Fun – Page 6 – An Unorthodox Halloween

Hitting the town…

My wife and I skipped town this weekend to see a local shadow cast of Repo! The Genetic Opera.

Of course, we had no idea what to expect for such a thing. It could be a packed house, or empty. We stopped by to purchase tickets at roughly 3 in the afternoon, and were told they expected a line to start forming around 10:30. So, we were there, first in line.

From Repo

What’s more, they allowed me to bring the camera provided I ask the cast first. They were ok with it as well, so I was shooting pics in throughout. Unsure the size of the theater, and not wanting to have to pack everything back to the car if I was denied, I only brought my telephoto lense. I wish I had brought my shorter one. But, we know better for next year.

Our (very funny) security for the night.

From Repo

As we were pat down prior to the show, I told my wife I only take her out to the best places…

Anyhow. I chose the camera I did, largely based on reviews stating just how well it performs in low light situations…well, ya know, I seem to have a few of those…

I can’t imagine a more difficult lighting situation than attempting to snap photos of actors with the shifting lighting created by a projector. I must say, I am impressed.

From Repo

It was a very fun night that I’m still attempting to recover from.

And, we stumbled on something whilst out shopping that may just revolutionize how I set things up in the yard. But, more on that later.

Major Upgrade.

Our little slice of the internet just got a major upgrade.

Sometime following the 2007 season, my camera died.

And, that camera went from delivering such beautiful pics as this…

From Halloween 07

Crisp, clear, good depth of field….

To clunkers the likes of this….

From Halloween 2008

Dark, out of focus, no color….

Same camera, same lighting, same settings…just something was off.

Well, opportunity come for me to remedy that.

From 2010 Buildup

An upgrade….that fits all my existing lenses.

No more point and shoots fighting the lighting condition.

This was a choice that, unfortunately, is going to delay some plans into next year, but it was an opportunity I could not pass up. I’ve been down right embarrassed by the photos these last two years.

And, for the photography buffs out there, a quick rundown of the camera’s performance.

Bittersweet

We made the decision to purchase season passes to Lagoon again this year.

And, this weekend was our first REAL trip out. (I had taken the kids the weekend before, but it was really just to get our passes as it was too cold to really enjoy)

So, what has that got to do with here?

Well, They have gone and changed the Terror Ride.

THE MURAL IS GONE!

Now, some history.

Terroride (as it’s officially called, despite the fact the name on the SIGN for the ride is terror ride) is Lagoon’s oldest haunted attraction. Making it’s first appearance in 1964, THE MURAL was then created on opening. It is even STILL the official picture of the ride on Lagoon’s website.

Since then, it has served as an icon of fear here in Utah. I have personally considered it an example of what one should strive for in creation.

Let’s take a look from left to right in retrospect.

On the left, we have the “dragon”.

From

Look at this thing. 5 toes, on clearly lizard feet, yet 4 fingers on furry hands. A horn on the head, a pig snout. This creature makes absolutely no sense, yet is menacing none the less.

In the background we have a lizard, in the fore an ant. Then comes the…well, just what IS that wielding the club? Is that a gorilla? The missing link?

From Halloween buildup 09

Then we have a spider in the foreground, and a dancing man, I’m assuming to be a voodoo priest in the back. Flanked by a mummy, and flying overhead are some ghostly skeletons who’s heads appear to float attached, yet separate from the bodies at impossible angles.

And, there on the far right, we are treated to a snake…and how in the world is that Octopus living ON LAND, in the middle of what appears to be desert?

From Halloween buildup 09

We will be missing you, oh mighty mural….

In your place has been added an “upgrade”. In the form of a ‘scary’ vulture telling really bad jokes. And, some overhauls inside as well.

2009.

2010:

It’s nice to see the haunted attractions getting some upgrades…but, at the cost of nearly 50 years of history?

Bittersweet.

Slow going…and spring scream time.

It’s been slow going as far as Halloween production goes…

Between injury, me being completely bedridden with sickness this last weekend, and Kyle’s various projects eating up time and space I normally use on Halloween….It’s been slow going.

We hope to have some updates on Steve 2….and 3…very soon, however.

But, more importantly, time has come once again for Spring Scream again.

Castle Of Chaos is once again opening this spring for 2 weekends to give us all a little bit of a Halloween primer.

In case you are not in the know, Castle of Chaos is one of our favorites. It’s one of the haunted houses that are NOT just about jumping out and screaming, or throwing as much scary stuff at you as they can. (though they do offer the Xtreme attraction if that’s what you’re into as well) They focus on FUN and telling a STORY with their haunt.