Photography by Matt Valeriote

Here you can find updates on all my photography!

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The Haunted Mansion by Matt Valeriote Via Flickr: Sometimes you just have to go with the obvious title. With Disneyland's announced reopening just under a month away, many of us are likely to start thinking about what we want to ride most whenever we finally return to The Happiest Place On Earth. And it is in that vein of thought that I've posted this photo of the Haunted Mansion today. Because I don't have any photos of the Millennium Falcon ride to post. Fanatic Photography | Facebook | Tumblr | Twitter | 500px | Instagram | Disneyland Ultimate Guide | Buy Prints

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On Your Marks by Matt Valeriote Via Flickr: In my continuing effort to sprinkle out bits of Disney magic while the parks remain closed, today I thought I'd post this ride photo to give everyone a momentarily feeling of being back on one of their most exciting rides to date. The starting line here marks Radiator Springs Racers' transition from dark ride to roller coaster, and it's how I imagine I'll feel waiting outside the park gates on the day Disneyland finally reopens. Fanatic Photography | Facebook | Tumblr | Twitter | 500px | Instagram | Disneyland Ultimate Guide | Buy Prints

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Adventure Awaits by Matt Valeriote Via Flickr: Another photo from the now-defunct TheHappiest.com site collection. Adventureland's aesthetic makes tremendous use of its potentially claustrophobic corridor layout by invoking the feeling of an invitation to adventure. And that feeling is not unwarranted. As you enter the land you're serenaded by birds in an enchanted chamber, but as you delve deeper into the land you'll be confronted by wild animals, head hunters, and eventually the vengeful spirit Mara. If you run into pirates you'll know you've gone too far. Fanatic Photography | Facebook | Tumblr | Twitter | 500px | Instagram | Disneyland Ultimate Guide | Buy Prints

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The Castle by Matt Valeriote Via Flickr: Well, Disneyland is still closed, but fortunately I've just unlocked a small treasure trove of photos to help us all through the withdrawals! Some of you might remember that I was commissioned a few years back to take some photos for a new Disneyland fan-site called TheHappiest.com. Well, the website has since gone defunct -- and with it, the exclusivity agreement I made for the photos. So those photos will now be trickling into my photo streams! After mulling over which photo to post first, I decided to start with a bang and post the one landmark that will make anyone feel like they're standing in the Happiest Place on Earth. I could call it by its full, proper name -- Sleeping Beauty Castle -- but to the majority of the world, and to the droves of people walking down Main Street USA for the first time and staring and pointing at it off in the distance, it is simply "The Castle." Fanatic Photography | Facebook | Tumblr | Twitter | 500px | Instagram | Disneyland Ultimate Guide | Buy Prints

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Electrical Elliot by Matt Valeriote Via Flickr: My next photo post was intended to be more from New Orleans, but with the sudden closure of Disneyland due to the Coronavirus, I figured everyone could use a little more Disney right now. So I reached deep into my backlog and pulled out this pic from the Main Street Electrical Parade! Hopefully all those little lights will brighten up everyone's day just a bit. Fanatic Photography | Facebook | Tumblr | Twitter | 500px | Instagram | Disneyland Ultimate Guide | Buy Prints

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Oak Alley by Matt Valeriote Via Flickr: Following quickly on the heels of our last break from Disneyland photos, we now dive right into another one, as we have a few shots from Louisiana to cover. This first one is of Oak Alley Plantation, a former plantation house now maintained as a museum. This scenic locale was featured in films such as 'Interview With The Vampire', and it's not hard to see where it got its name. Fanatic Photography | Facebook | Tumblr | Twitter | 500px | Instagram | Disneyland Ultimate Guide | Buy Prints

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Brand Recognition Corner by Matt Valeriote Via Flickr: One Thanksgiving dinner later, we're back on Main Street USA! Disneyland may be one big advertisement for Disney products, but this corner of Main Street has always been a big, red billboard for Coca Cola. And frankly that is just fine with me, because Coke is my favorite drink forever, and I love the sight of Coca Cola Corner right on the tip of Main Street. I feel refreshed just looking at this doorway. If you want to know how long I sit on some of these photos before posting them, just look at those street lamp banners from the FIRST big return of the Main Street Electrical Parade. Fanatic Photography | Facebook | Tumblr | Twitter | 500px | Instagram | Disneyland Ultimate Guide | Buy Prints

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Millennium Bridge by Matt Valeriote Via Flickr: Returning to London for today's post, we see the view right behind the Globe Theater from my earlier photo. This is the Millennium Bridge, spanning the Thames and leading straight to St. Paul's Cathedral on the North Bank. Harry Potter fans may remember the bridge from that one time that Voldemort destroyed it. Thankfully I didn't see any death eaters during my evening photo shoot. Fanatic Photography | Facebook | Tumblr | Twitter | 500px | Instagram | Disneyland Ultimate Guide | Buy Prints

