How To Shoot: Cinderella's Castle

[MarkBarbieri]

This is another in a series of threads focused on how to shoot different shows, attractions, rides, and events at Disney Theme Parks. The purpose is to help people learn how to shoot those things with their camera and what they can reasonably expect from their camera.

On this forum, we run the gamut from cell phone cameras to high end DSLRs with rediculously large lenses. I'm hoping that we'll get a variety of posts from people with cameras in all ranges. Even if you feel that your photos don't measure up to what others have posted, please post some samples anyway. We're all at different levels of gear and skill and we can all learn from each other. A typical S3 user will probably learn more from your S3 shot than they will from GDad's latest masterpiece.

Other posts in the series include:
How To Shoot: Fireworks (http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1474329)
How To Shoot: Parades (http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=20590733#post20590733)
How To Shoot: Indoor Shows (http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=21446710#post21446710)
How To Shoot: The Safari Ride (http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=19285941)
How To Shoot: SpectroMagic (http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1992784)
How To Shoot: Dark Rides (http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2212739)

Cinderella's Castle is almost certainly the most photographed subject in all of Disney World. The Castle is a great subject for any shooter, regardless of their camera. It doesn't move, so no shutter lag concerns. It's pretty during the day, no tripod needed. It's really, really big, so you don't need a long zoom lens. And it never sprays your camera with water.

Most people photograph it from the central hub or spots nearby. Because the Castle is north of the central hub, you don't have to worry about shooting into the sun.

One of the best spots for a Castle shot is on the bridge connecting the central hub with Liberty Square. It's a beautiful shot with water in the foreground and the castle in background. I'm embarrased to admit it, but I don't have an online version of this shot as an example. When standing on the bridge, the sun sets behind you, so I bet that makes for some pretty evening light on the castle.

Another popular background castle shot is one taken with some of the flowers along the walk from the central hub to Tomorrowland in the foreground. For shots in which you are focusing on something really, really close and something really far away, it can be a real challenge to get both objects in focus.

You would think that a shot taken from the top of the train station at the end of Main Street would be great, becuase you would get all of Main Street with the Castle at the end. Sadly, a flag pole is right in the middle of the street near the train station. You can still get a good picture by moving to the side and lining the flagpole up with some other buildings, but you lose the symmetry.

Standing south of the Castle is great during the Wishes fireworks show because the Castle makes a perfect foreground object in front of the fireworks.

Another popular castle shooting technique is to use it as a background for other shots. One popular foreground subject is the statue of Walt and Mickey.
http://barbieri.smugmug.com/photos/21462418-M.jpg.

Of course, anyone can find great pictures of Cinderella's Castle online. To make your picture special, make sure to include the people special to you in a shot in front of the Castle. The "family in front of the Castle" shot is the traditional summary photo for a family trip to the Kingdom.

During the day, you'll notice a long, thin wire from high up on the castle down to some place between Main Street and Tomorrowland. That's Tinkerbell's safety line (she really flies down, but they have the safety line because she gets nervous flying that high). It's pretty easy to clone this line out with a photo editor if it really bothers you.

If you get to the park and you see a crane hovering over the Castle, don't be too disheartened. In my experience, they always take it down toward the end of the day, leaving you with a little time for a clear shot at the castle and a clear view of the castle for the fireworks show.

So what are your tips for great Castle shots? Any great shots in and around the Castle? Any good shots using the castle gates to frame a view looking out from the Castle?

[Groucho]

I think we should include our West Coast friends and lump Sleeping Beauty Castle in with Cinderella Castle - the ways of shooting them are largely the same - right down to the Partners statue.

http://www.totalsham.com/pics/gallery/4250-4/2007DL-166.jpg

Then there's the overseas ones, but having never been to any (yet!), I can't comment. :)

Oh, and I seem to recall reading that Cinderella Castle is the most photographed building in the "real" world, not just Disney World. Of course, I don't know how you'd measure something like that, but I wouldn't doubt it.

