Pretty Lady

I love me a fairytale castle. Really, the small child in me just can’t get enough. Cinderella’s castle at Magic Kingdom is always a good subject for a photo and, while I don’t love all the swags and ribbons added as part of the 50th Anniversary celebration, I can look past them.

I think this shot is cool because of the perfectly blue sky — no clouds, no birds, no distractions. It is like the sky really got the memo from the roofing color and showed up just to see who pulled it off better. (I think the sky may have won this one.) It is also nice because the shrub in the foreground, manicured and proper just as the castle, allows for a sense of perspective and add an organic element. Part of me wishes I would have shot the angle a little lower, to allow the castle to appear more grand (grander?), but not a shot-killer by any means. I also liked the way the green of the shrub contrasts the pink of the castle, even if it is taking up a little too much space.

When editing, the original shot was generally bright overall, with the sun at my back. So I adjusted the contrast and shadows to add some definition. I also de-hazed a bit for the same purpose. With the sun behind me, I didn’t feel the need to saturate the color palette much (for once). Finally, I darkened the edges just slightly, to make sure the eye wanted to pull to the center (and the subject) rather than get too distracted by the shrub or the spire. Really, though — who wouldn’t want to look at Cindy’s castle?!