Flying 2 days for 3 days at WDW is a SNAP! Final Thoughts 01/02

[stephielela]

Hi Stephielela. Welcome to my TR and thanks for coming on over.....

I'm actually one of your lurkers on your December PTR (followed you from Firefly's PTR); so I should probably head on over and officially sub in as well.

Hope you'll stick around for the rest of my TR.

Yay a lurker!! You should say hey! I will definitely be sticking around, those are some great pics as well!

 

[PrincessInOz]

Yay a lurker!! You should say hey! I will definitely be sticking around, those are some great pics as well!

I'm officially no longer a lurker!

More pictures coming right up....

 

[PrincessInOz]

My spot for watching HalloWishes came courtesy of Firefly, who had arranged to catch up with HeatherBelle614 and her DH at the parks. The Dis-networking sure pays for itself in so many little ways!

I was pretty pleased to be in the Hub, positioned right on the kerb, somewhere between the Main Street and Tomorrowland spokes. More importantly, I was pretty much flying solo here and much as I missed DS, I would not have been able to solely focus on the task at hand if he'd been there…..

How the heck do you take fireworks shots?

Before heading out to the World, I had pretty much worked out that I was going to attend two MNSSHP. I was making the 10,000 mile trek from Australia to Florida and it did not make sense to only attend one party; when I had the opportunity to attend two!

I had seen these brilliant pictures of fireworks around the castle, taken with long exposures and I knew I needed a tripod for those kinds of shots. So, my tripod made the trip out, taking precious space and weight in the check-in luggage.

I planned to bring the tripod to the second party (and if you’ve been following the TR, you would’ve seen the chatter about how I did NOT take the tripod to either parties).

For this first party, I pretty much gambled that my camera (not me!) would be able to take at least ONE fireworks shot that I would be to post on my TR.

So, maybe I have a slight problem in counting to ONE properly.



I didn’t get the long exposure shots that the hard-core prosumers hanker after but for my first play with the prime lens and no flash, I am pretty pleased with my first attempts for the HalloWishes shots.

Yes, it’s the CAMERA; not me!
(I sincerely hope that no one from the DisBoard photography sub-forum is following this thread. If you are, let’s just keep this between us).



Then it was time for the Villains show. So, I headed down closer to the stage for a better view.

I personally think that it’s fantastic to see so many villains on stage together and I wish Disney would use the villains more in their normal everyday parades and shows. Afterall, everyone loves a bad guy!


Up next: MNSSHP parade Number 1

 

[shushh]

Actually, I just remembered what I was thinking. I'd spent the morning/arvo at DHS with Firefly and headed back to the resort to PACK! We were heading out the next day. I remember looking at the tripod and packing it in the bag so that I wouldn't have to unpack everything to put it at the bottom of the bag.

Sigh...that's what you get for being an obsessive compulsive Disney planner! Your photos still turned out very well considering no tripod was involved. Even the villains show didn't have the performers all blurred as you would expect with motion and slow shutter speeds. Did you do everything with your 50mm?

 

[DisneyFirefly]

Your fireworks shots are just gorgeous!

 

[kyl]

Your photos are beautiful princessinoz, I am enjoying your TR. You did do a lot for the time you had there. How special to meet your friend from the disboards. Its amazing how disney can make the castle look so different by using lights and special effects.

 

[hjd0411]

Those firework shots are good! And no tripod! I lugged my tripod around for my firwork shots in May - and as happy as I was, I wish I could have bought a smaller tripod!! Oh well, maybe next time (hoping for a next time, of course! )
Keep those photos coming!

 

[DisneyFirefly]

Those firework shots are good! And no tripod! I lugged my tripod around for my firwork shots in May - and as happy as I was, I wish I could have bought a smaller tripod!! Oh well, maybe next time (hoping for a next time, of course! )
Keep those photos coming!

Have you heard of this?

http://www.thinkgeek.com/electronics/cameras-photography/82db/

It's a small, flexible tripod that you can mount onto ANYTHING. They have a DSLR model and a standard point and shoot model. Obviously, camera not included

 

[skier_pete]

Hey, Just thought I'd mention we met HeatherBelle and her DH on the bus the day before that! Walt was right - it IS a small world after all.

 

[HeatherBelle614]

Hey, Just thought I'd mention we met HeatherBelle and her DH on the bus the day before that! Walt was right - it IS a small world after all.

Not to hijack...

But, ohmygosh! It is a small world; hiiii!!!!

