Pirates is my “take a deep breath, you’re here” attraction. I don’t know if it’s the childhood memories or the smell or the cool air or the familiar scenes and music or some combination of it all, but even these days, living a mile away, when I’m having a moment and need a mental break, I take myself to Adventureland for a solo ride on Pirates.
I have childhood memories of this scene like I have childhood memories of the Mexico pavilion. Those big room dark scenes that vanished into the distance when you were a kid—when suddenly indoors felt like outdoors. Everything about this scene felt bigger than real life.
Capturing it in a photograph is a trick. It’s dark and murky in there and you're moving. This version of it leans into the dream-like nature of it all. Taken with my trusty 50mm, f/1.2 to grab every ounce of available light, 1/200 seconds, ISO a blistering 10000.