Clearskies photographic Journey to the World and Beyond - 8 theme parks & much more

[TanzUnited99]

Haunted Mansion didn't even occur to me I can understand how it would be hard to get some good pictures on this attraction though.

I also chuckled at your BTMRR never noticed sign pic! I enjoyed going on Splash with you, though obviously can't wait to experience it for real!

Wow you guys sure got through a lot at MK and the day isn't even over yet! I love the different perspective shots of Jungle Cruise.

 

[aprilisis]

Man! I was sooo behind in reading your updates! Awesome photos. I love them all! The photos of MSEP are SO darned clear. Did you use a tripod for the fireworks photos? They all were fantastic, too. I thought the Peter Pan photos were great! They are better than any others I've seen. What did you use to protect your camera from the water on Splash? Great idea using the zoom lens for Jungle Cruise. All of the photos are great!

 

[clearskies]

Haunted Mansion didn't even occur to me I can understand how it would be hard to get some good pictures on this attraction though.

I also chuckled at your BTMRR never noticed sign pic! I enjoyed going on Splash with you, though obviously can't wait to experience it for real!

Wow you guys sure got through a lot at MK and the day isn't even over yet! I love the different perspective shots of Jungle Cruise.

Thank you Tanz. We really did get a lot done in a short amount of time. This wasn't one of those stop and smell the roses kind of days though. We had limited time in the Disney parks and it was mostly about attractions. We were not running around though.

When I was looking at your plans I was thinking you are going to have plenty of extra time to do everything on your agenda since I think the crowds will be even lighter when you are there. Since you will be in MK for multiple days (as well as other parks) take time and explore and appreciate the details in the parks. Look all around when you are walking around. Well, don't walk into things because you are not looking where you are going but you know what I mean Explore the various shops. There is a lot to see even in the stores this is coming from a non-shopper. Soak it all in.

Man! I was sooo behind in reading your updates! Awesome photos. I love them all! The photos of MSEP are SO darned clear. Did you use a tripod for the fireworks photos? They all were fantastic, too. I thought the Peter Pan photos were great! They are better than any others I've seen. What did you use to protect your camera from the water on Splash? Great idea using the zoom lens for Jungle Cruise. All of the photos are great!

Welcome back April! I hope you had a great trip! Thank you so much for the comments on the photos.

I did indeed use a tripod for the fireworks. I know you were afraid of using one on your last trip but I have never had an issue with people running into it even on a packed Main Street. Consider using one on your trip in the fall.

On Splash I used a dry sack to protect the camera. You can find them in camping stores among other places. Here is an example but any one should do

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Sea-...Ntt=dry+sack&WTz_l=Header;Search-All+Products

I wouldn't submerge your camera fully underwater in one of these but it will definitely do the trick on Splash. Don't forget to keep the camera protected at the start of the ride where you may get blasted by a water cannon.

Thank you again for the comments April!

 

[IheartDDuck]

Haunted Mansion is my favorite attraction at WDW, hands down. I can't figure exactly why. I think it's because I was so young the first time I went on it, and I just loved it since then.

I do love Columbia Harbour House. I have such a hard time choosing between there and Cosmic Ray's sometimes.

 

[deedeew80]

Hi! Just came across your TR (better late then never!) and I am really enjoying it! Sad to see that it is ending soon. Can't wait to read more!!!

 

[MNTwinsMom]

I've been on vacation, so I'm playing catch-up on your report . . .

The MK shots are great! Love the Splash Mountain pics of the dark scenes. When I was on the college program I worked at the Splash photo shop and often got to do the "ride through" at the end of the night. (CMs have to do a final ride through to make sure everything is okay before taking the ride offline for the night). I absolutely loved those private showings of Splash! It's still my sentimental favorite attraction in all of WDW.

Of course, I know from your lists that you can have several favorites, so my new favorite is TOT, favorite to ride with my kids is BTMRR . . . you get the idea

Using your zoom lens on Jungle Cruise was a fun way to get a new perspective on the details - very fun photos!

Also glad to see your posts on the Disney Picture of the Day board . . .

