2 Days Til The World! - 2/10 With the snow comes an update!

[zackiedawg]

Well start getting excited...because it's grrrrrreat! up there for Xmas! I just got back yesterday from my 5 days for Pixelmania, and despite telling myself there is no need for many photos since I go so often and I've shot everything there is to shoot - I still have 1,000 photos to sort through. I go every December, and this season was as good as any so far...and the photos came out wonderful.

The Xmas decor at the parks didn't look any lower-rent than previous years - some things were even better (having had the extremely rare opportunity to shoot from the train station 2nd deck down Main Street with NO FLAGPOLE and NO TREE in the way was beyond amazing, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity). TTA is all done up in red and green LED lighting. Toy soldiers are up. Castle looks great. Epcot countries all look festive. Santa's climbing the Mama Melrose fire escape in DHS. Osbournes are all lit up. Epcot's extra Illuminations flurry is manic crazy fireworks explosion fun. AK's parade is snowing all around the park. The animals were enjoying our cool front and were all quite perky.

I went armed with full bag of lenses, filters, and doodads, but in the end I was just having fun and shooting and not really thinking of my 'schedule' of shots I was intending to take - and I ended up shooting probably 85% with my 18-250 all purpose lens, 10% with the Sigma 30 F1.4 for the dark rides, and 5% with the Tammy 10-24. While I would have loved to have gotten more wide angle stuff, and played with the ND400, I got diverted and didn't think about it...so next time. No biggie - having fun was worth more than trying to get shots on a schedule. The tripod and remote release did get a workout this time as the night shot opportunities abounded - and I took a ton of them this trip (all except Epcot - which was the only rainy day - and it was ALL DAY rain!. I still shot some interiors and a few quickie outdoor shots that day, but the World Showcase night shot tour was rained out). But Downtown Disney and MK were definitely covered this trip in the night shots.

Have fun, enjoy the Xmas decor, shoot away, and bring whatever lens or filter combination happens to strike you. If you never get around to shooting with a particular lens or filter, no worries...get them next time! I've checked out everything in the parks for you - all looking good...you're all clear to head down and have a great time!

 

[annnewjerz]

Well, now. Since we are at the 4 day mark, I figured I should post some things that I am looking forward to shooting or interested in trying to shoot.

My main photography goals for this trip are:

• Shoot Animal Kingdom at night --- this is something I've really been looking forward to since seeing Jeff's thread on AK after dark.
• Take some long exposures with my NDx400 --- I haven't had much chance to play around with this filter yet, so hopefully some long exposures of Dumbo and the monorail are in my future.
• Get some shots of SpectroMagic --- Blasphemous, I know, but I've never even seen SpectroMagic, let alone photographed it.
• Shoot the Christmas parade at MVMCP --- I'm not huge on parades, but after seeing the Boo to You parade in October, I'm looking forward to watching this.
• Shoot Wishes and/or Holiday Wishes --- After an incident in October with forgetting to change my ISO to 200 rather than 1600, I've been chomping at the bit to try out some more fireworks shots.
• Try out the Lensbaby --- I'll probably use this most during our "breaks" mid-day, but would like to try it out in Magic Kingdom as well.
• Osborne lights! --- I'm sure I won't be able to come up with anything new and exciting for the Osborne Lights, but I have one thing in mind that I'm really looking forward to trying. We'll see if it works.

 

[annnewjerz]

Well start getting excited...because it's grrrrrreat! up there for Xmas! I just got back yesterday from my 5 days for Pixelmania, and despite telling myself there is no need for many photos since I go so often and I've shot everything there is to shoot - I still have 1,000 photos to sort through. I go every December, and this season was as good as any so far...and the photos came out wonderful.

Have fun, enjoy the Xmas decor, shoot away, and bring whatever lens or filter combination happens to strike you. If you never get around to shooting with a particular lens or filter, no worries...get them next time! I've checked out everything in the parks for you - all looking good...you're all clear to head down and have a great time!