I believe the bridge you speak of will produce the following shot (from back in '95, on what us old-timers used to call "film"):

http://www.totalsham.com/pics/gallery/11178-4/1995WDW-10.jpg

Another nice spot, IMHO, is from over near the Crystal Palace. It's nice to get a shot that's not straight in front or to the sides, this helps give it a nice 3D appearance.

http://www.totalsham.com/pics/gallery/11931-4/2007WDWb-346.jpg

I did do a tripod shot looking out from the gates over the crowd waiting for Wishes to begin, but I wasn't happy with the results and it's not online - but I may be able to clean it up with Lightroom enough once I get to it again.

I am also looking forward to trying some fisheye shots from up close.

[JR6ooo4]

I believe the bridge you speak of will produce the following shot (from back in '95, on what us old-timers used to call "film"):

http://www.totalsham.com/pics/gallery/11178-4/1995WDW-10.jpg

Wow! Look how tiny the trees were. And some are not even there any more.


Mikeeee

[JR6ooo4]

Another background shot, on a rainy august day...
http://MnMStudios.smugmug.com/photos/91996175-M.jpg

Mikeeee

Nice series compilation mark. If it is not a sticky soon it would be a shame. Or at least an index to each thread.

Mikeeee

[barrie]

Any good shots using the castle gates to frame a view looking out from the Castle?

I have a few looking through the castle to the carrousel on one end and Main Street on the other.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1092/1412057676_c277c6bff5.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/fodw/1412057676/)

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/211/514508721_f36ad35b21.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/fodw/514508721/in/set-72157600221088447)

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/236/514518931_0c9c7905d5.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/fodw/514518931/in/set-72157600221088447)

[MICKEY88]

collection of castle shots, from various locations shot in vertical and horizontal using foreground objects to add dimension to the picture

http://images30.fotki.com/v43/photos/8/86568/5580638/012_12vi-vi.jpg

http://images31.fotki.com/v1042/photos/8/86568/5580638/013_13vi-vi.jpg


http://images31.fotki.com/v1041/photos/8/86568/5580638/020_20vi-vi.jpg

http://images30.fotki.com/v471/photos/8/86568/5580638/021_21vi-vi.jpg



http://images30.fotki.com/v38/photos/8/86568/5580638/023_23vi-vi.jpg

http://images30.fotki.com/v470/photos/8/86568/5580638/024_24vi-vi.jpg



lucky shot,, taken at 10:40 AM with no crowd

http://images26.fotki.com/v934/photos/8/86568/5580638/22106MKa09vi-vi.jpg


taken while leaving the park to go to MGM

http://images32.fotki.com/v1048/photos/8/86568/5580638/MK21706C2598vi-vi.jpg

[Gdad]

A couple of my favorite/different castle shots...

http://www.capturelifeinaction.com/photos/197237089-L.jpg

http://www.capturelifeinaction.com/photos/179881275-L.jpg

http://www.capturelifeinaction.com/photos/121825431-L.jpg

http://www.capturelifeinaction.com/photos/207722851-L.jpg

[fan1080]

Family shots at night are great:
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b334/fan1080/DSC_0304resizefordebbie.jpg

Side shots make interesting photos too:
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b334/fan1080/DSC_0759Resize.jpg

[orchjoe]

Take time to get some close ups if possible. I like to get one’s that show the detail and different perspectives.


http://orchjoe.smugmug.com/photos/218822277-L.jpg
http://orchjoe.smugmug.com/photos/218822451-L.jpg
http://orchjoe.smugmug.com/photos/218822531-L.jpg

[woody64]

Before the fireworks I like this shot taken from the terrace. This picture looks much better when its bigger.

