DON'T Read This TRIP REPORT If You're a Princess Hater!

[llaxton]

How funny we will be there too from 10/9 (late afternoon) to 10/16. I recall our trip dates were identical for last December too 12/11 - 12/19 right? Mary is turning 5 on 10/12!

 

[mom2rtk]

How funny we will be there too from 10/9 (late afternoon) to 10/16. I recall our trip dates were identical for last December too 12/11 - 12/19 right? Mary is turning 5 on 10/12!

Hi Liz!

That's too funny! Nothing is set in stone here, but if we do it we sure will be there the same time again! Yes, we were there 12/11 to 12/19. And I only picked the 10th as a check-in date because the PIN Codes have the 7th to the 9th blacked out. Not that I got a PIN Code....... I think I'm on the Disney Master NOPIN list! But I'm just guessing they'll black out the same dates. But who knows........

Anyway.... stay tuned. And keep fingers crossed!

So how did you guys cope with that cold?

 

[mom2rtk]

12/16/10 Continued:


We made it back into the Magic Kingdom just in time for a few photos on Main Street then back to the castle for our dinner ADR.

First we had our meeting with the lady in charge:

This shot is obviously Photopass, but I took the rest:

Now time to head upstairs........ and a great opportunity for a photo of the back of the dress:

Now........ up those stairs with all your ladylike manners!

And finally into our favorite place for the last time this trip........

Just time for a bite to eat............

And we were happy Belle was there that evening. She told us she had a dress just like Katie's, and that we should come find her in Toontown later!

After dinner, there was just time for a few quick photos. I loved this spot in the Rose Garden for photos on this trip. We stopped any time we went by. But I was REALLY disappointed to find out when I got home that almost every single night shot from this location was blurry. And the night photopass shots were the one instance where I didn't always take them myself. You really need a tripod, and I just didn't want to mess with it. I never dreamed every single one would be bad! Didn't even get better from one day to the next!

Anyway, this one time I had him take one with my camera too. Thankfully it turned out:

Then it was time to get our wristbands and be off to the ball!

 

[jenseib]

I can't beleive how great your shots are inside CRT. Everyone of mine are just horrid. I need to get it figured out. I also know having my iso at 3200 left my pictures grainy, and I used it for a lot of pictures.

 

[mom2rtk]

I can't beleive how great your shots are inside CRT. Everyone of mine are just horrid. I need to get it figured out. I also know having my iso at 3200 left my pictures grainy, and I used it for a lot of pictures.

Jen, I still struggle with flash shots indoors in some of these dimly lit restaurants. I checked the EXIF data on your Sleeping Beauty shot at CRT in your dining trip report. Here's what it showed:

Auto exposure, Program AE, 1/60 sec, f/4.5, ISO 800, Compensation: -1/3

Then I compared it to my Sleeping Beauty picture above. Here's what I had:

Auto exposure, Program AE, 1/60 sec, f/5, ISO 800, Compensation: -2/3

Really..........not vastly different.

Here are a couple of thoughts:

1) The day you were at CRT there were curtains across the windows. This trip to CRT we were back in one of the darker areas of the restaurant, But there was still a decent amount of light coming in the windows. I don't think I used a flash at all on the photo of Katie eating above. And you can see the nice light coming in.

2) I still get a decent amount of noise even at 800 ISO indoors with a flash. I processed these in Lightroom 3 and ran it though noise reduction, along with punching up the exposure and sharpness a tad bit.

I'm by no means a processing whiz, but if you want to email me the file on one of those photos, I'll try doing to yours the little bit I did to mine (including noise reduction) to see if it makes any difference. Or, if you've never downloaded the trial version of Lightroom 3, you can do that for free for 30 days.

3) Were you using an external flash? I'm thinking you were, so not much difference there if that's the case.

Beyond that, if you are still unsure, you could certainly post one over in the Photography Forum and ask for input. I recently bought a book on using an on-camera external flash. I'm still waiting to have my "ah-ha" moment with flash photography, but it hasnt happened yet. I've waded into the book a bit, but it still makes my head hurt. I guess that's not a good sign!

I know Disneyboy2003 has tried several times to give me a flash lesson. But I'm just not getting it.

 

[jenseib]

Jen, I still struggle with flash shots indoors in some of these dimly lit restaurants. I checked the EXIF data on your Sleeping Beauty shot at CRT in your dining trip report. Here's what it showed:

Auto exposure, Program AE, 1/60 sec, f/4.5, ISO 800, Compensation: -1/3

Then I compared it to my Sleeping Beauty picture above. Here's what I had:

Auto exposure, Program AE, 1/60 sec, f/5, ISO 800, Compensation: -2/3

Really..........not vastly different.