Thanks, Justin! I'm glad to hear that the parks aren't lacking compared to other years. I have been over on the "Theme Parks, Attractions & Strategies" board and heard people grumbling about how there were "so many" cut-backs, etc. I knew about the Lights of Winter but was hoping that was it.

Can't wait to see some of your shots, since a lot of them were inspiration for some that I plan on trying to get this go 'round.

 

[scoot241]

Well, now. Since we are at the 4 day mark, I figured I should post some things that I am looking forward to shooting or interested in trying to shoot.

My main photography goals for this trip are:

• Shoot Animal Kingdom at night --- this is something I've really been looking forward to since seeing Jeff's thread on AK after dark.
• Take some long exposures with my NDx400 --- I haven't had much chance to play around with this filter yet, so hopefully some long exposures of Dumbo and the monorail are in my future.
• Get some shots of SpectroMagic --- Blasphemous, I know, but I've never even seen SpectroMagic, let alone photographed it.
• Shoot the Christmas parade at MVMCP --- I'm not huge on parades, but after seeing the Boo to You parade in October, I'm looking forward to watching this.
• Shoot Wishes and/or Holiday Wishes --- After an incident in October with forgetting to change my ISO to 200 rather than 1600, I've been chomping at the bit to try out some more fireworks shots.
• Try out the Lensbaby --- I'll probably use this most during our "breaks" mid-day, but would like to try it out in Magic Kingdom as well.
• Osborne lights! --- I'm sure I won't be able to come up with anything new and exciting for the Osborne Lights, but I have one thing in mind that I'm really looking forward to trying. We'll see if it works.

Animal Kingdom at night would be the big one for me on this list. I've never even seen Animal Kingdom at night, much less had a DSLR with me.

Also would like to get another shot at Wishes with a full tripod, but we know that story already...

 

[Marlton Mom]

Just a thought on the remote release issue.... My Nikon has a really weird setting in the shutter release menu where, when you press the remote release, it waits 2 seconds and then fires. You should have seen me on Halloween trying to figure out what was going on with that thing. I finally got to that part in the camera manual and it clued me in to the fact that I was on the wrong shutter remote release setting.

I know you have a Nikon so double check the manual (I'm sure you already did!) and make sure you are understanding correctly what it is trying to tell you.

One of the reasons I was so obsessive with my Fireworks plan was the fact that my camera has a mind of it's own and if you program it in a particular way it disables certain choices that you might not realize at the time.

For instance If I set it to one of the programmable modes and the metering setting is left on spot, it locks me out of adjusting the meter back to matrix unless I change it to a mode where I can access that meter menu.

These are tentacles that I don't need to deal with when I am in the thick of it! My manual is filled with little icons that let you know that "this" only works with "that" setting.

Aye Carumba! What have we gotten ourselves into???

The other thing to remember is to bring an extra battery for the remote release. You just know that battery is gonna crap out right when you need it the most!

In other news I have started packing as well but not the camera stuff!

The last time we went on a trip I discovered my then 9 year old son did not have enough underwear (Dad does the laundry) and I had to run out at the last minute before we left for Germany for 2 weeks!!! He was this close to going commando!!

This time I am way ahead with the packing lists and preparations so I can relax the night before and actually sleep. I hope you are having the same luck!

Hopefully I'll catch you at Wishes!


Marlton Mom

 

[disneyboy2003]

• Take some long exposures with my NDx400 --- I haven't had much chance to play around with this filter yet, so hopefully some long exposures of Dumbo and the monorail are in my future.

Your post just reminded me of one more thing to bring. Do you have a circular polarizing filter? For those who don't know what this filter does, it makes the blue skies lots richer and cuts through any reflections in the water or windows. These are things that are very hard to replicate later on in post-processing or in Photoshop. A lot of photographers and photography magazines highly recommend bringing a circular polarizing filter.

This hobby sure is getting more and more expensive.