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Livin' in a Shack down by the Bayou by Matt Valeriote Via Flickr: As dark ride shots go, today's photo of this shack in the Blue Bayou is a little dimmer and grainier than I would prefer, but it also represents my camera absolutely breaking its back in that dark room to produce a shot. As dark rides themselves go, the bayou portion of Pirates is my absolute favorite portion of any ride anywhere. The pirate adventure that makes up the rest of the ride is certainly fun, but I sometimes wish that there were an entire ride comprised of just 15 minutes of quietly floating through the bayou, watching the fireflies and listening to the soft strum of a distant banjo. Fanatic Photography | Facebook | Tumblr | Twitter | 500px | Instagram | Disneyland Ultimate Guide | Buy Prints

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Indiana Jones Adventure by Matt Valeriote Via Flickr: The attraction sign for Indiana Jones Adventure easily ranks among my favorites in Disneyland. A seamless blend of movie poster and ancient artifact, it perfectly encapsulates the experience that awaits adventurers who pass beyond it. It almost looks as if... it belongs in a museum. Fanatic Photography | Facebook | Tumblr | Twitter | 500px | Instagram | Disneyland Ultimate Guide | Buy Prints

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TIE Echelon by Matt Valeriote Via Flickr: A closer view of Kylo Ren's TIE Echelon parked in the Fantasyland corner of Galaxy's Edge. That ramp is so inviting it's hard not to imagine jumping over that railing and running up inside to meet Kylo (and probably get force choked). Fanatic Photography | Facebook | Tumblr | Twitter | 500px | Instagram | Disneyland Ultimate Guide | Buy Prints

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A Shocking Sight by Matt Valeriote Via Flickr: I've been sitting on this photo for a while, but decided to post it now in honor of legendary director and animator Richard Williams, who died last week at the age of 86. 'Who Framed Roger Rabbit?' is not only a beloved Disney classic, but a groundbreaking triumph of animation that, in my opinion, has not been paralleled by any movie following it to date. The film is an unrivaled master class in animation and filmmaking, and we should be so lucky to have another instructor like Mr. WIlliams to teach such a class. RIP Richard Williams: 1933-2019 Fanatic Photography | Facebook | Tumblr | Twitter | 500px | Instagram | Disneyland Ultimate Guide | Buy Prints

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The Marketplace by Matt Valeriote Via Flickr: Of the three entrances to Disneyland's Galaxy's Edge, the Critter Country entrance may be my favorite. Though the other two hit you suddenly with a visual explosion of Star Wars, the Southern entrance takes its time guiding you through the quiet forest that hides the rebel encampment, providing a convincing buildup to the eventual reveal of the towering marketplace known as Merchant Row. Approaching this grand structure makes you sincerely feel as if you've stumbled upon an alien city at the edge of the woods, and the discovery is all the more convincing when accentuated by the soft, warm glow of the night lights that Disney always achieves so masterfully. Fanatic Photography | Facebook | Tumblr | Twitter | 500px | Instagram | Disneyland Ultimate Guide | Buy Prints

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Shakespeare's Globe Theatre by Matt Valeriote Via Flickr: On a recent work trip to London I was fortunate to have some free time to see some of the sights and do a little photography. One of those sights, right on the south bank of the Thames, was Shakespeare's Globe Theatre. Although the original theatre no longer exists, this faithful reconstruction continues to host performances of The Bard's timeless plays to this day, and is an undeniable highlight of the view from the adjacent Millennium Bridge. Fanatic Photography | Facebook | Tumblr | Twitter | 500px | Instagram | Disneyland Ultimate Guide | Buy Prints

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Occupied Batuu by Matt Valeriote Via Flickr: Our trip to Galaxy's Edge continues today as we take a look at Kylo Ren's TIE Echelon parked in the Fantasyland corner of Black Spire Outpost, where the First Order has set up shop. Interesting piece of trivia here: This ship was actually designed for Colin Trevorrow's never-finished version of Episode IX, and rather than simply abandon it, Disney decided to give it an afterlife in the parks. Fanatic Photography | Facebook | Tumblr | Twitter | 500px | Instagram | Disneyland Ultimate Guide | Buy Prints

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The Falcon's Nest by Matt Valeriote Via Flickr: Galaxy's Edge at Disneyland is now open to the public, and it's a truly amazing experience. Many have opined that the land feels incomplete without the upcoming Rise of the Resistance ride open yet, but in my personal opinion, Millennium Falcon: Smuggler's Run is more than enough to anchor the land all by itself. It is without question the most immersive ride I've ever been on, and has instantly jumped into my top 5 favorite theme park attractions. Fanatic Photography | Facebook | Tumblr | Twitter | 500px | Instagram | Disneyland Ultimate Guide | Buy Prints

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Happy Birthdays Materialize by Matt Valeriote Via Flickr: Or maybe it's actually her death day party? Either way, today we have a photo I'm particularly proud of because it started out with the railing of the balcony heavily obscuring the scene. After compositing several photos together and throwing in a bunch of additional Photoshop magic, I think it's barely noticeable that the shot didn't always look like this. And now we have a nice, unobscured view of these happy haunts' celebration. Fanatic Photography | Facebook | Tumblr | Twitter | 500px | Instagram | Disneyland Ultimate Guide | Buy Prints