Beginners guide to shooting around disney

[eliza61]

hello All,
I so love all the great and exceptional shots you guys post. they really perk up my days, so I have a question.

Do you guys get time to take these shots?

What I mean is, when I go to the world it's always with my family and patience is just simply not my kids virtue.

I have a Nikon D3100 for a mothers day gift, last year with a couple of lenses. One zoom lens AF-s DX 55-200 mm f.4-5.6, one prime lens 50 mm f/1.4 and one kit lens.

Maybe it's because I'm just getting started but I'd love to stop and say take some interesting shot of Main street in MK but it seems like all I have time for is a quick, no thought shot as we scurry by.

I hoping as I get better (please God, please) and better acquainted with what my equipment can do it will become more automatic.

Do you take a day and just go out and shoot?

 

[mom2rtk]

Hi Eliza! Welcome to the photography board!

You'll probably hear a wide range of answers. I know a lot of the regular posters here live close enough to get lots of time in the parks to shoot. Others are doing what you are and trying to balance family time with a desire to focus on their photography.

I pretty much shoot on the fly. My family does know to walk on ahead while I take an extra moment to take a shot, but I never dally very long. I love on-ride photography and shooting the shows and fireworks because I can enjoy taking shots without slowing anyone down.

I sort of look at my time at Disney as photography boot camp. At no other time during the year do I get to try experiment with my camera as much as I do at Disney.

What kinds of things are you most interested in shooting? There are many tips in the stickies at the top of the thread. I also enjoy reading Tom Bricker's blog, although it can't be linked here. Also, if you have not read "Understanding Exposure" by Bryan Peterson, it's a great place to start.

 

[eliza61]

OOh thanks Mom2rtk, I will definitely follow up on your tips. I love "scenery" shots. I haven't been bold enough to try ride shots yet. One of the things I love about Disney is the amazing attention to detail. stuff like "raccoon" foot prints in the cement at wilderness lodge.

I live in Philly so I'm trying to make it a point to take my camera out and about.
My sons are young adults so I'm hoping for our August trip I can let them "do their own thing" for a few hours allowing me to meander around taking pics.

Thanks for the tips,
Have a great day

 

[mom2rtk]

OOh thanks Mom2rtk, I will definitely follow up on your tips. I love "scenery" shots. I haven't been bold enough to try ride shots yet. One of the things I love about Disney is the amazing attention to detail. stuff like "raccoon" foot prints in the cement at wilderness lodge.

I live in Philly so I'm trying to make it a point to take my camera out and about.
My sons are young adults so I'm hoping for our August trip I can let them "do their own thing" for a few hours allowing me to meander around taking pics.

Thanks for the tips,
Have a great day

I also recommend finding a few Disney photographers you like and following them on Flickr. Keep a list of similar shots you'd like to try on your own. Also check the exif settings on twitter to see if that sheds some light on how they set the shot up.

Sounds like you'll be in a good position to take some photography time on your next trip. I bet you'll have a ball with it!

 

[Pic Stitch]

Hi Eliza61,

I agreee totally with mom2rtk, especially about finding some Disney Photogs and following on Flickr...Might I suggest Scott Smith [SRison, I believe?] and Tltichy [Sorry, but I dont know his or her real name]...both are, IMO, excellent photographers and their work [Especially the Disney stuff] is very inspiring!! Also, if you find any others that are heavy in the Diz Flickr photos, please post as Im always looking !

As for your question, what I have done is set a day for the DW and DKs to have a spa or pool day or 1/2 day for themsleves, then I spend that time either at the resort, DTD or any park with my tripod, flash and camera!! They get an enjoyable relaxing day [or 1/2 day, or a few 1/2 days] I get some quality photo time to myself and the family doesnt have to listen to me talking to myself about setting up the shot or walking myself thru it, lol!

Hope this helps and Welcome as well!

Kungaloosh!!