 

[My2Girls66]

Have a wonderful trip, Ann I just booked 3 nights in Feb for DD's 16th birthday. All she wanted for her big day was to go to Disney! Since we are planning to be in Naples that week anyway- we are working Disney in. She just happened to be born during NH Feb vacation week. I can't wait to see your photos so I can get some ideas! No Christmas decor for me, tho
Enjoy!

 

[WillowBelle]

The last time we went on a trip I discovered my then 9 year old son did not have enough underwear (Dad does the laundry) and I had to run out at the last minute before we left for Germany for 2 weeks!!! He was this close to going commando!!

Total derail here, sorry .....don't feel bad MM - when we went in June, we discovered THE DAY WE WERE LEAVING that neither DD had a pair of tennis shoes that fit (it was summer so they hadn't been in those sorts of shoes for a few months--since school got out). You can imagine the blisters that came up on their poor feet. Disney was glad though, they sold 2 extra pair of crocs while we were there.

As for your pictures - AK @ night would be great. I've never been there at night, or seen the parade for that note. We have only ever been at WDW at Christmas for a day trip to MK. I would think if you've never seen it decorated up before, you won't know what your missing.

 

[Quicklabs]

Ann--forgot to ask--will you be updating us on the board with some pics during your trip?

 

[budmonster]

Can't wait to see some of your shots. Hope you have a wonderful trip, I'm also headed down to WDW (GF) this weekend with DD, though I won't have as many toys with me as you, just my 50D.

 

[Suburbanmom]

<--- I'm just getting a good seat for when the trip report starts.

 

[JoeDif]

Enjoy your trip!!!

Can't wait to see the trip report

 

[annnewjerz]

Just a thought on the remote release issue.... My Nikon has a really weird setting in the shutter release menu where, when you press the remote release, it waits 2 seconds and then fires.

I know you have a Nikon so double check the manual (I'm sure you already did!) and make sure you are understanding correctly what it is trying to tell you.

Unfortunately, that isn't the problem with my ML-L3 remote, it just sucks. I have tried everything under the sun to get it to work from the front, back, side, top of the camera and none of it works unless I'm within inches of the sensor. Regardless, the cable release works just fine with me and I loved using it in October---so I'm sure it'll be just as good this trip.

Your post just reminded me of one more thing to bring. Do you have a circular polarizing filter?

This hobby sure is getting more and more expensive.

I will not be bringing a CP filter. I thought about bringing one in October and didn't and was worried about blown-out grey looking skies and was really successful in getting vibrant blue ones. I'm not super worried about it this trip either, so I doubt I'll bring one.

The more you post with suggestions for things to bring---the more expensive this hobby is getting!!

Have a wonderful trip, Ann I just booked 3 nights in Feb for DD's 16th birthday. All she wanted for her big day was to go to Disney! Since we are planning to be in Naples that week anyway- we are working Disney in. She just happened to be born during NH Feb vacation week. I can't wait to see your photos so I can get some ideas! No Christmas decor for me, tho
Enjoy!

Banana man for going down in February, I'm sure that'll be fun! Too bad they aren't doing the free admission on your birthday anymore---otherwise she could have gotten an $80 gift card to spend as a gift as well!

As for your pictures - AK @ night would be great. I've never been there at night, or seen the parade for that note.

We've only been to AK once and that was for maybe 3 hours, so I'm really looking forward to staying for longer and spending evening EMH there. Right now it's the only day of the trip that all day rain is predicted for, but I'll believe that when I see it.

Ann--forgot to ask--will you be updating us on the board with some pics during your trip?

It's a thought, but I would say probably not. I would post some shots during the trip since I'm bringing my laptop, but I don't think I can justify spending whatever they want to charge for internet these days. I have my phone with 3G to check my e-mail, weather, etc. so paying extra just to upload pictures may not happen. We'll see though---depends on my mood.

