Interview: Gary Krueger (Disney photographer)

Disney photographer Gary Krueger
Disney photographer Gary Krueger

Gary has been a photographer for Disney since 1967, photographing all of Disney’s theme parks here and abroad, including the grand opening of Walt Disney World and the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney-MGM Studios, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Euro Disneyland, Hong Kong Disneyland and the Disney Cruise Line and events such as many of Disney’s movie premieres including Lion King in London and New York, Pocahontas in Central Park, two Pirates of the Caribbean movies at Disneyland,  Cars at the Charlotte Speedway, and Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

Mickey Mouse in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle in Disneyland, postcard photo by Gary Krueger
Mickey Mouse in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle in Disneyland, postcard photo by Gary Krueger
Jiminy Cricket, Pinocchio and Geppetto in Fantasyland, Disneyland postcard photo by Gary Krueger
Jiminy Cricket, Pinocchio and Geppetto in Fantasyland, Disneyland postcard photo by Gary Krueger
Mickey & MInnie in the American pavilion in Epcot, Walt Disney World postcard photo by Gary Krueger
Mickey & MInnie in the American pavilion in Epcot, Walt Disney World postcard photo by Gary Krueger
Polynesia Village Resort, Walt Disney World postcard photo by Gary Krueger
Polynesia Village Resort, Walt Disney World postcard photo by Gary Krueger
Tomorrowland attractions, Walt Disney World postcard photo by Gary Krueger
Tomorrowland attractions, Walt Disney World postcard photo by Gary Krueger
Pirates of the Caribbean, Walt Disney World postcard photo by Gary Krueger
Pirates of the Caribbean, Walt Disney World postcard photo by Gary Krueger
Liberty Square attractions, Walt Disney World postcard photo by Gary Krueger
Liberty Square attractions, Walt Disney World postcard photo by Gary Krueger
The Haunted Mansion, Walt Disney World postcard photo by Gary Krueger
The Haunted Mansion, Walt Disney World postcard photo by Gary Krueger
The Universe of Energy in Epcot, Walt Disney World postcard photo by Gary Krueger
The Universe of Energy in Epcot, Walt Disney World postcard photo by Gary Krueger
Romantic Mickey and Minnie on Main Street in the Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World postcard photo by Gary Krueger
Romantic Mickey and Minnie on Main Street in the Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World postcard photo by Gary Krueger
Mickey and the gang in front of Cinderella Castle, Walt Disney World postcard photo by Gary Krueger
Mickey and the gang in front of Cinderella Castle, Walt Disney World postcard photo by Gary Krueger
The Land pavilion in Epcot, Walt Disney World postcard photo by Gary Krueger
The Land pavilion in Epcot, Walt Disney World postcard photo by Gary Krueger
Spaceship Earth in Epcot, Walt Disney World postcard photo by Gary Krueger
Spaceship Earth in Epcot, Walt Disney World postcard photo by Gary Krueger
Fireworks seen from the Japan pavilion in Epcot, Walt Disney World postcard photo by Gary Krueger
Fireworks seen from the Japan pavilion in Epcot, Walt Disney World postcard photo by Gary Krueger
Mickey and the gang ride the Toontown Jolly Trolley, Disneyland postcard photo by Gary Krueger
Mickey and the gang ride the Toontown Jolly Trolley, Disneyland postcard photo by Gary Krueger
Journey Into Imagination pavilion in Epcot, Walt Disney World postcard photo by Gary Krueger
Journey Into Imagination pavilion in Epcot, Walt Disney World postcard photo by Gary Krueger
Italy pavilion in Epcot, Walt Disney World postcard photo by Gary Krueger
Italy pavilion in Epcot, Walt Disney World postcard photo by Gary Krueger
China Pavilion in Epcot, Walt Disney World postcard photo by Gary Krueger
China Pavilion in Epcot, Walt Disney World postcard photo by Gary Krueger
Mickey and Minnie in Mickey's Toontown, Disneyland postcard photo by Gary Krueger
Mickey and Minnie in Mickey’s Toontown, Disneyland postcard photo by Gary Krueger
Country Bear Jamboree, Walt Disney World postcard photo by Gary Krueger
Country Bear Jamboree, Walt Disney World postcard photo by Gary Krueger
Streetmosphere in Disney-MGM Studios, Walt Disney World postcard photo by Gary Krueger
Streetmosphere in Disney-MGM Studios, Walt Disney World postcard photo by Gary Krueger
it's a small world, Disneyland postcard photo by Gary Krueger
