DH's camera obsession @ WDW

[firecracker]

My husband is a professional photographer and it really gets in the way of having fun at WDW. He spends half the vacation posing us "just right" while the residents of the state of New Hampshire move on and ride the rides all day, creating lines for us to wait in after our "photo shoot." Can you tell it drives me NUTS?!?

How do the rest of you photo-takers manage? We always take a 35 mm, a digital, and a camcorder to the parks. I'm usually so disgusted that I make DH carry them all!

Any advice?

 

[loriandmatt]

I am just the oposite. I am a photographer by training and am currently working in the pro video field.

I am so sick of camera lugging by the time we go on vacation that i rarely take any along except our "wizzie-snap" 35 mm. (i admitedly do take at least 12 to 15 rolls of film per trip though.) I prefer more candid-enviormental shots, so i don't tourture my family with posed shots much. (i can't tell you how many rolls i have of close up details of archetecture and such - they are cool to me, but DH wonders what the heck i was thinking!!!)

In all honesty (and defense of you shutterbug DH) i do at times feel as though i am missing some great video opertunities. I may suck it up this year and take a small digital video camera to try and capture some of our trip.

- lori

 

[Geoff_M]

I'm sorta in between. I'm a semi-pro photograher. All I bring is a digital point-n-shoot. But I do enjoy spending some time geting good shots, especially at night time. But there are times when my wife gets frustrated with me.

I also understand how you feel. My dad was a pro and all of our Christmas mornings when I was a kid were effectively staged photo shoots. Needless to say, it took some of the fun out of it.

 

[nataliesdaddy]

I take a film camera and a minidv camcorder - and take lots of pictures - but I do not pose people - posing people can be nice I guess - but I would rather have shots of spontaneous behavior. Tell you husband he can take all the pictures he wants he just can't pose anyone - posing is a pain in the wazoo - and the really high paid celebrity photogs don't get paid to pose and shoot they get paid the big bucks for catching people in natural settings unfettered by cameras, lighting, poses and props and such.

 

[nataliesdaddy]

I take a film camera and a minidv camcorder - and take lots of pictures - but I do not pose people - posing people can be nice I guess - but I would rather have shots of spontaneous behavior. Tell your husband he can take all the pictures he wants he just can't pose anyone - posing is a pain in the wazoo - and the really high paid celebrity photogs don't get paid to pose and shoot they get paid the big bucks for catching people in natural settings unfettered by cameras, lighting, poses and props and such. Catching people when they are not posed just being themselves...making them feel comfortable... like the camera isn't there... catching that glance or smile or laugh that is completely not self concious... that is art and makes for awesome photography... anyone can pose someone and make them say cheese...

I have yet to get to the point where my daughter and girlfriend don't know the camera is there... but I am getting there. Everynow and then I get off a lucky shot when they don't know and they are usually very good shots... you capture the "real person" in their "real frame of mind" at the moment

 

[Ned Land]

For those of you who are pro/semi pro photographers. what is your 35mm print film of choice? So many people on these boards purchase crappy/cheap film and I think it is important to spend a couple bucks more and get nicer shots. My favorite film for landscapes is Fuji Reala. Any thoughts?

 

[loriandmatt]

I only shoot Fuji or Kodak pro film, but then i get it free from work.

Fuji has wonderful blue and green saturation that makes landscape/shy shots look great.

Kodak gives me the best red saturation.

However....i certainly don't go switching film mid roll because of a particular shot i want to take. Whatever is in the camera is what i go with and generally come back with overall exposures that are nicely saturated with color.


By the way - don't be scared off by expiration dates on film. I have shot film two years past it's expiration date with lovely results. It is all in where/how it is stored. We buy in bulk and put it in the freezer. It can keep for two years past its EXP date in the freezer or a year past in the fridge.

- lori

 

[SuiteDisney]

I'm always taking pictures at WDW to add to my site, but my problem is the opposite of yours. I'm always standing around waiting for people to get out of my shot. I take pix of the family, but I don't like too many of them on my site. I've relaxed on that a bit and have added some personal pix.

Sometimes I'll split up from my family while we're in a park and set up a meeting time and place. That way I can take my pictures at my leisure and I don't spoil their fun.

 

[Geoff_M]

what is your 35mm print film of choice?

