External flashes

[Todd_H]

Thanks everyone for the quick responses... I have never used any software afterward to modify or bring out the photo... Which software do you all recommend? I just got Photoshop CS3 the other day, will that work for by photo modifying?

CS3? Oh yeah... and then some. Start off by doing some of the online Adobe tutorials on Photoshop to learn the basic stuff (correct exposure, contrast, color levels, clarity, etc). You can stream them directly from Adobe's website. Also, I assume you shoot in RAW. If you don't, you may want to start. RAW gives you greater flexibility in post processing.

Remember, post processing can greatly enhance your pictures, but it won't turn a blurry image into a clear one. Try to tweak your camera settings so that you're getting the image you want straight from the camera with as little post processing as possible. That will help hone your photography skills rather than falling back on Photoshop.

 

[Todd_H]

I love those shots of the rides (minus the flash) they are more realistic without the flash anyway


I did have a question along those lines ... I want to take a few photos of my kids riding some of these rides, catching their expressions. I am just not sure if this can be done?!

I know with the ride shots they are focused on the lit up areas ~ so there is enough light for some exposure.
Is there any chance I could get a side view with a look of wonder on my daughter's face when she sees peter pan? Or your look of fun glee when she sees the bride or the crystal ball? For the composition I would REALLY like to use a low AV and focus it on my daughter's face... having the depth of field become VERY shallow so the obejects on the ride are blurry and only my DD's face is in focus. Am I making sense?

I was going to try this very thing when we take the kids back in September, but I imagine it's going to be very difficult to get a well lit face on a dark ride. I can imagine in the brighter scenes of some of the dark rides (the burning buildings in POTC) maybe being possible, but taking a child's picture beside you is going to give you such a shallow DOF (assuming you're using a fast prime/wide open aperture), I'm not sure anything at all will be recognizable in the background (which may be what you're looking for). What I DO think is possible is to get silhouette shots of them against some of the better lit scenes (possibly spot metering off the lit scene). I think that's going to be my plan of attack in September.

 

[Code]

I did have a question along those lines ... I want to take a few photos of my kids riding some of these rides, catching their expressions. I am just not sure if this can be done?!

I was able to get some pretty good shots of my wife on It's a Small World and Splash Mountain.. HM and PotC I didn't try, but I can't think of anywhere that there would be enough light falling on the boat/doom buggy.

 

[oregondaddyof2]

I guess I will have to experiment with RAW images... i was kinda scared to shoot it being as I have no idea what i am doing with them, but I guess I might as well start messing with them now so that i can maybe understand a little by September... I will check out Adobe's videos for help with CS3... Thanks Todd!

 

[oregondaddyof2]

Holy cow... i just watched a few videos on Youtube with some tutorials on how to use Raw Editor in CS3 and WOW!!! I tried editing a few of my JPG images and brought so much color out that was not there before, and also fixed some exposure issues I had, shadows, lighting, etc... THANK YOU TODD for introducing me to this world of RAW... I am going to spend a lot of time messing around and I will start shooting some of my photos in RAW from here on out... Maybe i will try to get a few examples of photos (the before and after) and post them in here for some opinions...

 

[Gdad]

So THAT'S the secret!!!!

Okay I JUST GOT THAT LENS- It's only been to Disney once. Okay maybe twice.

How are you guys getting such great shots... Are you using flash?

Here is my public service announcement on why not to use a flash on POTC... Don't be 'That Guy'

 

[Gdad]

I was able to get some pretty good shots of my wife on It's a Small World and Splash Mountain.. HM and PotC I didn't try, but I can't think of anywhere that there would be enough light falling on the boat/doom buggy.

Buzz is do-able...

at HM you have the mirrors...

Never tried it on Pirates

 

[thesimson01]

A little question for you pros.

I have a Pentax K100d and just want to know how you set your spot meter. With mine there is 3 possibilities, center to ''full''.

I already did some test outside (no at Disney), got different results.


