great photo locations

[kutchyone]

My 16, soon to be 17 year old daughter is a Majorette and will be marching down Main Street with her High School band on February 17th. We normally watch parades from our favorite viewing location the raised planters in front of Pecos Bills in Frontierland. The parade will start in Frontierland and make its way to Main Street. Do you think that I will have time to snap a fast picture of her from Pecos Bills, make my way through Adventurland to the stores located on Main Street in order to get to a decent location to snap some additional pictures of her on Main Street? I would love to capture a shot of her and the band with the castle behind them, any idea where I should be to get that type of picture?

[MICKEY88]

My 16, soon to be 17 year old daughter is a Majorette and will be marching down Main Street with her High School band on February 17th. We normally watch parades from our favorite viewing location the raised planters in front of Pecos Bills in Frontierland. The parade will start in Frontierland and make its way to Main Street. Do you think that I will have time to snap a fast picture of her from Pecos Bills, make my way through Adventurland to the stores located on Main Street in order to get to a decent location to snap some additional pictures of her on Main Street? I would love to capture a shot of her and the band with the castle behind them, any idea where I should be to get that type of picture?

I personally would skip your favorite location and get an early spot on MAin Street, otherwise you run the risk of fighting a crowd to {try} to find a spot on main Street, and annoying people who have been there early...when you crowd in to get your pics...

it's kind of hard to include the castle in your pics, since you can't run out on the street to take pics

[deana s]

Could anyone help me find a link to an old thread about great photo locations at WDW? I can't seem to find it! Or possibly give me some suggestions of your own? We will be taking our first trip this October....2 kids, in laws and DH and I...staying at the Poly...TIA!

[maccagerl]

Hi!
I'm new to this board and am very impressed with the wonderful photos and great advice here!
My question is this-
I have early am reservations for bkfst at Crystal Palace- once I am in the park is it ok to wander around Main St and the Castle area before the park opens, or will the CM's make me wait in the Crystal Palace area ?
If 3 of us have reservations, I was thinking of letting the other 2 go eat bkfst while I take advantage of the before-park hours to photograph around Main St and the Castle area- is this allowed or will I be made to stay at Crystal Palace?

Also, is the Tower Lounge accessible to resort guest who are NOT staying at the Contemporary?
Thanks for any advice!
marilyn

[handicap18]

Hi!
I'm new to this board and am very impressed with the wonderful photos and great advice here!
My question is this-
I have early am reservations for bkfst at Crystal Palace- once I am in the park is it ok to wander around Main St and the Castle area before the park opens, or will the CM's make me wait in the Crystal Palace area ?
If 3 of us have reservations, I was thinking of letting the other 2 go eat bkfst while I take advantage of the before-park hours to photograph around Main St and the Castle area- is this allowed or will I be made to stay at Crystal Palace?

Also, is the Tower Lounge accessible to resort guest who are NOT staying at the Contemporary?
Thanks for any advice!
marilyn

We had 805am ADR at CP in June '06. We walked through the gate at 750. People are either going to CP or CRT. As I walked up Main St I was snapping away. I then went up to the Castle to get some nice early monring light photos. The only person who said anything to me was DW who was hungry and wanted to get to CP to eat. I wouldn't have minded showing up 10 minutes or so late. I think you'll be fine if you spend a few minutes taking pictures. Just keep moving and don't miss your breakfast at CP. Great food!!

[Pea-n-Me]

Welcome to the PB.

You can take pictures of Main St and the castle on the way to CP.

Tower lounge is the concierge level area I believe, and those floors are only open to registered concierge guests. (I know at the Poly Concierge you need your room key to access the building and imagine it's the same at the CR, otherwise everyone would try to go in and get some free goodies. ;) )

[MarkBarbieri]

I'm going to be doing a bunch of photo shoots of neighborhood kids this weekend. I'll do most of them in my make-shift garage studio, but I wanted to experiment with some outdoor shots. Given the time constraints (I've got one hour scheduled for each family), I'm sticking to the backyard for my outdoor shots. I took a few test shots of my son last night in various locations. I'd appreciate feedback on the locations.

