I've always noticed that this ride seems to be some sort of rite of passage for many. It probably could take the title as most intimidating ride at Disneyland. Riding pitch black through space in a rocket ship is quite a feat, I can't think of any reasons why Space Mountain isn't so intimidating.

I have several memories of trips to Disneyland, and friends chickening out to ride. I do remember a specific trip that almost my whole family went on. The day was pretty much a marathon of rides, with the exception of Space Mountain. By sun down, the group had split up, and I headed through the park with my two uncles, and my cousin. It wasn't until the very end of the night they decided to take my cousin and I on Space Mountain. Now this definitely wasn't my first ride on Space Mountain, but it was for my cousin. He tried every single excuse in the book, but this time it was just us guys, and one mountain to conquer. We eventually talked him into it, and when he got off, he couldn't be happier. Watching him go through the process of pure fear, to complete joy and excitement was definitely inspiring. And pretty darn hilarious.

Daily Photo Tour - Stormy Tomorrowland Skies

On this rainy day, the clouds seemed to surround Disneyland in a spewing circle of chaos! For once, the storm was right overhead. Shooting pictures in the park when it's stormy is probably one of the most amazing experiences. The crowds are light and the skies are amazing. I love clouds, and always try and figure out a way to incorporate them in a picture. This time, the setting sun illuminated a gorgeous peach hue over Tomorrowland. I couldn't resist.

Daily Photo Tour - Tracking Tomorrow

The Autopia track is one of the neat things that lights up Tomorrowland with its trademark glow. It curves up, down and all around, winding through trees and over the lagoon. Because it was twilight, I had to let my camera shutter stay open longer to better expose this scene. It led to none of the cars showing up in my exposures. Instead, I got neat reflections off of them and wobbly blurs along the track that you can see if you look closely.

Daily Photo Tour - Tomorrowland Lights

Glowing faithfully at the end of every day are the lights of Tomorrowland. Storms don't stop them. It would seem, in fact, that they shine all the more brilliantly amidst tempestuous times, a characteristic not uncommon to progress. Tough times tend to push things forward. As the saying goes, "Necessity is the mother of invention."

Daily Photo Tour - A Golden Future

I've learned over the past two years that becoming, and staying inspired actually takes work. I've also learned that any goal I have is only going to come to fruition if I stay inspired. For some reason, its just the way my brain seems to work. So to finish anything, I have to stay inspired. And you know what inspires me? Sunsets! And random trips to the mountains to take pictures! And of course, Disneyland! For me, keeping a golden future involves staying inspired, and looking towards the things that keep me there. What inspires you?

Daily Photo Tour - Spirit of Refreshment

The Moonliner is one of my favorite things to photograph in Tomorrowland. That may be because of nostalgia or the simple fact that it demands your attention as you enter the heart of Tomorrowland. Whatever it is, I can't help but search for new angles and ways to capture it each time we are there. It's not only an incredible site to behold, it's also a reminder of the era when Walt walked the Park. He was an innovator without fear, always searching out the impossible to conquer; inspiration we should all live by.

Daily Photo Tour - Afternoon at Autopia

Autopia. It's one of those rides at Disneyland, not unlike Peter Pan, that always seems to have a line. Hot or cold. Rain or shine. People are always in the queue for their opportunity to get into a go-kart that features possibly the stiffest gas/brake pedal in existence. What makes us love this classic attraction so much? Well, it helps those of us who drive remember that driving is fun. For kids, it presents that exciting prospect of something they're not yet old enough to do. Of course, it doesn't hurt that it's in Disneyland.