 

[xiaomingro]

Too bad I live on the ocean and you can't fool me! I saw a seal yesterday actually!

 

[clearskies]

Hi all,

Sorry I have been MIA for a week. I just got back from a mini vacation with the family to DC and Virgina. Sorry, I don't have an update to the TR today but I'll try to get one out soon.

I have not even looked through all my pics from my recent trip some I like so far:

I won't overload you with non-Disney pics though so I'll focus on the TR in my next post. First I owe a few responses....

 

[clearskies]

Haunted Mansion is my favorite attraction at WDW, hands down. I can't figure exactly why. I think it's because I was so young the first time I went on it, and I just loved it since then.

I do love Columbia Harbour House. I have such a hard time choosing between there and Cosmic Ray's sometimes.

You have great taste Danielle

Hi! Just came across your TR (better late then never!) and I am really enjoying it! Sad to see that it is ending soon. Can't wait to read more!!!

Thank you very much for reading and commenting deedeew80. It is never too late to give out another

I've been on vacation, so I'm playing catch-up on your report . . .

The MK shots are great! Love the Splash Mountain pics of the dark scenes. When I was on the college program I worked at the Splash photo shop and often got to do the "ride through" at the end of the night. (CMs have to do a final ride through to make sure everything is okay before taking the ride offline for the night). I absolutely loved those private showings of Splash! It's still my sentimental favorite attraction in all of WDW.

Of course, I know from your lists that you can have several favorites, so my new favorite is TOT, favorite to ride with my kids is BTMRR . . . you get the idea

Using your zoom lens on Jungle Cruise was a fun way to get a new perspective on the details - very fun photos!

Also glad to see your posts on the Disney Picture of the Day board . . .

Hi MnTwinsMom! As you can see I am playing catch up as well

I am so envious that you had such a great job in your college program. Splash Mtn is my fav MK attraction and I would have loved to spend some time in my college years working at that attraction. How cool is that to be able to experience the "ride throughs" at the end of the night.

Of course I can relate to having mult fav lists as well

I also had a lot of pics that did not turn out on the JC cruise which I am sparing you all from but I was glad I took out the big lens for the ones I got. I wish I could use it on some of the dark rides but the different perspective I am going for is not a complete set of blurry pics

Thank you for pointing me towards the POTD thread. I'll have to get to posting more this week.

Too bad I live on the ocean and you can't fool me! I saw a seal yesterday actually!

Hi xiaomingro. You also get a
I take it you are referring to that special breed of seal that I had posted early on in my TR that happens to look like a bird. It is very rare so you may not have seen one

I am envious of you as well that you get to live on the ocean!

 

[IheartDDuck]

The pictures of DC are just beautiful. Especially the picture for the wall. I have been wanting to take my dad there for quite some time, but he admits that visiting the wall might be a bit painful for him. Since he is a veteran, he says that he's afraid of seeing the names of people that he knew. Honestly, your pictures of it and the statue of the soldiers are so beautiful, I don't even have the words.

 

[aprilisis]

Please overload us with DC pics! I love the photos you posted so far. The one of the traffic is so cool! The lighting is perfect in every photo, too.

 

[NYDIS]

Finally had a chance to catch up on the rest of your TR....again, I enjoyed it very much. I really love all the pics as I just finished up with a photography course (I'm a beginner) and am looking forward to our upcoming trip to try out what I've learned and your photos have given me lots of ideas! I really want to get good pictures of POC and I have a 50mm lens (canon rebel). Do you think this lens would be ok to get some decent shots?

I will have to look for your pictures on the picture of the day thread!

 

[mickeystoontown]

Please overload us with DC pics! I love the photos you posted so far. The one of the traffic is so cool! The lighting is perfect in every photo, too.

Ditto!

 

[TanzUnited99]

I love the pictures you have shared from your recent vacation and would love to see more as well

I enjoy seeing pics of places I haven't been to.