Brian

 

[LarryFmScotland]

I tend to take my photos when I am with my family or wife. I usually have one camera with a wide lens and one with a telephoto with me. Though one is often in the backpack ready to go and one around my neck. I do sometimes spend some time alone in the parks at closing time to get night shots with less people there. You can often spend 30 minutes or so after closing before they encourage you to leave.

As others have said, experimentation is great at WDW, because you can always go back to the same place and try again if it doesn't work out. The hardest part is dark rides, moving boat plus moving anamatronic in dark light isn't easy. Just set the ISO to the highest you get with quality and open the lens as far as you can or more accurately you can afford and off you go.

Most of all, have fun doing it and don't stress about it, relaxed photographers take better shots.

Cheers Larry.

 

[Gianna'sPapa]

Since my family does not allow me to photograph them, I usually get plenty of time to shoot. The DW is also a photographer, so when I want to take off by myself, she usually doesn't mind (or she is just trying to get rid of me). Photography is a planned part of the trip and I develop that plan before we leave. I bring an inordinate amount of equipment with me. Since, like you, I live some distance away from the World, when I do get down there its all go. Like the others, I go early (breakfast reservations) and stay late. I wander around my resort in the morning while the family is getting ready and at night when everyone is going to bed. I'm of the opinion that a WDW vacation is time to play and I can sleep when I get home!

 

[fritodenny]

I was there 3 weels ago and I was wondering the same things as you before I left. I took alot of shots on the fly as I walked behind the family. They were instructed not to stop for me and I'd catch up. I got to take many shots around all the restrooms because my wife was always in them. I took well over 1000 shots in the week I was there.

 

[OKW Lover]

Even before we moved to FL, we had made so many WDW trips that we had "seen and done everything". I would often take a day to do just wandering around a park (AK is a favorite) making shots of little-noticed details/scenes.

 

[Groucho]

With two kids in tow, it's hard to get as much time during the day - but my wife usually gets tired around the same time as the kids (I do my part to take care of the kids, honest! ) so I will often keep an eye on the park hours and when a park is open late, I'll often go out solo with my tripod for primarily photographic purposes.

Just in general, though, I find WDW to be a lot more fun when you're *not* in a rush, so if I were you, I'd try to figure out why you feel that you're always in a rush and try to alleviate that issue, and that'll make the whole trip better and give you more time to practice photography, too.

 

[ThurlFan]

If you are not feeling comfortable in full manual, Shutter Priority mode is your friend! Get comfortable with picking a shutter speed and locking it in. Experiment a bit and find the lowest speed (1/13 for me, with image stabilization on) that you can get a handheld shot. Go one notch above that for your handheld indoor shots if A) you are not using flash and B) the subject is not moving. Other uses for shutter priority are ride photos. For dark rides you will want to be in the 1/50 range as your boat/doom buggy/etc carries you through the ride. For outdoor rides like BTMRR you can set something quick during the daytime (1/250 or faster).

For artsier shots, locking the shutter slower can help you with intentional blur. Say you get on a Dumbo where you have a clear shot at someone else in your group...if you arrange it ahead of time so that you both keep your elephants steady, you can use a lower shutter speed and a steady hand to keep your subject sharp but have the surroundings whirling around. I can't say exactly which speed is best, but if you get comfortable with changing this setting without looking you can squeeze off a number of shots at different settings while on the ride, and pick the one you like later

Above all, remember to have fun. If you are getting frustrated with your equipment take a break, put it in manual mode and relax for a while

 

[Shazzasmd]

It really can be hard to get time for photography when you are enjoying the parks with family.

If possible, sneaking out for 30 minutes + alone in the morning before everyone is up and about is a great time for resort photos, especially if you are staying on site. And, since your boys are older, maybe you can get some late night park time in for photography.

Have fun, and don't let it get stressful.

 

[GolfingLawyer]

Living in NJ, I dont get to visit the parks more than once a year. However, when I do go there....I take plenty of shots. Its not hard to sit and stop for a minute to get a shot.

My plan of attack is to usually do shooting in the early morning and late afternoon. the Florida sun lends itself to some great lighting. Remember, click away, its easier to delete shots rather than wish you took more.