Can't wait to see some of your shots. Hope you have a wonderful trip, I'm also headed down to WDW (GF) this weekend with DD, though I won't have as many toys with me as you, just my 50D.

A few of us are trying to get together in the MK on Monday evening for Wishes, if you have any interest in trying to meet up with us! If not, have a great trip with your DD and enjoy the Grand Floridian---I'm not staying there but will definitely be making a stop in to see the Gingerbread House.

<--- I'm just getting a good seat for when the trip report starts.

The popcorn can't possibly be starting already---I haven't even left yet! I'll probably be doing my TR in this same thread, so your "seat" should be perfect for when I eventually start it.

Enjoy your trip!!!

Can't wait to see the trip report

Thanks, Joe! I saw the forecast for our area on Saturday is going to be a high of like 35, so I'll definitely enjoy the 80 degree weather it looks like we're heading to.

 

[wingawh]

I have not seen anyone mention the Holga. If you are in Epcot during the afternoon just before the sun sets you may be able to get some wonderful images of the sky and shooting across the lagoon. In the past I have come away with some incredible black and white pics using Ilford 400 XP2 film.

We just got back from a trip to WDW for Thanksgiving. I show 10 rolls of film and can't wait for it to come back from the lab later this week.

Best wishes!

 

[spinetnglr]

<------- Since Amy has her seat saved and is munching already thought I would save the seat next to hers and bring the . Brought one for you too Amy .... you might need to wash down some of that popcorn while we are waiting

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

It's a thought, but I would say probably not. I would post some shots during the trip since I'm bringing my laptop, but I don't think I can justify spending whatever they want to charge for internet these days. I have my phone with 3G to check my e-mail, weather, etc. so paying extra just to upload pictures may not happen. We'll see though---depends on my mood.

I don't know if that excuse will hold up! DVC now has free wired internet.

Seriously though - have a great trip. Christmas time at WDW is a very special time!

 

[annnewjerz]

In the past I have come away with some incredible black and white pics using Ilford 400 XP2 film.

We just got back from a trip to WDW for Thanksgiving. I show 10 rolls of film and can't wait for it to come back from the lab later this week.

Best wishes!

Thanks! I have some black and white film that I'm really looking forward to using up. The tones I get with the film are so much better than those when I do a black & white conversion with digital.

<------- Since Amy has her seat saved and is munching already thought I would save the seat next to hers and bring the . Brought one for you too Amy .... you might need to wash down some of that popcorn while we are waiting

With all of this popcorn, I think I'm going to be the one needing a drink when I get back. The pressure is already getting to me!

I don't know if that excuse will hold up! DVC now has free wired internet.

Ah, but you see---I'm not DVC, merely renting points from a DVC member. So, while I think I could get the wired internets for free---if they charged it to my final bill, upon check-out I wouldn't have the member card to show them to get it taken off.

 

[spinetnglr]

It's a thought, but I would say probably not. I would post some shots during the trip since I'm bringing my laptop, but I don't think I can justify spending whatever they want to charge for internet these days. I have my phone with 3G to check my e-mail, weather, etc. so paying extra just to upload pictures may not happen. We'll see though---depends on my mood.

I can certainly relate to that. When I was there in October the place I stayed wanted $50 for the week for internet or $25 for 3 days or $12 for one day. For all the time I actually spent in the condo I couldn't even justify the $5 they wanted for 3 hours of access. I had my iphone to check email and FB updates so it was really no need to pay for internet to upload a few pics.

 

[annnewjerz]

I can certainly relate to that. When I was there in October the place I stayed wanted $50 for the week for internet or $25 for 3 days or $12 for one day. For all the time I actually spent in the condo I couldn't even justify the $5 they wanted for 3 hours of access. I had my iphone to check email and FB updates so it was really no need to pay for internet to upload a few pics.

Well what's your excuse now, Karyl? Your home isn't charging you $50 per week to upload them.

 

[NLD]

Well what's your excuse now, Karyl? Your home isn't charging you $50 per week to upload them.