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b267/bgidlow/castlewallpaper.jpg

Thanks to all on this site who help with ideas and advice:thumbsup2

[esrade]

One of the best spots for a Castle shot is on the bridge connecting the central hub with Liberty Square. It's a beautiful shot with water in the foreground and the castle in background. I'm embarrased to admit it, but I don't have an online version of this shot as an example. When standing on the bridge, the sun sets behind you, so I bet that makes for some pretty evening light on the castle.

Don't have a lot to add about how to take shots of the castle, but I did take a couple with my little point & shoot (Fuji F31fd) a couple of months on the Liberty Square bridge at sunset.

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd115/hippychickenator/DSCF1210copy_small.jpg

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd115/hippychickenator/DSCF1220copy_small.jpg

[We-Luv-Disney]

Ah my favorite WDW subject! It can be shot many ways! I love dramatic clouds while shooting the castle, and night shots of the castle are also beautiful!
http://www.pbase.com/catson/image/72962409/large.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/catson/image/82008267/original.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/catson/image/64436148/original.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/catson/image/81479533/original.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/catson/image/78622301/original.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/catson/image/41384586/original.jpg

[My2Girls66]

Here is one from Disneyland Paris from April '04- I believe its called Sleeping Beauty's Castle there.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y203/SusieW/DSCN1930.jpg

[AndrewWG]

Ah my favorite WDW subject! It can be shot many ways! I love dramatic clouds while shooting the castle, and night shots of the castle are also beautiful!
http://www.pbase.com/catson/image/78622301/original.jpg



Ok, I really like this perspective! I may try this on my trip in a couple weeks. I just wish that tree wasn't there. I'll try it anyways. Thanks for posting it!

[boBQuincy]

Looks like I was in a similar location in February.
http://suzieandbob.com/wdw/castle_1703.jpg

The castle is *so* photographed it's difficult to get a "new" photo of it. I like stormy sky photos.
http://suzieandbob.com/wdw/castle_4893.jpg

Or sometimes a filter may help.
http://suzieandbob.com/wdw/castle_4893_toon.jpg

[Nbtstatic]

Here is my favorite one, it's from the bridge to LS you mention above.

http://shilling.smugmug.com/photos/72672202-O.jpg

Love your photos!

[Renysmom]

We lUv Disney

I followed your exif info on your castle photo as I wanted to see what else you have done and came across your "HDR" gallery. The effects are AMAZING!! What exactly is HDR and how are you doing this great work?

[MarkBarbieri]

I have a few looking through the castle to the carrousel on one end and Main Street on the other.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1092/1412057676_c277c6bff5.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/fodw/1412057676/)

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/211/514508721_f36ad35b21.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/fodw/514508721/in/set-72157600221088447)

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/236/514518931_0c9c7905d5.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/fodw/514518931/in/set-72157600221088447)

Did you have to do anything special to balance the light? It seems like a lot of the times I take a shot from inside someplace and use it to frame the view outwards, the light levels don't match and one part is either too dark or too light.

[MarkBarbieri]

A couple of my favorite/different castle shots...

http://www.capturelifeinaction.com/photos/197237089-L.jpg

http://www.capturelifeinaction.com/photos/179881275-L.jpg

http://www.capturelifeinaction.com/photos/121825431-L.jpg

http://www.capturelifeinaction.com/photos/207722851-L.jpg

Fantastic shots (as usual). Can you tell us a little about how you got those shots?

[boBQuincy]

We lUv Disney

I followed your exif info on your castle photo as I wanted to see what else you have done and came across your "HDR" gallery. The effects are AMAZING!! What exactly is HDR and how are you doing this great work?

True HDR is a means of extending the range of our cameras by combining images with different exposures. A high end camera has a range of 12 bits (some newer ones have 14 bits) while a scene may have a range much greater than that. By combining images we can extend the range to equal or even exceed the scene.

Our eyes are dynamic and automagically adjust to areas of brightness in a scene, HDR can attempt to mimic that.

