Photography at Halloween Horror Nights?

[Groucho]

Originally Posted by Gdad

It worked out fine except my just-turned-11 daughter absolutely FREAKED OUT in the first haunted house we went through- some kind of winter cemetery theme- and would not go in anymore houses. In fact we had to wander all over the place just trying to find a way out and avoid the roving bands of chainsaw wielding monsters and such. Funny because she will fearlessly ride absolutely any roller coaster or thrill ride out there with reckless abandon but people in monster masks that jump out and make zombie sounds really scared her.

I can see that - I imagine my 3-year-old will be the same way; she loves getting tossed around and being carried upside-down (and she loves zombies already, no doubt being helped by her big brother!) but I'm sure she'd turn into a blubbering mess in an environment like that!

As for photography I did not get much of an opportunity to shoot. I went light with no tripod or camera bag- just the D700 & 20mm f/1.8. I think there were signs forbidding shooting in all the houses and I don't remember seeing anyone else with a tripod. There is enough light in many places to shoot handheld- also great opportunities at dusk/ early evening. I was thinking about going back without the kids this year just because I was kind of disappointed I couldn't do much last time- if you are going solo on a thurs/fri/sat night and want to hang out then hit me up on facebook or with an email.

That would be fun - I have a 3-day ticket so will be at Universal a few days, the last one being a Thursday. I'll also be by myself so I'm sure that by Thursday, I'll be happy to have someone to talk to. I've got to squeeze in time to visit the Epcot F&W too; I'll be staying at AKL so I'll be nearby. I suspect that Universal won't have enough to keep me occupied for all three days so maybe I'll do that Thursday daytime... I'll send you a note and we can figure out the details.

[Hockeyman]

Have you guys ever shot with your tripods at HHN? Trying to make it up there for at least one night at HHN and have been debating on bringing it with me or not. Afraid I may spend more time getting pictures than I would experiencing the event itself lol

[Groucho]

Originally Posted by Hockeyman

Have you guys ever shot with your tripods at HHN? Trying to make it up there for at least one night at HHN and have been debating on bringing it with me or not. Afraid I may spend more time getting pictures than I would experiencing the event itself lol

I'll be able to tell you in four weeks. If conditions warrant, I may bring in my full-size tripod (which I can strap to my camera bag) but I doubt that I will be doing that.

Heck, I'm not sure how well it'd work anywhere in Universal Studios - I understand there are free lockers by some of the rides where they won't let you carry bags on, but are they big enough to fit a good-sized camera bag and tripod?

[Hockeyman]

Originally Posted by Groucho

I'll be able to tell you in four weeks. If conditions warrant, I may bring in my full-size tripod (which I can strap to my camera bag) but I doubt that I will be doing that.

Heck, I'm not sure how well it'd work anywhere in Universal Studios - I understand there are free lockers by some of the rides where they won't let you carry bags on, but are they big enough to fit a good-sized camera bag and tripod?

I might be going either the weekend of the 6th or the following weekend if things go according to plan lol.

Universal is very very strict with bringing anything on the rides. They wont even allow you to enter the line with any sort of bag on the big rides. As for the lockers, im not sure since every time I have gone in the past I have avoided bringing in any bags to avoid the lockers at all costs or we have had the kids stroller to store stuff. I think you might be ok with a medium size bag but the the tripod may not fit. I have a Sony that folds down to about 24" tall and im pretty sure I could squeeze it in the locker lol. To tell you the truth though, while at HHN you want to do as much of the houses and shows that you can. The rides are there all year but the HHN stuff isnt. We generally dont do much riding during the event because we try to hit all the houses and shows.

[Groucho]

Originally Posted by Hockeyman

I might be going either the weekend of the 6th or the following weekend if things go according to plan lol.

Universal is very very strict with bringing anything on the rides. They wont even allow you to enter the line with any sort of bag on the big rides. As for the lockers, im not sure since every time I have gone in the past I have avoided bringing in any bags to avoid the lockers at all costs or we have had the kids stroller to store stuff. I think you might be ok with a medium size bag but the the tripod may not fit. I have a Sony that folds down to about 24" tall and im pretty sure I could squeeze it in the locker lol. To tell you the truth though, while at HHN you want to do as much of the houses and shows that you can. The rides are there all year but the HHN stuff isnt. We generally dont do much riding during the event because we try to hit all the houses and shows.

Good info, thanks. For me, HHN is a little bit of an afterthought; it just happened to overlap with my trip - I'm a big horror fan but not so much into haunted houses. As for the rides, I'm thinking more of what to do during the day, since I'll have my camera bag with me pretty much all the time. As it turns out, the tripod may not really be much of an issue - checking the hours, it looks like everything (except HHN) shuts down pretty early, so it'll probably not even be particularly dark by the time the parks close. Oh well!

[Hockeyman]

Originally Posted by Groucho

Good info, thanks. For me, HHN is a little bit of an afterthought; it just happened to overlap with my trip - I'm a big horror fan but not so much into haunted houses. As for the rides, I'm thinking more of what to do during the day, since I'll have my camera bag with me pretty much all the time. As it turns out, the tripod may not really be much of an issue - checking the hours, it looks like everything (except HHN) shuts down pretty early, so it'll probably not even be particularly dark by the time the parks close. Oh well!

Yeah that's the only problem with going during the day and not going to HHN, the park closes at 5 so they can clear it and get it ready for HHN to let loose at 7 (6:30 ish if you stay in the park from the day) Im not a horror fan at all but absolutely love HHN. I love the atmosphere and how different the park is from a normal day.

[Hockeyman]

Here are some shots I got this past weekend at HHN


DSC07987-Edit by Mike Sperduto, on Flickr



Halloween Horror Nights by Mike Sperduto, on Flickr



Horde by Mike Sperduto, on FlickrMG]



Ghostly horde by Mike Sperduto, on Flickr



HHN by Mike Sperduto, on Flickr



Horde by Mike Sperduto, on Flickr



HHN by Mike Sperduto, on Flickr



20 Penny Circus by Mike Sperduto, on Flickr

[HPS3]

Great shots Mike! HHN looks pretty spooky. I'm used to MNSSHP. LOL!

[Hockeyman]

Originally Posted by HPS3

Great shots Mike! HHN looks pretty spooky. I'm used to MNSSHP. LOL!

Thanks Harry, and yeah it is about as opposite of MNSSHP as an event can get