Kelly Verdeck Photography

WDW Wednesday: The Awesome Responsibility

// February 22nd, 2012 // No Comments » // Family Lifestyle, Photos, Theme Parks

A child is helpless in choosing what is to be engraved on his mind during the formative years. The awesome responsibility is assumed, for better or worse, by us as adults. Today we are shapers of the world of tomorrow. That is the plain truth. There is no way we can duck the responsibility and there is no reason, except sloth and cowardice, why we should.
-Walt Disney

Photo Friday: Peek-a-Boo!

// February 17th, 2012 // No Comments » // Family Lifestyle, Photos

It’s our third time around, but it never gets old watching a baby turn into a little girl with her own unique personality. This one’s cooking up a good one, too!

Lisa, Ben, and a Chilly Day! – Magic Kingdom Engagement Session

// February 14th, 2012 // No Comments » // Engagement, Photos, Theme Parks

It was quite a chilly day (for central Florida, anyway) when I met Lisa and Ben at the Magic Kingdom. They’re in town from New Jersey to celebrate their recent engagement and Lisa’s birthday (which is today–Happy Birthday, Lisa!), and thought they’d include a photo session as part of the festivities. I am of course always happy to roam around my favorite place taking pictures! In spite of the chill, we had a lot of fun and got some good shots, I think.



















Congrats again on your engagement, and I wish you both all the best back in Jersey!

WDW Wednesday: Tiger, Relaxed.

// February 8th, 2012 // No Comments » // Photos, Theme Parks

Tigers are awesome no matter what, of course, but I love it when they just flop down and relax, looking like they own the place, like this one at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

Photo Friday: Sing Me Away

// February 3rd, 2012 // No Comments » // Concert, Photos

As a long-time music fanatic, it’s a treat for me to combine my loves of live music and photography. I don’t get to do it a whole lot, though, because I generally only make it to shows when they happen at the local theme parks or something similar (like this shot of Night Ranger’s Jack Blades in concert at EPCOT last November). Looks like I might make it to more live shows than usual this year, though! Next month I’m taking a business trip to Nashville and planning to catch a Grand Ole Opry show while I’m there, and then at the end of March I think I simply must attend the Backline Music Festival over in St. Petersburg–the headliner is Tonic, who I’ve long liked, but the clincher is that Will Hoge was just added to the lineup and he’s one of my favorite singer/songwriters. I’m hoping both of those shows will be good for photography. In June I’m seeing Roger Waters’ tour of The Wall, which was a can’t-miss since that’s long been one of my desert-island albums. I wouldn’t mind catching Huey Lewis in downtown Orlando next month either. Hopefully before long my daughters will want to come along!

WDW Wednesday: Dead Men Tell No Tales

// February 1st, 2012 // No Comments » // Photos, Theme Parks

Just a quick photo from Walt Disney World’s Pirates of the Caribbean ride. The new camera does pretty well in low light, I must say! Interesting bit about this attraction–even though it’s so iconic and feels right at home at WDW, it wasn’t in the original plans for the Magic Kingdom. Walt and Co. felt that since Florida was so close to the Caribbean (and New Orleans, the setting of the Disneyland version), there wouldn’t be much interest in a pirate-themed ride here like there was in Disneyland. But there was an uproar, so the ride was added and opened in 1973. It certainly remains one of my favorites.

Photo Friday: Betty Jane

// January 27th, 2012 // No Comments » // Photos

It’s contradictory of me that I despise the effects of war, but I love the machinery of it. I’ve always had a fascination with aircraft in particular, especially military aircraft, and especially vintage military aircraft. So I couldn’t pass up the chance to visit with a few World War II-era planes that were passing through the area this week. This shot is up close and personal with Betty Jane, a beautiful P-51C Mustang. She belongs to the Collings Foundation, who fly some of their airworthy collection to small airports around the country on their Wings of Freedom tour. They do good work, keeping these beautiful old ladies flying and bringing a bit of history to people all over.

WDW Wednesday: Building LEGOLand

// January 25th, 2012 // No Comments » // Photos, Theme Parks

I’m mixing things up a bit this week with a non-Disney theme park photo. I think I’ll do that from time to time, though I still like the ring of “WDW Wednesday” better than “Theme Park Wednesday”.

We’ve been to LEGOLand Florida a few times now since it opened. We’re definitely fans–I’d say it isn’t a park in the same league as Dieny or Universal, but for what it is, and for its target demographic, it’s a great park with lots to see and do. Heck, we STILL haven’t made it back to the old Cypress Gardens part of the place! And they continue to slowly add things, and plan to re-open some areas before long. We’re definitely looking forward to the opening of the attached water park this summer, I’m sure we’ll give that a try. Lazy River rides are the best, I imagine even more so when big foam LEGO blocks are involved!

WDW Wednesday: Practically Perfect

// January 18th, 2012 // No Comments » // Photos, Theme Parks

You know, you can say it backwards, which is “docious-ali-expi-istic-fragil-cali-rupus” – but that’s going a bit too far, don’t you think?
-Mary Poppins

Photo Friday: Friday the 13th

// January 13th, 2012 // No Comments » // Photos, Travel

Sorry, I don’t have many particularly creepy photos that fit the bill for this Friday the 13th. This is a little old roadside church that we often pass when driving up to Mount Dora. And since this is a long weekend, we’re planning a bit of a road trip that will hopefully result in some more good photo opportunities. And maybe some geocaching, a hobby I’d like to get more into this year as well!