Pagoda Storm - © Copyright 2010 by William Beem
I shot this image of the pagoda at EPCOT’s Japanese Pavilion while waiting for the fireworks show on the Independence Day. I arrived two and a half hours early to claim my spot on the second level of another building with shopping and, from what I hear, a great restaurant. It turns out this spot was coveted by those who’ve been there before, because some of them told me I was exactly where they planned to be. Call it dumb luck. I didn’t plan to get there two and a half hours early – the show was an hour later than I thought.
There was no sense letting the opportunity go to waste. Whenever I setup for something where I know I have to wait, I still look for opportunities around me. Arriving before sunset, this pagoda didn’t look very interesting. It was only after the sun went down and the lights started illuminating that it started to catch my interest. I would’ve preferred a sunset with an orange glow, but this is the kind of weather we get in Central Florida during the summer. The skies grew darker. The rain started with a mild sprinkle as the fireworks show entertained the crowd. It fell heavier during the walk out of the park to my car. By the time I got to the Interstate, it seemed like a monsoon.
Welcome to sunny Florida.