Now, most monitors only have 8 bits, many only have 6 bits (8 with dithering) and can not properly display a 12, 14, or HDR image anyway. The HDR image must be altered (called tone mapping) to be displayed.

On to "enhanced" HDR...
DPHDR, a product of MediaChance, has options for making some very amazing HDR images. Photomatix by HDRSoft also can produce similar images. Here are some of their samples, which have a look similar to some of the HDR images seen on the web:
http://www.mediachance.com/hdri/gallery.html
http://www.hdrsoft.com/

Adobe Photoshop CS3 also does HDR but without the enhancements. Try them all and see which ones you like.

[handicap18]

There certainly many angles to photograph the Castle. Also try getting in there as early as possible in the morning. Morning light on the castle is awesome. Sometimes you can get in as much as an hour and 15 minutes before official opening if you have real early breakfast reservastions at Crystal Palace or CRT.

Here are some of mine:
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c351/kgendron12/2006%20Trip%20Photos%20-%20June/Magic%20Kingdom/DSC_1200.jpg

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c351/kgendron12/2006%20Trip%20Photos%20-%20June/Magic%20Kingdom/DSC_1250.jpg

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c351/kgendron12/2006%20Trip%20Photos%20-%20June/Magic%20Kingdom/DSC_1259.jpg


This one was around 8am, but it was in June and the sun had already been out for a few hours. I think 8am in Nov/Dec/Jan would get you the best AM light
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c351/kgendron12/2006%20Trip%20Photos%20-%20June/Magic%20Kingdom/DSC_1272a.jpg

From the Crystal Palace porch
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c351/kgendron12/2006%20Trip%20Photos%20-%20June/Magic%20Kingdom/DSC_1277.jpg

Close-up with all the Bling-Bling
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c351/kgendron12/2006%20Trip%20Photos%20-%20June/Magic%20Kingdom/DSC_1508.jpg

Metered off the sky for this one:
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c351/kgendron12/2006%20Trip%20Photos%20-%20June/Magic%20Kingdom/DSC_1616.jpg

and of course,,,, Wishes:
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c351/kgendron12/2006%20Trip%20Photos%20-%20June/Magic%20Kingdom/DSC_1679.jpg

[Groucho]

I'm almost done redoing my January trip photos and finally get to the shots from inside the castle...

http://www.totalsham.com/pics/gallery/13285-4/2007WDWb-581.jpg

The crowd awaiting Wishes. At this point, pretty much everyone else had been cleared out of the hallway in the castle, so I was able to put the tripod right in front looking out. Unfortunately, I think I was in manual focus mode and had it way off. Argh!

http://www.totalsham.com/pics/gallery/13289-4/2007WDWb-582.jpg

And was able to do a few tripod shots coming down the ramps. Here's one of them.

http://www.totalsham.com/pics/gallery/13298-4/2007WDWb-584.jpg

I'm thinking that next time, I may try to get more photos of the crowds themselves.

[MinnieMouse73]

Then there's the overseas ones, but having never been to any (yet!), I can't comment.

I can 'do' Disneyland Paris, though I'm no professional photographer (I'd love to be though - some of the photos on here are amazing!). They were just taken on my little digital 'point and shoot' camera...

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p199/caroooon/dlp%20dec%20day%201/dec06076.jpg

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p199/caroooon/dlp%20dec%20day%201/dec06085.jpg

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p199/caroooon/dlp%20dec%20day%201/dec06084.jpg

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p199/caroooon/dlp%20dec%20day%202/dec06143.jpg
(I really wish there weren't so many trees in front of it!)

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p199/caroooon/dlp%20dec%20day%202/dec06144.jpg

[MinnieMouse73]

And a Disneyland one I quite like (though wish the sky had been less cloudy!) ..

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p199/caroooon/california%202/california675.jpg

[handicap18]

Here are a few from this past Holiday season...

