Theme parks are a treasure trove of photo opportunities. Theatrical lighting and amazing environments offer a wealth of diverse picture taking possibilities.
Halloween Horror Nights aside (horror and theme park quality make up make the most magically macabre images), Universal Studios Florida, especially with the addition of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, offers a high quality host of photogenic favorites. I’ve listed my favored spots below.
Shrek 4D Posters and Signs at Shrek’s Ye Olde Souvenir Shoppe
The lighthearted jabs at another theme park slightly southwest of Universal Studios Florida as well as other tongue and cheek postings found on the walls within the Ye Olde Souvenir Shoppe are too good to pass up. The “Children Left Unattended” sign would make a fun family photo for those with wee ones.
Diagon Alley Signs
Universal’s second Harry Potter adventure replaced Amity and the Jaws ride with an immersive playground of wizarding wonders. The attention to detail is amazing. Taking its cue from the feature films, these clever displays advertising wizarding retail are both amusing and full of magical mirth.
Diagon Alley Dragon
Perched atop Gringotts Bank, this Ukrainian Ironbelly, freshly freed from within the bank’s vaults, is ready to take flight, but not before belching a dazzling display pyrotechnics. Even when not spewing flames, the highly detailed dragon is always ready for a close up.
Diagon Alley Borgin and Burkes
Dark and eerie, as is the rest of Knockturn Alley, Borgin and Burkes makes for a creepy cool and colorful image source. Especially fun is a long term exposure that makes of ghosts of guests and captures the painstaking detail poured into this fantastic frontage of this foreboding supplier of sinister spells and macabre magic.
Universal Studios Classic Monsters Café
It was a dream assignment to be able to capture the love shown to Universal Studios’ Classic Monsters Café. From brilliant oversized Basil Gogos murals (recreated from family supplied source material) to colorful monster busts sharing a similar palate to the Gogos art, the monsters, props and art in this favored fearsome themed restaurant always offer creepy cool photographic subjects.
Photographic fun can be found throughout Universal Studios Florida. From the Victorian Locomotive of “Back to the Future” fame to the animated amazements found within the Simpsons area of the park, there are scores of sensational subjects for making festively fun photos. The five listed above just happen to be my favorite of the lot.
Images: Michael Gavin
