great photo locations

[MICKEY88]

did you try any at all with flash, if you under expose the background by 1 stop and light your subject with flash you will get better seperation and the subject will pop

 

[MarkBarbieri]

I'm sure it's not worth mentioning to an experienced pro such as yourself, but be careful with your DOF for group shots. I'm always thrilled when I see tack sharp focus on a few people in a group, but then incredibly bummed when a few of the people are OOF because they were standing just an inch too far forward or behind the focal point.

Nothing pro about my work. I have to pay my subjects more often than I get paid by them. I'm well aware, from painful experience, of the problem managing DOF to get all of my subjects in focus with the least DOF. Thankfully with digital I can do a lot of bracketing and throw away tons of shots.

For most of my portrait work, I shoot in my garage, which I convert into a studio. In those cases, I can shoot at f/8 or f/11 and not worry about DOF at all. It also means that I can get great results with just about any lens. I can't emphasize enough for anyone craving super expensive glass that even cheap glass generally performs as well if you shoot at f/8 or f/11 and your light is good.

So Mark:

What do you think of your shots and locations. Which ones strike your fancy and why?

I shot about 10 test shots and picked these four as the ones I thought were acceptable. After looking at them again and reviewing the comments here, I now realize that the poolside location really isn't that good. My other concern was that the rocks aren't sufficiently photogenic. I didn't see any complaints, so I guess they aren't too bad.

Shooting in the backyard is a real challenge. We have an ugly, grey stockade fence (the standard suburban plank fence you find out here) that is in almost every shot. It is also hard to find an angle that doesn't include parts of houses and other junk. I could use a lens with a wider aperture and throw the background completely out, but I find that look to get pretty boring after a while.

did you try any at all with flash, if you under expose the background by 1 stop and light your subject with flash you will get better seperation and the subject will pop

I didn't use a flash on anything. It was a spur-of-the-moment decision just as the light was fading, so I just grabbed the camera and ran outside. If I do a real shoot outside, I'll probably add a warm, soft flash for my subject to give some direction to the light, adjust the color temperature, and add some separation.

I really want to play with some shots using colored flashes on the water, but it's too cold still for the kids to swim when the sun is going down. I've got some ideas for next month when the water warms up more. It's about 74 in the late afternoon now. I've got a coworker/neighbor with four girls with big, beautiful, blue eyes that are going to get a workout as models this summer. Over the weekend our wives started discussing chartering a sailboat in the BVI for summer of '10. I'm sure that would lead to some amazing pictures (although it will ruin my camera gear budget).

 

[snookiedoodles]

Is there a map of where the photographers are located in each park? I pre purchased a photo cd and I was wondering if there is a map of the disney photographers locations?

 

[WillowBelle]

I *think* that they are notated on the park maps you can get. They're pretty much at all the big spots - all the way down Main St./in front of the castle/SE/the tree in AK, etc.

 

[Altair]

There were not near as many photographers this January as compared to last year.

 

[KramBerries]

Those photopass guys creep me out. People with big cameras are creepy enough as it is, but when they start taking pictures of strangers, that's just too much for me. I think on my next trip I'll start taking their pictures so that they can see how it feels.

 

[Karenj2]

Hi all - we're going to WDW this January - DH is doing the Marathon, and it'll be my DD's first trip to WDW!!

I'd like to get photos for a scrapbook, but I how distracted I'll be when I get down there. Can anyone help me make a list of good photo spots (or point me to a post or site with tips?)

I'm not the greatest photographer, but since this trip will be low-key and on a much slower pace than with my niece & nephew (5 & 10), I might actually be able to get some shots!

One thing I know I'll be getting - my DD will be getting her first haircut at the barber shop! BTW - she'll be 9 months old - so probably no running around.

 

[hughtopia]

One fun photo spot is actually in Downtown Disney. Outside of Pooh's Corner there's a log where you can sit with Pooh, Tigger and Piglet.

http://goflorida.about.com/od/disneyworld/ig/Downtown-Disney/Pooh-Corner.htm

 

[Commando2319]

I find the best photos of my kids at Disney are when they are playing. And don't realize I am taking their pictures.

So I always like to stop at the various playgrounds with the kids. Let them unwind from the stress of waiting in line and the long day by just running and playing. And then I snap as many pictures as I can with a good telephoto lens.

Like Donald's Boat, Animal Kingdom's Dinosaur dig, etc.

 

[Experiment_626]

I'd like to choose a location for a photo of my little boys that we can take on every trip, to show the progression as they get older. The problem is, I don't want a place that might go away in the next several years. It's hard to think of a place that is both recognizable and truly safe from the wrecking ball, other than the main park icons. Anyone have any ideas besides Cinderella Castle, Spaceship Earth, etc.?

 

[raysnkaysmom]

I'd like to choose a location for a photo of my little boys that we can take on every trip, to show the progression as they get older. The problem is, I don't want a place that might go away in the next several years. It's hard to think of a place that is both recognizable and truly safe from the wrecking ball, other than the main park icons. Anyone have any ideas besides Cinderella Castle, Spaceship Earth, etc.?

We try to always do the dogwood tree at Downtown Disney across the lake from Rainforest Cafe....

Another idea for MK is with the riverboat behind you