Here are a couple of thoughts:

1) The day you were at CRT there were curtains across the windows. This trip to CRT we were back in one of the darker areas of the restaurant, But there was still a decent amount of light coming in the windows. I don't think I used a flash at all on the photo of Katie eating above. And you can see the nice light coming in.

2) I still get a decent amount of noise even at 800 ISO indoors with a flash. I processed these in Lightroom 3 and ran it though noise reduction, along with punching up the exposure and sharpness a tad bit.

I'm by no means a processing whiz, but if you want to email me the file on one of those photos, I'll try doing to yours the little bit I did to mine (including noise reduction) to see if it makes any difference. Or, if you've never downloaded the trial version of Lightroom 3, you can do that for free for 30 days.

3) Were you using an external flash? I'm thinking you were, so not much difference there if that's the case.

I thought I had my ISO higher. Must've been too occupied to realized I left it that low. LOL! I wil lemail you a pic or two and see what you come up with. I did use my external flash there. I was not impressed with it at all.

 

[mom2rtk]

I thought I had my ISO higher. Must've been too occupied to realized I left it that low. LOL! I wil lemail you a pic or two and see what you come up with. I did use my external flash there. I was not impressed with it at all.

I'm certainly not sure of what the right approach is. But I'm not sure I'd go much higher than 800 if you don't have to. I used to set mine at 1600 in these restaurants, but have been really unhappy with the noise. I will say that even at 800, I was really surprised by just how much noise there was in the shots straight out of the camera.

I love having 3200 available to me, but I think the only times I used it was during the night parades and maybe Fantasmic. Oh.... and some of the dark rides.

 

[llaxton]

So how did you guys cope with that cold?

It was horrible wasn't it! We brought Mary's coats spent a ton of money on gloves, hats, sweatshirt, blankets etc. Mary was layered pretty much like Katie tights, leggings long sleeve shirts depending on the day. I recall a couple or warner days (Mary had short sleeves on) but for the most part way too cold for us Texans!

 

[mom2rtk]

It was horrible wasn't it! We brought Mary's coats spent a ton of money on gloves, hats, sweatshirt, blankets etc. Mary was layered pretty much like Katie tights, leggings long sleeve shirts depending on the day. I recall a couple or warner days (Mary had short sleeves on) but for the most part way too cold for us Texans!

The day I'm on now was pretty decent. Not "warm", but certainly comfortable compared to everything up to that point! The next day, Friday the 17th, we went to Epcot and it was the best day of the entire trip. Actually toasty mid-afternoon. But that was pretty much the only warm day that I recall! We actually got a snow-cone in Epcot to help us cool off!

 

[DISNEYaddict4evr]

I'm certainly not sure of what the right approach is. But I'm not sure I'd go much higher than 800 if you don't have to. I used to set mine at 1600 in these restaurants, but have been really unhappy with the noise. I will say that even at 800, I was really surprised by just how much noise there was in the shots straight out of the camera.

I love having 3200 available to me, but I think the only times I used it was during the night parades and maybe Fantasmic. Oh.... and some of the dark rides.

So I haven't teken pic inside at the restaurant since I have never been there, but when I have to shoot events at home thsi is what I usually do...

keep in mind the aperture setting is how you expose the flash, I use an external flash at have it set on TTL, with the shutter at f.4.5-5.4

The shutter speed is how you expose for the background, I usually have it set at 1/30, maybe lower if it is really dark. I alway try to set the flash at rear sync that way my subject is hard since the flash pops off last. Just my thought hope it helps or hope it makes sense

As per ISO I have it set at 400, up to 800 if it is really dark

 

[jenseib]

So I haven't teken pic inside at the restaurant since I have never been there, but when I have to shoot events at home thsi is what I usually do...

keep in mind the aperture setting is how you expose the flash, I use an external flash at have it set on TTL, with the shutter at f.4.5-5.4

The shutter speed is how you expose for the background, I usually have it set at 1/30, maybe lower if it is really dark. I alway try to set the flash at rear sync that way my subject is hard since the flash pops off last. Just my thought hope it helps or hope it makes sense

As per ISO I have it set at 400, up to 800 if it is really dark

no it didn't make sense to me!

 

[mom2rtk]

So I haven't teken pic inside at the restaurant since I have never been there, but when I have to shoot events at home thsi is what I usually do...

keep in mind the aperture setting is how you expose the flash, I use an external flash at have it set on TTL, with the shutter at f.4.5-5.4

The shutter speed is how you expose for the background, I usually have it set at 1/30, maybe lower if it is really dark. I alway try to set the flash at rear sync that way my subject is hard since the flash pops off last. Just my thought hope it helps or hope it makes sense

As per ISO I have it set at 400, up to 800 if it is really dark

I did forget to note that I did have my flash set to rear curtain sync.