 

[clearskies]

The pictures of DC are just beautiful. Especially the picture for the wall. I have been wanting to take my dad there for quite some time, but he admits that visiting the wall might be a bit painful for him. Since he is a veteran, he says that he's afraid of seeing the names of people that he knew. Honestly, your pictures of it and the statue of the soldiers are so beautiful, I don't even have the words.

Thank you very much Danielle. Visiting the war memorials is such an emotionally stirring experience I absolutely understand where you father is coming from. Though as someone who never served in the military I can never fully comprehend to how it must feel for him. I would like to convey a huge huge huge thank you to him for the service that he provided to our country.

Please overload us with DC pics! I love the photos you posted so far. The one of the traffic is so cool! The lighting is perfect in every photo, too.

Thank you April. There is a price to pay for some of the lighting. I got up at 5:15 AM and drove to the Lincoln memorial to catch the pre-dawn sky and sunrise. This is after going to sleep after midnight. I only had one night in DC so I wanted to make the most of it. The traffic pic is also one of my favorites. It is from the back of the Lincoln Memorial at a few minutes before 6AM looking out over the Arlington Memorial Bridge. I had to take a few before I got enough cars to get the light streams the way I wanted.

Since you and others insist I will provide a few more but then I really need to get back to finishing up this TR. I am leaving for my next trip in 2 weeks and I must wrap this up

Finally had a chance to catch up on the rest of your TR....again, I enjoyed it very much. I really love all the pics as I just finished up with a photography course (I'm a beginner) and am looking forward to our upcoming trip to try out what I've learned and your photos have given me lots of ideas! I really want to get good pictures of POC and I have a 50mm lens (canon rebel). Do you think this lens would be ok to get some decent shots?

I will have to look for your pictures on the picture of the day thread!

Thank you Lisa! I love looking at others photos on this board to get ideas for pictures in Disney. You will definitely be able to get good pictures of POTC with you 50mm f/1.8 lens. I have used that lens in the past on the attraction. You will have to bump your ISO up high though. Which Rebel do you have?

Ditto!

Thank you

I love the pictures you have shared from your recent vacation and would love to see more as well

I enjoy seeing pics of places I haven't been to.

Thank you as well Tanz. I am posting a few more in the next post....

 

[clearskies]

Ok...here are a few more DC pictures. I wish I had more than one night there. There is so much more to see that I wanted to but did not have the time. I am already planning to spend another weekend in the fall in DC to see more.

Air and Space Musuem...

 

[clearskies]

A few from the National Zoo...

We spent more time in Busch Gardens and Water Country USA. Most of my pics are family pics but here are a few from there.....

ok...that's all folks..I will make headway on my TR this weekend..

 

[shan23877]

Looks like I found your TR at the tail end, but I just had to comment on the photos. They are phenomenal. Thanks so much for sharing!

 

[wingedjojo]

Just finished reading through your trip report in one go. Boy, I wish I had half your skills (and half your gear for that matter) because you are crazy good with a camera. I can only hope to be as good as you one day.

How do you manage low light action shots? I can NEVER and I mean NEVER get any decent pictures on dark rides. I use the sports mode with the highest ISO I can muster but I feel like I'm doing something wrong.

 

[clearskies]

Looks like I found your TR at the tail end, but I just had to comment on the photos. They are phenomenal. Thanks so much for sharing!

Shan23877!! Thank you so much for stopping by and your nice comments! I am happy to share

Just finished reading through your trip report in one go. Boy, I wish I had half your skills (and half your gear for that matter) because you are crazy good with a camera. I can only hope to be as good as you one day.

How do you manage low light action shots? I can NEVER and I mean NEVER get any decent pictures on dark rides. I use the sports mode with the highest ISO I can muster but I feel like I'm doing something wrong.

Hi Jo!

Glad to see you stopped by. I need to catch up on your entertaining TR (as well as a lot of others) but from what I have seen so far I can see that you have some skills yourself. I'll have to go back as see what camera and lenses you are using. You probably need a faster lens. If I recall you are using a Canon camera body. There is a Canon 50 mm f/1.8 lens that is a great lens for the reasonable price that I think would probably help you a great deal on the dark rides.

Thank you for your comments!