Articulating character head photos

[DoleWhipDVC]

Is it just me or are these new articulating heads a real pain in the rumpus room to shoot? I know it looks cool when Mickey wiggles his nose and everyone now has the ability to blink. But I've got some shots that look like the characters are either drunk or possibly suffering from head trauma. In some pictures one eye is closed but the other is open, in others the eyes are barely open making it look like the character is drifting off to sleep (or squinting in an evil way), and in some shots the whites of the eyes are fully exposed but there is no pupil!! Now that looks really creepy. The new heads certainly increase the challenges of shooting a stage show. Anyway, it's all for fun at the end of the day, but I was just wondering if anyone else is getting some of these strange "eye moments" from their character photos.

 

[Gianna'sPapa]

The blinking eyes are always getting me. I will have this beautifully exposed and composed picture, with Mickey and Minnie's eyes closed. Here is an example:


MVMCP 8 by Gianna'sPapa, on Flickr

 

[DoleWhipDVC]

Your photo is a great example of what I'm talking about. I know the quality of what you shoot, papa, so if you're having trouble I don't feel too bad about my issues. I wish I had kept a few of mine to post, but I deleted them before starting this thread. I too had some really nice shots that were just ruined (in a funny way) by those eyes. Here's an idea, maybe a new thread should be started where people could post the strangest eye effect pics. We could call it "crazy eyes" or something like that!!

 

[zackiedawg]

When I shot the 'dream along with...' show, I found this issue popping up - I had to take dozens of photos to get the good ones - every 3rd shot or so seemed to have some strange eyelid position or closed eye.

Then again, this isn't all that different than catching the unmasked performers, where not only are closed eyes a worry, but the constant emoting of the cast members. I'm sure many of us have a shot of a princess in a parade with a rather unflattering facial expression because you caught her in the middle of opening her mouth, closing her eyes, or scrunching her face. They constantly emote and move in the parades and shows, so they sometimes get some very strange poses in photos.

 

[plyeng2ff]

Are the new articulating character heads only at the parks? Is the cruiseline included too.

 

[photo_chick]

Those blinking eyes just creep me out. And yes, a total pain to shoot.

 

[Marlton Mom]

I just take a black sharpie marker and make little black dots on my monitor where their pupils need to be.

Yes it is more than a little freaky and annoying. Hopefully they will figure out that it creeps people out and stop using it. Until then it's the black sharpie method for me.

They've got to be running out of room in those heads, especially when they are eventually adding voice capabilities and what not. The blinkers gotta GO!

~Marlton Mom

Just thought of something better.... do they still make "Colorforms"? They'd work much better than the sharpies!

 

[Groucho]

I just take a black sharpie marker and make little black dots on my monitor where their pupils need to be.

Just thought of something better.... do they still make "Colorforms"? They'd work much better than the sharpies!

They sure do... they're hard to find, but they still exist!

Maybe just gluing some Mr Potato Head eyes on your monitor would work as well? But you'd need a small set to take with you to glue onto your camera's LCD... but that's pretty minor compared to what many of us amateur Disney photographers put ourselves through.

Back to the original question - here's my best example of this issue. Here, Mickey is saying to Minnie, "hey babe, let's go meet behind the turrets!"


Dream Along with Mickey castle stage show by Groucho Dis, on Flickr

 

[DoleWhipDVC]

They sure do... they're hard to find, but they still exist!

Maybe just gluing some Mr Potato Head eyes on your monitor would work as well? But you'd need a small set to take with you to glue onto your camera's LCD... but that's pretty minor compared to what many of us amateur Disney photographers put ourselves through.

Back to the original question - here's my best example of this issue. Here, Mickey is saying to Minnie, "hey babe, let's go meet behind the turrets!"


Dream Along with Mickey castle stage show by Groucho Dis, on Flickr

OMG... that is a hilarious shot!!! I was laughing out loud and almost wet myself when I saw it. Your caption is the best! CLASSIC STUFF!!!!

 

[ThurlFan]

Dream Along with Mickey castle stage show by Groucho Dis, on Flickr

Holy moley! It's Spicoli Mouse!

 

[alloyd1170]

Any chance you could cut and paste the eyes off of a good shot on to the goofy ones?

 

[WDWFigment]

Ahh yes, drunk Mickey photos. I have more than my fair share of those thanks to articulating heads. They just add another fun challenge to the mix!

 

[photo_chick]

Groucho that Mickey has been taking lessons on the smolder from Flynn Rider.

 

[Groucho]

Groucho that Mickey has been taking lessons on the smolder from Flynn Rider.

Plus he's making the "devil horns" with his hands - I don't know how I feel about this modernization of Mickey!

 

[DoleWhipDVC]

Plus he's making the "devil horns" with his hands - I don't know how I feel about this modernization of Mickey!

In his defense, Mickey is actually using his thumb and pinky of the left hand to gesture to Minney.... that would be the "hang loose" symbol seen in Hawaii. He probably picked it up from visiting Aulani. He needs to tuck his thumb over his middle finger on the right hand to create the devil horn/heavy metal signal. Having that thumb sticking out is more, "I love you" in sign language than, "rock on." However, Minney's enthusiastic grasp tells us she is highly interested in the proposition Mickey is putting out there!

 

[lucifie]

Ack! Is this all the characters or just the ones in the shows? Are you telling me that now I not only have to worry about my kids blinking and goofy (no pun intended) expressions, but I have to worry about the characters, too?

 

[Gianna'sPapa]

Not only are they all starting to blink, etc., but they are testing talking Mickey, Minnie, etc.