Inside the Lobby of the Disney Dream
The main lobby of the Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Dream cruise ship is a multi-level space with ample space for guests to move around. To the left on the middle level is the photography shop, and a seating area is to the right on that same level. Straight ahead are corridors with glass-walled elevators on each side. And a grand chandelier hangs from the center of the space.
Also, you can make out some of the Mickey Mouse shapes in the metal work on the outside of the elevator shafts, and there are some characters found in the metal bands between each floor as well, which can be seen in the larger version by clicking the photo above.
Depending on the time of day, this area can be full of people. In the evenings, there was usually some live entertainment for the crowds that were waiting for their dinner seating times or photos with some characters. But this photo was taken during the day when most people were outside at the pools or just enjoying the sun. As you can see, there were a few people milling around inside, but it was really quiet compared to later on in the day.
And actually, this was how I always preferred the lobby to be. When the entertainment people would come in, to me it killed the nice atmosphere of the space. I’m not much on lounge singers anyway, but they seemed to be too loud and too out of place. They would be much more appropriate out by the pool, even at night. And on top of that, they took up some of the space, making it a little harder to get around. And the spotlights on them were pretty bright, interrupting the nice lighting of the space, too.
I guess that makes me sound like an old fogey, doesn’t it? “Turn that music down! Those lights are too bright! And what is it with all of these people!” Maybe they should have a separate “Quiet and Low-Key” cruise for those not-so-old fogeys like me. Maybe they could make some money off of that!
It is good to wait quietly for deliverance from the Lord. - Lamentations 3:26
About the Photo
This photo looks rather simple, but it is actually a bit more involved than how it might seem. To create the wide angle of this photo, three separate photos were stitched together using Photoshop to create a panoramic view. Fortunately, Photoshop handles all of the hardest parts of that work, although it did leave a few flaws where the photos overlapped. But those weren’t too much trouble to take care of.
I didn’t have a wide angle lens with me to be able to capture all of the lobby in one photo, so taking a few photos and stitching them together is the next best thing. It does take a little more work than just switching out lenses, but it is also a bit cheaper than purchasing a new lens. It does take a little planning to make sure you get everything you need, and perhaps setting your camera manually to make sure that all of the photos are exposed the same, making them easier to blend, but it can also be fun to see what all you can get.
Be sure to click on the photo to see it a bit larger, too.
Photo: Three Raw exposures, processed in Photoshop. Read more about photography tips, photo software, camera gear, and more at Steve’s Photography Tips.
Camera: Olympus OM-D E-M10
Lens: Olympus 14-42mm IIR
Date: June 4, 2015
Location: The Disney Dream, somewhere out at sea
