Fantasia Brooms at Disney's All-Star Movies Resort

Great Big Brooms

Giant brooms carry water buckets, recreating a scene from The Sorcerer’s Apprentice in Fantasia, as seen at Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort during the 2019 Band and Chorus Disney Trip.

This was another night scene from the All-Star Movies Resort, taken during our stay there last year. Maybe it is because I am a photographer, or maybe it is because I am also an electrical engineer, but I was really impressed with the lighting on these large brooms. They were actually much better lit than the sorcerer hat down the way. You can actually see part of the sorcerer hat at the far right of this photo, too. That lighting made these brooms much easier to photograph at night, too. Thank you, lighting designers! I tip my (sorcerer) hat to you.

Of course, you probably know that the Sorcerer’s Apprentice segment is the iconic part of Fantasia. So much so, in fact, that it was also included in Fantasia 2000, the sequel that took 60 years to make. Most everyone who has seen anything Disney at all will recognize these brooms that Mickey Mouse brought to life with some sorcerer magic. And as you know, things eventually got out of hand so that the real sorcerer had to save the day.

Personally, I was glad not to be hit with a splash from one of those big buckets, because that would be a lot of water!

Make an Effort

On the night that I was taking all of these photos, I was the only one out there with a tripod taking photos, at least that I saw. I did see a few people get out their phones and take photos. But that will not do quite as well as a tripod and a long exposure.

I’m not saying that you have to go out and get a camera and a tripod now. Instead, I am making a broader application. For so many things, there are usually at least two ways to get things done. There is a fast way, and there is a good way. Yes, sometimes faster is better, depending on what the task is. But then at other times, the good way is better.

So many times, it is worth investing a little extra time and effort to really do something right. It may take more time and resources on the front end, but it will often be worth it over the long run. That applies for work and for hobbies, too. Or for sports. You can do some quick training, or you can take some time to really learn and practice the skills necessary for your sport.

Sometimes that extra effort is as easy as reading the instruction manual. Yes, I am guilty of not doing that, too. So I am talking to myself here as well. For example, on cameras I have looked something up in the manual after using the camera for several months, and I have been surprised that there is a function that I did not even know about. If only I had looked that up before!

So take some time to do things the best way, not just the fastest way. It just might pay some dividends.

Bible Verse

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. - Colossians 3:23-24

About the Photo

As I mentioned above, the lighting was good on these brooms. However, as I also mentioned, a tripod was still necessary to get a good photo. Those are the two main ingredients of a good nighttime photo: good lighting and a tripod.

A good bit of patience also helps, too. Because it still took me a few attempts to get everything set correctly for this photo. Unfortunately, you can’t just run in, click the shutter button, and get a good nighttime photo. It takes some time.

Photo: A single Raw exposure, processed in Aurora HDR. Read more about photography tips, photo software, camera gear, and more at Steve’s Photography Tips.
Camera: Sony Alpha A7 II
Lens: Sony FE 28-70mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS Lens
Date: March 7, 2019
Location: All-Star Movies Resort, Walt Disney World, Florida