I did end up with my aperture set at 5.0, but don't remember why. I might have even put it on program mode and the camera decided!

It makes a little sense to me. How's that for wishy washy???

I guess my big question has to do with the difference between fill flash and regular flash. Can you explain how you select when it's just using fill flash? I'm thinking maybe it has to do with whether you are in aperture priority, shutter priority or auto or program modes??????

I'm thinking next time I'm at CRT or one of the other restaurants without a lot of natural light, I might go shutter priority and dial it down to 1/30 and try that (keeping it on rear curtain sync). My biggest frustration is having the subject brightly lit sometimes, which the background is too dark.

 

[jenseib]

I guess I really need to learn more about my flash. I have no clue what curtain sync is

 

[mom2rtk]

I guess I really need to learn more about my flash. I have no clue what curtain sync is

The curtain is the mechanism for the shutter opening and closing. When you set it to rear curtain, it fires at the END of the time the shutter is open instead of at the beginning. When you use a longer shutter speed, this keeps the subject from being a blurry streak if they move a little during the time the shutter is open.

If I'm not mistaken, when you use the twilight setting on most cameras (shown with a person up close and a moon over their shoulder???) I think that's what the camera is doing. Longer shutter speed (to allow in background ambient light) combined with rear curtain sync on the flash.

You can change the setting on your camera through the menu. This applies for either the pop-up flash, or the external if it's attached.

 

[JessLovesDisney]

I just read your entire TR!!! Love it! I'm a bit late. I love your princess gowns, they are amazing! If you don't make them for a living, you definitely should. They look exactly like the real Disney character dresses. I would dress up myself but my DH and my DS would probably think I lost it!


Looks like you had a fantastic time!
You've inspired me to find more characters on our next trip.

 

[mom2rtk]

I just read your entire TR!!! Love it! I'm a bit late. I love your princess gowns, they are amazing! If you don't make them for a living, you definitely should. They look exactly like the real Disney character dresses. I would dress up myself but my DH and my DS would probably think I lost it!


Looks like you had a fantastic time!
You've inspired me to find more characters on our next trip.

Well, first you get your official

Next, many thanks for the kind words!

I actually brought my evil queen to the Halloween party in 09 when my husband and son were along. And yes, I can confirm they did indeed think I was crazy! But I didn't let that ruin the fun. It was in fact the heat that ruined the fun. Sort of hard to leave on a velour tunic, full length cloak and black skull cap when the sweat is just rolling off!

I hope you do start stalking........... errr........ I mean hunting........ for some characters on your next trip.......... which looks to be very soon!

 

[Caretames1]

I don't know how I can compliment your costumes anymore. Maybe just raise my font size when I say how much Kadence & I LOVE them

I can't wait to be in the castle again. I can't wait for Kadence to find out we're going to CRT. I can't think of another "can't wait" idea, but 3 "can't waits" seemed even to me

I am really paying attention to your flash lessons going on right now. I don't have an extenal flash, so on camera flash has to do for now. I mostly try to up the ISO and brighten a bit in editing. We sat next to the window in CRT in 2009 and I didn't need a flash much.
I have some more practicing to do!

 

[mom2rtk]

I don't know how I can compliment your costumes anymore. Maybe just raise my font size when I say how much Kadence & I LOVE them

I can't wait to be in the castle again. I can't wait for Kadence to find out we're going to CRT. I can't think of another "can't wait" idea, but 3 "can't waits" seemed even to me

I am really paying attention to your flash lessons going on right now. I don't have an extenal flash, so on camera flash has to do for now. I mostly try to up the ISO and brighten a bit in editing. We sat next to the window in CRT in 2009 and I didn't need a flash much.
I have some more practicing to do!

LOL! Thanks Carey!

Feel free to put as many "I can't waits" into your post as you like! I'd be excited too.... if I had something concrete to plan for!

The back of the castle should be done this summer, so you'll have lots of light coming in by September. The best light will always be that natural light when you can get it. Don't be afraid to nicely ask the characters to move around a bit to get your best angle. I always say please and they never turn me down. I don't get too pushy, but do like to try and position them so some of the windows on the far side of the room are in the background. So that means the best shot is sort of perpendicular to the middle part of the windows. Does that make sense? Of course, that really only works when you're sitting down near the windows. This last visit to CRT we were up in that dark paneled area. But even then we got a decent amount of light.

Too much information????

I just can't figure out why everyone runs the opposite direction here at home when I start talking photography!

 

[Tinkermom76]

I love the red Belle dress, did you make it??

 

[mom2rtk]

I love the red Belle dress, did you make it??

Thank you!

Yes, I made it.