|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lake Eola is a small lake in Downtown Orlando. The lake is actually a sinkhole and it is famous for its fountain. The sinkhole is located north of the fountain and goes to a depth of approximately 80 feet (24 m). The fountain changes colors at night like a light show.
180° panorama at focal length of 250mm. See full spherical panorama here: http://www.360cities.net/image/orlando-lake-eola-florida |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
This was a sort of a test as I used the autofocus feature to see if I got clearer shots than with the manual focus. Alligator Lake is in rural Osceola County, Florida to the Southeast of the Orlando metro area. a pretty Saturday morning by the lake. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Harmony, Florida is a large, planned, golf community which bills itself as being eco-friendly. This scene, taken by the golf course, typifies the flavor of the growing new community which just 7 years ago was open pasture and pine hammocks. Harmony is located just to the South East of Orlanda in the rural areas of Osceola County. Numerous sculptures throughout accentuate the developments 'harmony' with nature. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
My first gigapixel panoramic taken of Lake Eola in Downtown Orlando taken with a 20D/400mm lens on a Merlin head. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SeaWorld Orlando is one of the eight world class theme parks in Central Florida. Of all the parks, this is one of my favorites for a fun relaxing day in a beautifully landscaped area with all sorts of neat sea animal exhibits and shows. It also features a couple adrenaline rides like the coaster Kraken and the Journey to Atlantis water ride. The free beer samples at the Annhauser-Busch Hospitality House doesn't hurt either. This area is part of the recently renovated Sky Tower area. The Sky Tower goes up something like 50 stories and rises out of the building that is the closest in the foreground. Later on I will try to get a picture of it, but didn't have time on this visit. Across the water you can see the Atlantis Bayside Stadium while most prominent are the shops and restauraunts which make up the 'Waterfront at SeaWorld' area. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The University of Central Florida - UCF - is a booming campus with an ever expanding student population. This shot was taken in front of the Main Library, one of the original buildings on the relatively new campus. Taken the Monday before Thanksgiving, 2008. It is composed of 649 shots from a Canon Powershot G9 12 Megapixel camera and it took my computer about 24 hours to crunch it together. This is the biggest one I have taken so far. Wish I had a faster computer sometimes :-) P.S. My lovely wife, the one with the red and white purse, is in this shot 8 times. Can you find them all? |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
This has to be one of the nicest shots I have gotten so far. In it you can see all the way around the lagoon of Universal's Islands of Adventure Theme Park in Orlando, Fl. It was taken from the highest level of 'The Olive', which is part of the Popeye raging river ride. If you look down you will see segments of the rafts going by. Too bad I couldn't get a whole tube in since they moved by before the columns were shot. Anyway, starting at the left and moving right: First is a bit of the Jurassic Park themed area. The crane in the background and the grey wall are there for the new Harry Potter area that is being built and is supposed to open later in 2010. Given the amazing work done in the rest of the park, I can't wait to see what the new area holds, it is bound to be amazing! Next is the 'Lost Continent section of the park where you can see the water side of the Mythos Restaurant. Kind of behind it you can see another crane and the beginnings of a new roller coaster. The new coaster is actually in the Universal Studios Theme Park next door. To the left of that is Seuss Landing, a whimsical tribute to the renowned childrens author. Then comes Marvel Super Hero Island where you can see the green Hulk Roller Coaster and the twin towers of Dr. Doom's Fear Fall. It took a while to get that section since I had to wait for the coaster cars and the tower rides to launch, but it turned out pretty well I think. You can even see some kid screaming as Dr. Doom extracts fear so he can defeat the Fantastic Four. Of all the parks in the Orlando area, Islands of Adventure is my favorite adreneline park. The coasters are super fun, the attractions are amazing in their clever use of technology and the design of the themed areas should win multiple awards. A great park to fill a day with! |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
This part of the park is filled with shops and food and a fun, lively design, but is also home to two of the parks best water rides, including Dudley Do-Right's Ripshaw Falls (off to the left), a log ride type attraction but with entertaining differences and a HUGE plunge at the end, and Popeye & Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barges (down the street past the Popeye statue), a tube 'raging river' type ride unlike any you have ever been on! Having been on dozens of 'raging rivers' over the years I can say that Islands of Adventures is the best out there. You go literally raging down hugely steep white water runs. Nobody gets off dry. Wear a swimsuit or bring a rain poncho. Not much more to say about this area of the park, other than it is a lot of fun to look at and is a perfect place to take lots of pictures. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
This 360 is from the Universal Studios Theme Park CityWalk area. CityWalk is home to a number of world class entertainment venues including the Hard Rock Hotel. While the area is most active at night due to all the clubs, restaurants and theaters, this was shot during the day since that was when I was there :-) It is normally a lot more crowded, but this was shot on a weekday during off-season with the economy in the dumper. My wife had fun wandering around posing in hard to find locations in a 'Where's Waldo' sort of game for her mother to try to find. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Whenever I make it to Island's of Adventure, I always have to stop and admire the effective, colorful design of this area as it transports you to a sort of Alladin-esque Arabian shopping bazaar. This area is just inside the main entry gate. Under the 'bridge' you can see across the water to the Jurassic Park themed area of the park. My wife is in this one at least four times that I counted. She is the one with the Canada cap. |