Anaheim California, almost as synonymous to Disneyland itself. It's a place where anyone even vaguely familiar of it would associate to anything that contains the word "Disney". Disneyland Resort, Disneyland Park, Disney California Adventure and Downtown Disneyland to name a few. I think you get my point.
This past 4th of July weekend, a cousin of mine was visiting from Canada and what better way to spend the day than in the happiest place on earth: Disneyland. We went to Anaheim the night before because we came from Newport Beach and it was senseless to drive all the way to LA and back again. So we stayed in a town suite about a block from Angel Stadium, where the Anaheim Major League Baseball team plays. I was told that Downtown Disneyland was a mile away so as the enthusiastic Street Photographer that I am, I decided to take this opportunity to shoot outside my comfort zone of Los Angeles.
This past 4th of July weekend, a cousin of mine was visiting from Canada and what better way to spend the day than in the happiest place on earth: Disneyland. We went to Anaheim the night before because we came from Newport Beach and it was senseless to drive all the way to LA and back again. So we stayed in a town suite about a block from Angel Stadium, where the Anaheim Major League Baseball team plays. I was told that Downtown Disneyland was a mile away so as the enthusiastic Street Photographer that I am, I decided to take this opportunity to shoot outside my comfort zone of Los Angeles.
I've been meaning to go on short trips from city to city. I just want to ravel and capture moments from cities that people don't normally get to see. Little do we know it but Anaheim is one of the most photographed city in the world. But I decided to go not for the same reason as most people.
Back to the topic now, I was greatly misinformed about the distance because I shot not a single living thing for about a couple of miles. It was 8:30 PM on Katella Ave. I finally made it to where some people actually existed. All this after passing under the Interstate 5 Freeway.
Back to the topic now, I was greatly misinformed about the distance because I shot not a single living thing for about a couple of miles. It was 8:30 PM on Katella Ave. I finally made it to where some people actually existed. All this after passing under the Interstate 5 Freeway.
I've never taken Street Photos at night, that's how much of a newbie I am. This was a totally different feel for me. Armed with my Olympus EP-1 and 50 mm Minolta lens I shot one unfocused image after the other but I kept believing that once I get that one good shot, this whole night wouldn't be a waste. I think this was that shot. Simple yet somehow I like what I had captured.
Anaheim at night would probably be like any other city in Orange County, quiet and people-free but it's not because of one reason only: Disneyland. I told myself that night that I wouldn't take a single photo inside the Disneyland area because I felt like it would be a misinterpretation of the real city. Most people in Disneyland, lets face it, are happy. And most people are probably not even from around town. What I wanted to capture was beyond the cliche and I did this by actually taking photos beyond the perimeter.
Through the course of the night it was difficult to distinguish locals from tourists even outside Disneyland but it was an interesting experience of capturing both the visitors and the visited.
All in all it was a good first time experience. I hope that I could actually come back and take better photos of people that looked exhausted but happy. - NVE
Norman Estrologo © 2011 Los Angeles based Street Photographer