 

[PrincessInOz]

Sigh...that's what you get for being an obsessive compulsive Disney planner! Your photos still turned out very well considering no tripod was involved. Even the villains show didn't have the performers all blurred as you would expect with motion and slow shutter speeds. Did you do everything with your 50mm?

All night shots and inside rides shots were taken with my 50mm. I really wished I had a zoom with a wider angle for the night shots.
I also checked the EXIF for the Villains show. Turns out that all the shots were taken at a speed > 1/50 sec. Someone on the photography board suggested that the general rule was to set the speed to 1/n of the focal length. Looks like the rule works a treat!

Your fireworks shots are just gorgeous!

Thanks. Parade ones are coming right up...

Your photos are beautiful princessinoz, I am enjoying your TR. You did do a lot for the time you had there. How special to meet your friend from the disboards. Its amazing how disney can make the castle look so different by using lights and special effects.

I really enjoy doing DisMeets. This is the 3rd time I've met Dis-ers in two trips.

Those firework shots are good! And no tripod! I lugged my tripod around for my firwork shots in May - and as happy as I was, I wish I could have bought a smaller tripod!! Oh well, maybe next time (hoping for a next time, of course! )
Keep those photos coming!

It's about the only thing that is wrong about this hobby - carrying all the gear .

Have you heard of this?

http://www.thinkgeek.com/electronics/cameras-photography/82db/

It's a small, flexible tripod that you can mount onto ANYTHING. They have a DSLR model and a standard point and shoot model. Obviously, camera not included

These are great for P&S models. I looked at the gorillapod capable of supporting the dSLR model before I left. Have you seen the size of it? It's effectively the YETI sized model. Weighs a ton, is bigger than my current tripod and the pods are really hard to move around because they are so big!
It's a shame....because I really like the concept of being able to wrap the tripod around anything.

Hey, Just thought I'd mention we met HeatherBelle and her DH on the bus the day before that! Walt was right - it IS a small world after all.

Not to hijack...

But, ohmygosh! It is a small world; hiiii!!!!

OMG!! Really small world and less than 6 degrees of separation!

 

[PrincessInOz]

After the Villains show, I headed back to where Firefly, Heather and her DH were and settled down for the late parade. Even more than for HalloWishes, I was very happy with the spot that Heather had staked out…..right in the hub and with full view of the parade coming around the corner with the castle in the back.

This was one parade I was looking forward to and I was determined to try and capture some semi-reasonable shots of the Headless Horseman. And I knew I would only have a very short opportunity to get a shot in. Being in view of the curve meant that I could get more than one shot of the Horseman.

In the end, I managed to get 3 shots in and here are the ones I got.

Plus this spot meant that if I wanted to, I could take a shot of the parade coming around the corner and then try to get a picture of the parade with that gorgeously lit castle in the background. Here are the ones of the parade.

I tried hard to shoot Wendy and/or Peter Pan looking at the camera but somehow they both always looked the other way.

But that crocodile just kept staring in my direction....I thought he was a bit creepy around the eyes.

I kept missing shots of the gravediggers. Gonna have to try better for the next party.

I loved the costuming of the Haunted Mansion dancers.

But I never worked out why we have Cowboys?? Can someone enlighten me?

Clara Cluck was a feature on Firefly's PTR; so I had to take this shot.

My favourite group!

More Villains.

Candy from Goofy!

I certainly enjoyed the parade. The music for this parade is particularly bouncy and it was a lot of fun. I can’t believe WDW only offer it during one time of year only – but then I’m not a Marketer! And that's why we ALL keep coming back for more!


Up Next: Trick or Treat late at night

 

[Jade+3]

Great pictures. I hope my kids are not scared at MNSSHP. What ISO setting did you use? Photographing a parade at night is not something I will be able to practice before we go!

 

[hjd0411]

Have you heard of this?

http://www.thinkgeek.com/electronics/cameras-photography/82db/

It's a small, flexible tripod that you can mount onto ANYTHING. They have a DSLR model and a standard point and shoot model. Obviously, camera not included

I have seen those, and I nearly bought one of those, too!! I think that I will soon, as it looks much easier to use and carry. Oh, and why no camera included...!!!!! I'll have to check out the prices. Thanks for the info.