I don't need comments about my model (he charged me a $1 for the session), I just need to know what you think of the locations, particularly any glaring problems or suggestions for adjustments. For example, on the shot by the pool, I'll try moving the subject to the right so that they'll balance with the pygmy date palm better.

http://barbieri.smugmug.com/photos/512019805_67hzV-XL.jpg

http://barbieri.smugmug.com/photos/512019216_QHgtk-XL.jpg

http://barbieri.smugmug.com/photos/512020825_wYV23-L.jpg

http://barbieri.smugmug.com/photos/512020097_AXJyq-L-1.jpg

[Michele]

I like the 1st and 4th ones. I like the depth given by the layers of rocks.

[spinetnglr]

The first is my favorite with the natural framing at the top. I like them all ... the background in the third is a little distracting but with an entire family in the shot it would probably not be an issue. I probably would have paid your model an extra $1 for the cuteness factor. ;)

[mabas9395]

For example, on the shot by the pool, I'll try moving the subject to the right so that they'll balance with the pygmy date palm better.

I'd have to agree with you here. Nothing spoils a shot like unbalanced pygmy date palms.

[annnewjerz]

Loving the first location :thumbsup2

[WVDisGeek]

Count me in for the first location as well. I envy your back yard! If they came to my house, it would be looking over a crabgrass infested yard, past a detached garage at a drug store drive up window! How exactly does one balance that out????:lmao:

I think your model needs a manager though. $1 seems a little light! :rotfl2:

[bostran1]

The ones with your son on the rocks are best. A nice quiet background to draw attention to the subject. The pool shot is too busy in the background it draws my attention away from him. Enjoy the shoot.

[jann1033]

i like 2( maybe with the palm fronds a little less sharp) then 4 best although with a whole family i think 1 would be nice, just slightly more blurred, i keep looking at it and my eye goes to the clump of tree trunks to the center rt every time..your son looks a little lost there all by himself so with just one person espec. a little child could you put them up a little higher in the photo? ( ie maybe shoot lower unless you'd be in the pool :)

[YesDear]

For a one person portrait I agree with shot one. Did you take one of him in landscape further away to see what it would be with two adults and kids? Is there enough room for all of them? Seeing only a one person shot may not give you the look you want with 3,4, or 5.

The one on the pool deck may do better for a larger group. Of course the pool deck with khaki pants and white shirts may blow out some. You also seemed to have a nice bright cloudy day. What do any of them do in bright sunlight?

Just random thoughts

[Quicklabs]

I like 2 and 4--they have a nice "location" feel to them, yet still keeps all the focus on your very handsome model.

[gruZ]

Mark,

Generally speaking I like them. A few thoughts.

#1 - watch the subject placement, they probably don't want background trees growing out of their heads, otherwise I love the detail, colors, and textures.

#3 same idea - I'm not crazy about the proximity of the tree right behind the subject. Might be a touch better if you move the subject away from the background, as it will also make the subject pop (assuming you stick with a pretty wide open aperture).

I couldn't see any Exif data, are you shooting wider than f4?

Just my .02,

Scott

[MarkBarbieri]

I couldn't see any Exif data, are you shooting wider than f4?

They were all f/2.8, ISO 800, between 80mm to 160mm, no flash.

[gruZ]

I'm sure it's not worth mentioning to an experienced pro such as yourself, but be careful with your DOF for group shots. I'm always thrilled when I see tack sharp focus on a few people in a group, but then incredibly bummed when a few of the people are OOF because they were standing just an inch too far forward or behind the focal point.

[YesDear]

So Mark:

What do you think of your shots and locations. Which ones strike your fancy and why?

[MICKEY88]

did you try any at all with flash, if you under expose the background by 1 stop and light your subject with flash you will get better seperation and the subject will pop

[MarkBarbieri]

I'm sure it's not worth mentioning to an experienced pro such as yourself, but be careful with your DOF for group shots. I'm always thrilled when I see tack sharp focus on a few people in a group, but then incredibly bummed when a few of the people are OOF because they were standing just an inch too far forward or behind the focal point.

Nothing pro about my work. I have to pay my subjects more often than I get paid by them. I'm well aware, from painful experience, of the problem managing DOF to get all of my subjects in focus with the least DOF. Thankfully with digital I can do a lot of bracketing and throw away tons of shots.

For most of my portrait work, I shoot in my garage, which I convert into a studio. In those cases, I can shoot at f/8 or f/11 and not worry about DOF at all. It also means that I can get great results with just about any lens. I can't emphasize enough for anyone craving super expensive glass that even cheap glass generally performs as well if you shoot at f/8 or f/11 and your light is good.