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c351/kgendron12/2007%20Trip%20Photos%20-%20Nov-Dec/Magic%20Kingdom/DSD_1797.jpg

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c351/kgendron12/2007%20Trip%20Photos%20-%20Nov-Dec/Magic%20Kingdom/DSC_9393.jpg

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c351/kgendron12/2007%20Trip%20Photos%20-%20Nov-Dec/Magic%20Kingdom/DSD_1834.jpg

[MinnieMouse73]

A-ha, I knew I had some Disneyland Paris ones without so much tree!

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p199/caroooon/disneyland%20paris%20october%2006/castle3.jpg

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p199/caroooon/disneyland%20paris%20october%2006/castle2.jpg

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p199/caroooon/disneyland%20paris%20october%2006/castle.jpg

[Mischa]

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g190/luv2paint-n-craft/June2007/P1010609a2.jpg

I love taking pics of the castle. This one is my favorite.

[Steve's Girl]

I'll add a few of mine...

Castle as a backdrop
http://wendymitchell.smugmug.com/photos/231266800_DRoQb-L.jpg

seeing it from a different perspective
http://wendymitchell.smugmug.com/photos/231878897_4SSLr-L.jpg

from a distance
http://wendymitchell.smugmug.com/photos/231879850_bnAS5-L.jpg

shallow DOF
http://wendymitchell.smugmug.com/photos/151272196_HpGL2-L.jpg

always great with fireworks
http://wendymitchell.smugmug.com/photos/233338875_wWyp9-L.jpg

http://wendymitchell.smugmug.com/photos/231862486_zDh4d-L.jpg

http://wendymitchell.smugmug.com/photos/231861697_4suvS-L.jpg

[tjl1388]

I have had great luck getting any shot I wanted VERY LATE at night....when the last parade/fireworks are done resist that pain in your legs and back and fight against the current of people and head to the castle.

I have been amply rewarded time after time. This one is my favorite. This was with MNSSHP lighting.

http://tjl1388.smugmug.com/photos/199103029_HZprf-L-6.jpg

[SrisonS]

The castle can make for a nice background....

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee98/SrisonS/Misc%20And%20Temp%20Pics/IMG_7703.jpg

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee98/SrisonS/Misc%20And%20Temp%20Pics/IMG_7631.jpg

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee98/SrisonS/Misc%20And%20Temp%20Pics/IMG_7565.jpg

i think i stole the idea for this shot from someone on the Disboards.
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee98/SrisonS/Misc%20And%20Temp%20Pics/IMG_0042.jpg


Or Get Close...
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee98/SrisonS/Misc%20And%20Temp%20Pics/IMG_7861.jpg

Kneel down...
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee98/SrisonS/Misc%20And%20Temp%20Pics/IMG_1160.jpg

Move Back...
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee98/SrisonS/Misc%20And%20Temp%20Pics/IMG_7667.jpg

Kneel down behind the flowers in front of Crystal Palace...
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee98/SrisonS/Misc%20And%20Temp%20Pics/IMG_1076.jpg

[MattJL]

Is this what Disney World Mars would look like?

http://matt.codders.org/images/20071231_5726.jpg

It was actually taken during New Years. Look here (http://matt.codders.org/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=485) for more.

[madbrad76]

bump

[Sue's Mum]

Such fantastic photos here. They are bring a tear or two to my eyes. Am I soppy or what?

[ThurlFan]

And sometimes even if you're there at park opening you still have to clone out some elements...

http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z77/MagicTripsCat/Castle_Before.jpg

I usually remove tink's wire from castle pics, and also in this case a trash can, two hitchin' posts and some random guests...

http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z77/MagicTripsCat/Castle_After.jpg

Of course, it's easier to get unobstructed views from the side. The weather was gorgeous this day and the sky just right.

http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z77/MagicTripsCat/616_DisneyMay2007_cloned.jpg

Actually, that last one is a good example of how to take a boring photo of an otherwise scintillating subject. Looking back I wish I had done as some of the others and gone for something like 2/3 castle and 1/3 water foreground. But I really do like the sky...