it’s a small world, Disneyland postcard photo by Gary Krueger
Journey Into Imagination pavilion in Epcot, Walt Disney world postcard photo by Gary Krueger
Journey Into Imagination pavilion in Epcot, Walt Disney world postcard photo by Gary Krueger
Mickey and the gang at Sleeping Beauty Castle, Disneyland postcard photo by Gary Krueger
Mickey and the gang at Sleeping Beauty Castle, Disneyland postcard photo by Gary Krueger
Characters at the Disneyland Railroad, Disneyland postcard photo by Gary Krueger
Characters at the Disneyland Railroad, Disneyland postcard photo by Gary Krueger
Tree of Life in Disney's Animal Kingdom, Walt Disney World postcard photo by Gary Krueger
Tree of Life in Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Walt Disney World postcard photo by Gary Krueger
Frontierland attractions, Walt Disney World postcard photo by Gary Krueger
Frontierland attractions, Walt Disney World postcard photo by Gary Krueger
Main Street in Disneyland (Dapper Dans: Bill Lewis, Jim Schamp, Shelby Grimm and Jim Campbell, Disneyland postcard photo by Gary Krueger
Main Street in Disneyland (Dapper Dans: Bill Lewis, Jim Schamp, Shelby Grimm and Jim Campbell, Disneyland postcard photo by Gary Krueger
Chip 'n Dale in Mickey's Toontown, Disneylandpostcard photo by Gary Krueger
Chip ‘n Dale in Mickey’s Toontown, Disneylandpostcard photo by Gary Krueger
Minnie and Mickey at The Great Movie Ride, Walt Disney World postcard photo by Gary Krueger
Minnie and Mickey at The Great Movie Ride, Walt Disney World postcard photo by Gary Krueger
Mickey & Minnie in Mickey's Toontown, Disneyland postcard photo by Gary Krueger
Mickey & Minnie in Mickey’s Toontown, Disneyland postcard photo by Gary Krueger
it's a small world, Walt Disney World postcard photo by Gary Krueger
it’s a small world, Walt Disney World postcard photo by Gary Krueger
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, Walt Disney World postcard photo by Gary Krueger
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, Walt Disney World postcard photo by Gary Krueger
Tree of Life at dusk, Walt Disney World postcard photo by Gary Krueger
Tree of Life at dusk, Walt Disney World postcard photo by Gary Krueger
Disney-MGM Studios water tower, Walt Disney World postcard photo by Gary Krueger
Disney-MGM Studios water tower, Walt Disney World postcard photo by Gary Krueger
Mr. Smee and Captain Hook on the Chicken of the Sea Pirate Ship, Disneyland postcard photo by Gary Krueger
Mr. Smee and Captain Hook on the Chicken of the Sea Pirate Ship, Disneyland postcard photo by Gary Krueger
Stan Freese and Mickey Mouse lead the Disneyland Band, Disneyland postcard photo by Gary Krueger
Stan Freese and Mickey Mouse lead the Disneyland Band, Disneyland postcard photo by Gary Krueger
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in Fantasyland, Disneyland postcard photo by Gary Krueger
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in Fantasyland, Disneyland postcard photo by Gary Krueger

AUDIO INDEX

1:13 Gary’s start in photography and working for Disney; Getting hired by Walt Disney Imagineering; He quit and then became freelance

3:04 Photographed the opening of Walt Disney World; His photos were used for multimedia shows, slide presentations and much internal use; shooting Disneyland photos

6:49 Hired by Disneyland and Walt Disney Imagineering and some of his other work such as the L.A. Times, Los Angeles magazine and airplane magazines; He photographed an Evil Kneivel jump for Rolling Stone magazine

8:41 Many countries and cities around the world that Gary visited for Disney, including Morocco for presentations regarding the Moroccan pavilion in Epcot, and photographing the opening of Disneyland Paris and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Hong Kong Disneyland and much more

10:11 Gary photographed many movie premieres, including Beauty and the Beast in London or the Pirates of the Caribbean movie at Disneyland; takes hundreds of pictures per event

12:19 Moving into the digital age; Some of Gary’s techniques

17:50 How he was given various assignments, and he would choose the composition, such as for postcards

20:35 Gary’s hands became Abraham Lincoln’s for “Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln”

22:49 Waiting for just the right moment for a photo, such as lining up the monorail and submarines

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