Fujicolor pro, when I shoot negs... which is very rare now. Most of my film work in the past has been with Fuji Provia F slide film. But keep in mind that with prints, film is only half the equation. If the lab stinks, your prints will be sub-par regardless of what film you use.

 

[Ned Land]

Question for Geoff and Lori:

What difference would I notice between Fuji Reala and Fuji NPC Professional and also Kodak Royal Gold and Kodak Professional Supra? Anything? My pictures would be primarily outside and of landscapes at Disney.

 

[Geoff_M]

Often times the primary difference between a film maker's consumer and pro film is tolerance to the specs. For example, it used to be that Kodak Gold and Ektapress were the same film, but the batches of Gold could deviate more from the "standard" than Ektapress. The idea was that you'd get the same results, theorhetically, each time using Ektrapress.

NPC is a portrait film. As such, it will have a "warmer" look to it. In another words, skin tones will look redder. It's best suited for portraits, weddings, and such were the main subject is people. Looking at the specs, Reala looks like a more general purpose neg film but it still looks like it's mainly color balanced for shooting people.

Kodak Gold and "Fuji" Professional Supra are "general purpose" films that offer more brilliant colors. This makes them better suited for sports, landscapes, and other colorful subjects. Skin tones probably will be a little "cooler" (blue) with films like this.

 

[photobob]

I too am a professional photographer but I only take a point a shoot digital camera to Disney. I am a photojournalist and the last thing I want to do on vacation is lug my camera gear around, I do that enough at work. That being said the little digital i have produces excellent photos, it is old technology and is one of the slowest writing camreas I've ever seen but I have a nice photo album from each trip. I do not however take a great deal of time to set up photos, i'm looking for some good snapshots not high art in just the right light..

 

[NHDisneyKid]

firecracker,
As a resident of the state of NH, I thank your DH!!

 

[Poohbear123]

Great tips thanks. I carry 2 cameras to WDW...my Point and Shoot Minolta and my Digital! I use the standard over the counter Kodak film, where do you buy the Professional Film..camera Store?

 

[>>^..^<<]

I think I would be inclined to ditch him at the park... take off when he's not looking and have a great day.

My second thought would be to make a deal with him. He can pick 3 photo days out of your week - the other 4 days - no cameras allowed - period!

You could also modify this deal - (ie) he can take all the photos he wants up to 1pm. at 1pm the camera goes away - no more posing.



>>^..^<<

 

[NotUrsula]

My DH is an amateur, but he does it, too. (My sister is a pro; she never takes ANY kind of photo equipment on vacation.)

We split up at times so he can wander off with his cameras and take all the shots he likes. We also have sort of a "ticket" system when we're together; he gets X number of photo ops per day, and when he's used them all up, they are gone unless I'm feeling generous. I also NEVER carry cameras; if he wants to bring them, he gets to carry them.

 

[RealMickey]

I am also a professional photographer. When I am on vacation I do not want to work. I will take a lot of photos, but I almost always use a point and shoot, usually a film camera, sometimes digital (both are very small). I am looking for vacation snapshots for a family photo album, not publication quality images.

 

[BraveMom3]

I'm looking to purchase my first digital camera, and have a few questions. I want something very small. With three kids to keep up with and all their stuff, I try to keep down the size of things I have to carry! Also, I don't want to spend a fortune on a camera. I need easy to use, gives great pics! What is the most important feature to look for in a digital camera? I know absolutely nothing about digital cameras. Can you tell!! I appreciate any advice. Thanks.

 

[S. C.]

I have film that was being kept in the fridge, I took it out planning on using it & forgot about it. Can this film be put back in the fridge without harming it going from cold to warm & back to cold again?

 

[supercarrie]

My brother is a wedding photographer. We got back a couple weeks ago from taking him and my SIL to WDW. One of the only reasons he agreed to come was because we convinced him that there would be wonderful photo-taking opportunities. He is a picture taking maniac...luckily he does very few posed shots, he much prefers to snap shots out of the blue when you glance his way. We learned to just start walking to the next thing when we felt like it, and he followed along eventually. I just got a CD full of pics from our trip from him...there are approx. 300...and he was only there 5 days, only took his camera for like 3 1/2. They came out beautiful, so I guess it was worth putting up with.