May the 4th

Galaxy’s Edge at Hollywood Studios is one of those places that make you nearly speechless. At least I was speechless the first time I saw Batuu. Though this is a photo of Galaxy’s Edge at Walt Disney World, my first experience with this incredibly themed locale was at Disneyland. Actually, Galaxy’s Edge at Walt Disney World is nearly identical to its slightly older sibling at Disneyland — at least with regard to content. (Though I actually like the layout at Disneyland better — but I digress.)

What is incredible about Batuu, and Galaxy’s Edge in general, is the feeling that you are actually whisked away to a galaxy far, far away. The Imagineers truly understood the assignment and brought a sense of other-worldliness to this experience. The land is somehow familiar, yet completely foreign. Though I wouldn’t actually know the feeling myself, I would assume someone that wasn’t familiar with the Star Wars platform would still get a similar feeling walking the streets of Black Spire Outpost. All I know for sure is, for someone who all but grew up on Star Wars, this place delivers in a way that I am still shocked by when I visit either park. If you are a Star Wars fan, consider it a bucket list item. If you aren’t, well…I don’t understand you and can’t give you any advice.

As fro editing this shot, I cropped out the crowds gathered, well, everywhere. This makes the shot feel a bit high, but I preferred cropping to blurring them out. I had to adjust the exposure, as the original was a bit dark, and that allowed for some more detail to be brought out with some contrast and a boost to the black color. A little touch of highlights and a boost of color saturations and…boom — you get a Star Wars May the 4th fan post.

May the 4th be with you!

(P.S. Does anyone else instinctively always want to follow that up with “and also with you”? Episcopal school…amirite?)