Theme Parks, Roller Coasters & Donkeys!

My first roller coaster when I was younger - NO, scratch that.  The first big roller coaster I rode when I was younger, was the Cyclone in Coney Island, NY.  This old coaster is a landmark, and still runs next to the new Luna Park today.  After I had my kids, I found a fear of roller coasters.  Why this happened, I do not know.  I loved going to theme parks though.  Odd mix for someone who was too scared to ride anything big.  I then found myself looking at all these roller coasters on a site that I found.   Theme Park Review.  I was determined to ride them...upside down, tall, whatever the coaster.  I had a plan.  My first upside down coaster would be Disney's Aerosmith's Rock n' Roller Coaster!  Never mind that it was completely in the dark - I figured - HEY, It is a Disney ride, how bad could it be!?  I made the plan, and executed it in 2005.  Since then - I have been a roller coaster junkie!  I would (and sometimes still do) you tube all the great coasters...  to see how they were visually.  I didn't like surprises.  The drops, still scared me!  My biggest accomplishment had to be Nitro at Six Flags Great Adventure.  A drop of 215' at that angle is enough to make a grown man cry!  It took me about two years of riding to finally jump on and say screw it!  Then another two years to finally just put my hands up and ignore that feeling the first drop always seemed to deliver.  I have since moved on to bigger and better.  I now have combined the love I have for photography, and the love I have for coasters, and want to produce pictures that tell a story on my next trip, even if I am the only one who understands the story.  I have failed thus far, limiting my picture taking of parks to entire scenes.  With my love for detail, and my new found knowledge of lighting and compensation - my next trip should prove more of a story than ever - I hope!  I tend to run through things too quickly.  My theme this July will be to slow down, and breathe!  :)


Nitro: Drop: 215'

Kinga Ka (back): Drop: 418' @ 90 degrees          El Toro (front): Drop: 176' @ 76 degrees

 Millenium Force, Cedar Point - Drop: 300' @ 80 degrees

 Kings Dominion - i305: Drop: 300'

On-ride photo :P

Roller Coaster Data Base: http://rcdb.com/

TPR:  http://themeparkreview.com/
A great place to talk about and view theme parks and more!
Disclosure: You must have a sense of humor to view this site!  Proper grammar is a must!