PTR: Tatsu 12/31/06

[speedracer]

Hit SFMM last weekend to use my SFMW pass one more time, and to get a few shots of Tatsu. Hadn't been to SFMM since the TPR overnighter last May, was looking forward to taking a few flights on this sexy beast again and taking a last plunge on Freefall.

 

**Disclaimer: I'm not ashamed to admit I have a support column fetish, with B&M's big beefy supports being a personal favorite! As a result, there will be a gratuitous amount of support column shots in this report, and I apologize to no one for it!

 

 

Figured I'd make my way around for my Tatsu shots while there was still decent light out, so I headed straight for Orient Express. First ride for me since it reopened, sure was great to be back in those big noisy bulky trams! Still looked and felt the same as before, just now with a spectacular new view of all these dead sexy support columns commanding that terrain!:

 

Only wish a train had been flying around (sorry, didn't feel like riding around again). But hey, just enjoy the forest view of bright orange giant support columns!:

 

Backside of the horseshoe, weird how from this side it looks nothing like the high tall egg-shaped turnaround from the midway:

 

Just love how much of Tatsu is accessable to walk around and under, makes for great photo ops!:

 

 

 

Down the hill for some first drop shots:

 

 

Even filthy dirty, she's hot!:

 

Major star of this weeks Mega Builders, this giant A support towering high over the ravine is quite a sight in person, just left me in total complete awe!:

 

 

 

This view almost made me want to touch myself!:

 

But I showed restraint and expressed my affection instead by taking more pictures (the camera does love her!):

 

 

But Sky Tower will forever remain my most favorite support column and eternal SFMM icon:

 

 

Freefall was closed by the time I got around to it. Luckily I had ridden the night before just incase this would happen, will no doubt be gone by the next time I can get back to The Mountain again.

 

By luck I caught the very last row on the very last train of the year on Tatsu, was a chilly but amazing night flight and a great finale to 2006. Definitely an incredible unique coaster experience and a new favorite. Looking forward to what the future holds for SFMM, can only hope someday the rest of the park will match the same level of quality and WOW! factor as that of Tatsu, thanks for reading!

[cprocks22]

Awsome pictures , any chace of some desktop shots? (say 4th from last?)

[CP_RULES]

Definitely some beautiful photos in there, I love all of the angles and the colors. The sun seemed to really be a help. Great PTR!

[coasterdude5]

Great shots, some of the best I've ever seen.

 

^^ I agree, any chance of some desktops?

[zaneymon]

those are some really cool photos.

 

Zane

[robbalvey]

I'm just curious? What are you doing to your photos to create that "fake" sky look? Whatever it is, IMO, you're really over doing it. Some of them looked "ok", but it was pretty obvious that you've messed with the saturation and hue on most of the blues.

 

This one looked more like a swimming pool:

 

I'm guessing your sky really looked more like this before all the photoshopping:

 

and this one is probably the worst offender...you can see where the real sky ends and the fake one starts! And even some of your trees are blue!

 

 

Your pictures were pretty good. Why did you feel the need to over photo-shop them?

[phazan]

Hey man, you got some nice shots!

[GMAN962]

Nice, last time I went to SFMM, I got a shot that I really love....maybe I should change that to my desktop background. Anyway, are these the only photos you took? Was this the only ride you went on?

 

~Mike

[speedracer]

Thanks for all the comments guys, really appreciate it! And thanks for the feedback Robb, new to all this stuff so I'm still learning and experimenting, good to hear what is and isn't working.

 

Here's the same shots without any manipulation:

 

 

The sun was in a weird place, so I was trying to bring the colors out more, but yeah, I can see where it ends up looking fake.

 

Did a few desktops, hope I did these right!:

 

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e211/navaj/misc/IM000692B-1.jpg?t=1168107877

 

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e211/navaj/misc/IM000695B-1.jpg?t=1168107908

 

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e211/navaj/misc/IM000682A1.jpg?t=1168108001

 

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e211/navaj/misc/IM000688B-1.jpg?t=1168108031

 

 

Didn't take any other pics, lagged getting out to the park and only had time for these before it was too dark. On the plus side, once it got dark and cold everyone stampeded for the exit and all the coasters were a walk on till closing!

[CP_RULES]

Honestly, I like all three of those shots better without the manipulation. Either way though, all of your pics are great.

[Millenium Man]

These are very great shots.

[speedracer]

Thanks again guys for all the input and comments, I went back and redid all the shots and desktops without any color manipulation. Good to know, sure will save me tons of time for the next one since I won't have to mess with anything, thanks for reading!