I want to be prepared for my next trip in august. I'll shoot with a 50mm F1.7 at i think 1600 or 3200 iso.

Thanks.

 

[oregondaddyof2]

Here is my public service announcement on why not to use a flash on POTC... Don't be 'That Guy'

Nice... Very nice...

 

[annnewjerz]

Here is my public service announcement on why not to use a flash on POTC... Don't be 'That Guy'

Wowwwwww. That would be beyond annoying if it was happening over and over. Once is bad enough, but in every scene would just be unbearable.

 

[Groucho]

A little question for you pros.

I have a Pentax K100d and just want to know how you set your spot meter. With mine there is 3 possibilities, center to ''full''.

I already did some test outside (no at Disney), got different results.


I want to be prepared for my next trip in august. I'll shoot with a 50mm F1.7 at i think 1600 or 3200 iso.

Thanks.

I would set yours to spot meter. In the shots below, I had mine set to center-weighted and had to use negative exposure compensation. If I knew then what I know now... Also, since you're using a manual focus lens, you may want to try using "catch-in focus" - leave the camera in autofocus mode and hold the shutter down. When the camera detects focus, it'll automatically take a photo.

You should be able to get decent results. Here's a couple shots I took with my K100D and a 50mm F1.4. These are all from Disneyland, FWIW.

F1.4, 1/15th, ISO 3200:

F1.4, 1/60th, ISO 1600:

F1.4, 1/25th, ISO 1600:

 

[pugga04]

TODD H

May i use this picture? If so is there a way to delete you? No offence. I would love to cut and paste my fids into it, since i could never get such a clear shot of that ride? Awsome job through!!
SEE PAGE #1 POST #15

self portrait (i had to manually focus all of these shots because canons just don't af well in low light)

 

[ukcatfan]

Here is my public service announcement on why not to use a flash on POTC... Don't be 'That Guy'

I never realized that using a flash at WDW turned it into Universal Studios So, would a flash used at Universal turn it into Six Flags???

Sorry any Universal fans, I just couldn't resist the opportunity...

 

[ukcatfan]

TODD H

May i use this picture? If so is there a way to delete you? No offence. I would love to cut and paste my fids into it, since i could never get such a clear shot of that ride? Awsome job through!!
SEE PAGE #1 POST #15

You would have to be a Photoshop master to be able to edit him out of that shot and put someone else in.

 

[thesimson01]

Thanks Groucho for these great infos

Sorry but what is ''negative exposure compensation''?


I think i'm gonna have to do POTC a couple of times to get some good pics.

My Lens is autofocus , but i'll shoot in manual. The k100D is not so good in dark area.

 

[Todd_H]

I never realized that using a flash at WDW turned it into Universal Studios So, would a flash used at Universal turn it into Six Flags???

Sorry any Universal fans, I just couldn't resist the opportunity...

ukcatfan, can I use that in my signature somewhere?

 

[Todd_H]

TODD H

May i use this picture? If so is there a way to delete you? No offence. I would love to cut and paste my fids into it, since i could never get such a clear shot of that ride? Awsome job through!!
SEE PAGE #1 POST #15

Thanks very much for the compliment and while I'm glad you like the picture, I would greatly appreciate if my pictures were not modified in any way.

 

[ukcatfan]

ukcatfan, can I use that in my signature somewhere?

Be my guest

 

[ukcatfan]

Thanks Groucho for these great infos

Sorry but what is ''negative exposure compensation''?


I think i'm gonna have to do POTC a couple of times to get some good pics.

My Lens is autofocus , but i'll shoot in manual. The k100D is not so good in dark area.

I do not have experience with your particular lens, but my FA 50mm f/1.4 on my K100D will AF just fine on POTC. HM is another story...

 

[thesimson01]

I do not have experience with your particular lens, but my FA 50mm f/1.4 on my K100D will AF just fine on POTC. HM is another story...

Thanks ! I look forward to try it in POTC in august