Tom Sawyer Island – Part 2

Photographic Innoventions by Scott Thomas

Entrance sign to Fort Langhorn on Tom Sawyer Island in the Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World, Orlando, Florida.

Entrance sign to Fort Langhorn on Tom Sawyer Island.
Nikon D70/18-200VR, 1/250s, f/8, ISO 200, 0 EV, 18mm Focal length, Tripod

Continuing on with our tour of Tom Sawyer Island, this week we’ll explore the Fort Langhorn island. Fort Langhorn is a re-creation of a frontier fort found around the time of Mark Twain (aka Samuel Clemens). It used to be called Fort Sam Clemens. The name was changed in 1996 after the release of the Disney movie Tom and Huck, which featured a Fort Langhorn.

Rifle in one of Fort Langhorn's blockhouses on Tom Sawyer Island in the Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World, Orlando, Florida.

Rifle in one of Fort Langhorn’s blockhouses.
Nikon D70/18-200VR, 1/80s, f/3.5, ISO 200, 0 EV, 18mm Focal length, Tripod

Each corner of Fort Langhorn has blockhouse with rifles at the ready to protect it from opposing forces. If you press the trigger of any of the rifles, you’ll hear a gunshot sound. One of those little details Disney is famous for.

Unique view of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad from one of Fort Langhorn's blockhouses on Tom Sawyer Island in the Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World, Orlando, Florida.

Unique view of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad from Fort Langhorn.
Nikon D70/18-200VR, 1/320s, f/9, ISO 200, -0.3 EV, 40mm Focal length, Tripod

I’m always looking for a way to use framing in my photography and the rifle locations in the blockhouses gives you lots of ways to practice framing and views of the Magic Kingdom you can’t get anywhere else.

Fort Langhorn's stables on Tom Sawyer Island in the Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World, Orlando, Florida.

Fort Langhorn’s stables on Tom Sawyer Island.
Nikon D70/18-200VR, 1/10s, f/3.5, ISO 1250, -0.3 EV, 18mm Focal length, Tripod

Fort Langhorn’s stables are filled with details. The horse’s tails swish away flys, chickens cluck, and blacksmith tools are at the ready.

Sign outside the entrance to the Mystery Mine in Fort Langhorn on Tom Sawyer Island in the Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World, Orlando, Florida.

Sign outside the entrance to the Mystery Mine in Fort Langhorn.
Nikon D70/18-200VR, 1/60s, f/4, ISO 200, -0.3 EV, 18mm Focal length, Tripod

The Mystery Mine is another one of those dark and enclosed places you may want to avoid. For those of use who don’t, there be treasures to be found. I bet even Snow White’s dwarf friends would be impressed.

Gems found in the Mystery Mind on Tom Sawyer Island in the Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World, Orlando, Florida.

Gems found in the Mystery Mind.
Nikon D70/18-200VR, 1/10s, f/3.5, ISO 1600, -0.3 EV, 18mm Focal length, Tripod

This concludes our tour of Tom Sawyer Island. Next time you’re visiting the Magic Kingdom, take the time to hop a raft over and enjoy “a fun place to run and explore and blow off steam”. Or, if you are like me, to find new things to photograph at Disney!

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Scott's "Photographic Innoventions" blog focuses on intermediate to advanced photography concepts and techniques relevant for Point and Shoot and Digital SLR cameras.

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3 Replies to “Tom Sawyer Island – Part 2”

  1. Thanks Scott;
    That would have been my guess…..it’s a great photo, good job (~_~)

    I love different pix like this, it gives a whole new perspective, and very cool indeed!!
    Becky*

  2. Scott,
    Great pictures of Tom Sawyer Island! My girls are teenagers, but they still love to explore here every time we go to the Magic Kingdom. Last year was the first time we found Fort Langhorn. I love sitting in the rocking chairs on the dock. Even in August, there is a nice breeze. We still haven’t been lucky enough to be the first to find one of Tom’s paintbrushes in the morning. We keep trying!

  3. Hi Scott~
    In your pic of BTMR from Ft. Langhorn…did you use center weighted or spot metering on this?
    Thanks,
    Becky*

    Scott replies: Good catch, Becky! I used spot metering to properly expose for the light on Big Thunder.