 

[DisneyFirefly]

These are great for P&S models. I looked at the gorillapod capable of supporting the dSLR model before I left. Have you seen the size of it? It's effectively the YETI sized model. Weighs a ton, is bigger than my current tripod and the pods are really hard to move around because they are so big!
It's a shame....because I really like the concept of being able to wrap the tripod around anything.

Ah, okay I wasn't sure about the DSLR model I really like the idea of those and may wind up buying one when I get my new camera.

I have seen those, and I nearly bought one of those, too!! I think that I will soon, as it looks much easier to use and carry. Oh, and why no camera included...!!!!! I'll have to check out the prices. Thanks for the info.

I actually heard about it here on the Dis, to be honest. I love the ThinkGeek site, though. So many fun products on there

 

[hjd0411]

PiO - what tripod did you get that fits in your suitcase? I'd be interested to find out - I do need a smaller one! PM me if you don't want to hijack your TR!!
Thanks
Oh, and your parade photos came out well - did you use the 50mm lens for all of these shots? I didn't do too well with mine when I used it, but I think it was lack of practice..!! Must keep trying again and again!

 

[PrincessInOz]

Great pictures. I hope my kids are not scared at MNSSHP. What ISO setting did you use? Photographing a parade at night is not something I will be able to practice before we go!

Jade - In some of the pictures, I had the camera set to No Flash mode. The EXIF show that the ISO moved between 800 - 3200. My camera will go to 6400 (and 12800 extended but I've never pushed it this high). I have played with ISO 3200 at home and find the pictures grainy. But the ones of the parade weren't too bad.
I also seem to have played in Aperture Priority mode as well. For these pictures, the ISO seems to have been set to either 800, 1600 or 3200 as well. In the shots that worked best, the speed was > 1/50 sec; in line with that 1/focal length rule of thumb.

I have seen those, and I nearly bought one of those, too!! I think that I will soon, as it looks much easier to use and carry. Oh, and why no camera included...!!!!! I'll have to check out the prices. Thanks for the info.

Be aware that the smaller ones won't support a dSLR weight...

Ah, okay I wasn't sure about the DSLR model I really like the idea of those and may wind up buying one when I get my new camera.

I actually heard about it here on the Dis, to be honest. I love the ThinkGeek site, though. So many fun products on there

They are great for a Point and Shoot. I've seen them work really well. When you get your new camera, you should see if you can get one all bundled in your order.

PiO - what tripod did you get that fits in your suitcase? I'd be interested to find out - I do need a smaller one! PM me if you don't want to hijack your TR!!
Thanks
Oh, and your parade photos came out well - did you use the 50mm lens for all of these shots? I didn't do too well with mine when I used it, but I think it was lack of practice..!! Must keep trying again and again!

I used the 50mm lens in all the night shots and in rides. I was quite pleased with how they turned out. I figured that my kit lenses wouldn't be able to handle the night or the dark rides without a flash and you're not meant to flash in the rides anyway. So, if I didn't try out the 50 mm and take shots with it, then I wouldn't have had any pictures. No loss either way.

The tripod that I took with me is one that collapses to about 50 cm. DH bought it for $20 at Harvey Norman's about a year ago; before we even got the dSLR. It's sufficient for my needs, holds the weight of the dSLR and I wouldn't lose any sleep if we accidently lost it somewhere.





We'll eventually get round to the second HalloWishes where I positioned myself down Main Street. I pushed the camera out of No Flash mode and trialled Av and Tv modes. I got some shots with short firework trails....

By way of a teaser

I'll make sure to include the photo info when I get round to writing up the second MNSSHP. Unfortunately, you'll have to wait until AFTER Epcot and DHS updates before we get there .

I better get busy with putting thoughts down..!

 

[DisneyFirefly]

They are great for a Point and Shoot. I've seen them work really well. When you get your new camera, you should see if you can get one all bundled in your order.

I think I'd order it through ThinkGeek, actually. I get GeekPoints from them toward free merchandise, so it would make sense to order it from them, since I'm probably just going to get my camera from Best Buy or something.

 

[PrincessInOz]

I think I'd order it through ThinkGeek, actually. I get GeekPoints from them toward free merchandise, so it would make sense to order it from them, since I'm probably just going to get my camera from Best Buy or something.

Well - you better start thinking about what camera you want. You've only got 6 months to DLR.

 

[DisneyFirefly]

Well - you better start thinking about what camera you want. You've only got 6 months to DLR.

I think I'm going to get another Panasonic Lumix. This thing lasted so long and has been through a lot of drops and other things and still works, even though it does need to be replaced.