So Mark:

What do you think of your shots and locations. Which ones strike your fancy and why?

I shot about 10 test shots and picked these four as the ones I thought were acceptable. After looking at them again and reviewing the comments here, I now realize that the poolside location really isn't that good. My other concern was that the rocks aren't sufficiently photogenic. I didn't see any complaints, so I guess they aren't too bad.

Shooting in the backyard is a real challenge. We have an ugly, grey stockade fence (the standard suburban plank fence you find out here) that is in almost every shot. It is also hard to find an angle that doesn't include parts of houses and other junk. I could use a lens with a wider aperture and throw the background completely out, but I find that look to get pretty boring after a while.

did you try any at all with flash, if you under expose the background by 1 stop and light your subject with flash you will get better seperation and the subject will pop

I didn't use a flash on anything. It was a spur-of-the-moment decision just as the light was fading, so I just grabbed the camera and ran outside. If I do a real shoot outside, I'll probably add a warm, soft flash for my subject to give some direction to the light, adjust the color temperature, and add some separation.

I really want to play with some shots using colored flashes on the water, but it's too cold still for the kids to swim when the sun is going down. I've got some ideas for next month when the water warms up more. It's about 74 in the late afternoon now. I've got a coworker/neighbor with four girls with big, beautiful, blue eyes that are going to get a workout as models this summer. Over the weekend our wives started discussing chartering a sailboat in the BVI for summer of '10. I'm sure that would lead to some amazing pictures (although it will ruin my camera gear budget).

[snookiedoodles]

Is there a map of where the photographers are located in each park? I pre purchased a photo cd and I was wondering if there is a map of the disney photographers locations?

[WillowBelle]

I *think* that they are notated on the park maps you can get. They're pretty much at all the big spots - all the way down Main St./in front of the castle/SE/the tree in AK, etc.

[Altair]

There were not near as many photographers this January as compared to last year.:sad1:

[KramBerries]

Those photopass guys creep me out. People with big cameras are creepy enough as it is, but when they start taking pictures of strangers, that's just too much for me. I think on my next trip I'll start taking their pictures so that they can see how it feels.

[Karenj2]

Hi all - we're going to WDW this January - DH is doing the Marathon, and it'll be my DD's first trip to WDW!!

I'd like to get photos for a scrapbook, but I how distracted I'll be when I get down there. Can anyone help me make a list of good photo spots (or point me to a post or site with tips?)

I'm not the greatest photographer, but since this trip will be low-key and on a much slower pace than with my niece & nephew (5 & 10), I might actually be able to get some shots!

One thing I know I'll be getting - my DD will be getting her first haircut at the barber shop! :) BTW - she'll be 9 months old - so probably no running around.

[hughtopia]

One fun photo spot is actually in Downtown Disney. Outside of Pooh's Corner there's a log where you can sit with Pooh, Tigger and Piglet.

http://goflorida.about.com/od/disneyworld/ig/Downtown-Disney/Pooh-Corner.htm

[Commando2319]

I find the best photos of my kids at Disney are when they are playing. And don't realize I am taking their pictures.

So I always like to stop at the various playgrounds with the kids. Let them unwind from the stress of waiting in line and the long day by just running and playing. And then I snap as many pictures as I can with a good telephoto lens.

Like Donald's Boat, Animal Kingdom's Dinosaur dig, etc.

[Experiment_626]

I'd like to choose a location for a photo of my little boys that we can take on every trip, to show the progression as they get older. The problem is, I don't want a place that might go away in the next several years. It's hard to think of a place that is both recognizable and truly safe from the wrecking ball, other than the main park icons. Anyone have any ideas besides Cinderella Castle, Spaceship Earth, etc.?

[raysnkaysmom]

I'd like to choose a location for a photo of my little boys that we can take on every trip, to show the progression as they get older. The problem is, I don't want a place that might go away in the next several years. It's hard to think of a place that is both recognizable and truly safe from the wrecking ball, other than the main park icons. Anyone have any ideas besides Cinderella Castle, Spaceship Earth, etc.?

We try to always do the dogwood tree at Downtown Disney across the lake from Rainforest Cafe....

Another idea for MK is with the riverboat behind you :)