[JR6ooo4]

bump
this one also needed some people removing. All of mickey and walts legs were blocked by people. I cloned the people out and put the legs back.
http://mnmstudios.smugmug.com/photos/62904619_Sa2z9-L-1.jpg
Mikeeee

[brack]

I call this one my "Lucky" Castle shot.

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b144/brackjr/New%20Pictures/IMG_0371.jpg

[Cdnmom2001]

incredible beautiful stunning pictures. I am so jealous, I hope that my Canon XS can do justice to this beautiful castle in 3 weeks

[*Meagan*]

what setting does everyone use to shoot the castle during the day?

[adidas97]

one I took from in front of crystal Place in August.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4105/4957263571_e359e36b96.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/adidas97/4957263571/)
046 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/adidas97/4957263571/) by adidas97 (http://www.flickr.com/people/adidas97/), on Flickr

[WDWFigment]

what setting does everyone use to shoot the castle during the day?

f/8 and be there.

[*Meagan*]

f/8 and be there.

and be there? where else would I be? LoL

ISO?

[disneyboy2003]

what setting does everyone use to shoot the castle during the day?

Actually, daytime photography is probably the simplest type of photography for digital cameras. You can pretty much set ANY digital camera on "Auto", and you'll get decent daytime photos.

The challenge for digital cameras is actually low-light & nighttime photography.


and be there? where else would I be? LoL

ISO?

"f/8 and be there" is actually an old saying in photojournalism. If you were a photographer covering a news event, you can "simply" set your camera's aperture to f/8, be at the right place at the right time, and snap your photo. Having an aperture of f/8 assures that you have adequate depth-of-field for your photo, assuming you were in good light and had basic camera skills. It also means that being on the scene is more important than worrying about technical details. (from Wikipedia) It's basically a photojournalist's point-and-shoot setting.

Regarding ISO, if you're looking to take a photo during the day, you probably have enough light outside to use ISO 100-200.

As you may already know, ISO refers to the camera sensor's sensitivity to light. The lower the ISO, the less sensitive it is to light. You typically use a lower ISO (ex. ISO 100-200) when your scene is very bright. The nice thing about using lower ISOs is that your photos are usually clean & noise-free. However, if you try to use low ISOs in darker situations, you can potentially get dark, underexposed photos. Or, your camera might try to compensate for this, and end up giving you a properly-exposed blurry photo instead.

The higher the ISO, the more sensitive it is to light. You typically use higher ISOs (ex. ISO 800, 1600, 3200, etc) when you're in low-light, indoor, or dark situations. The downside to using higher ISOs is that you can get photos with lots of grain (or "noise").


So, let me turn the question back to you. Besides "Auto", what settings would YOU use to take a picture of Cinderella's Castle during the day?

[WDWFigment]

So, let me turn the question back to you. Besides "Auto", what settings would YOU use to take a picture of Cinderella's Castle during the day?

Unless the Castle is the backdrop (e.g. Partners with the 70-200, a flower in the Rose Garden, etc.) where I might use shallow depth of field, I'll stick by my previous answer. During the day, I think it's more about getting the composition right than the settings. Although I will admit that I generally use f/11 rather than f/8 as I find it to be sharper, but that's just personal preference.

[mer1015]

http://i832.photobucket.com/albums/zz247/game1012/IMG_2557.jpg

[Uncle Greg]

Unless the Castle is the backdrop (e.g. Partners with the 70-200, a flower in the Rose Garden, etc.) where I might use shallow depth of field, I'll stick by my previous answer. During the day, I think it's more about getting the composition right than the settings. Although I will admit that I generally use f/11 rather than f/8 as I find it to be sharper, but that's just personal preference.


Ya but "f/11 and be there" just sounds stupid. ;)