haunted mansion

[jimim]

where do you guys get the full front shot of the haunted mansion? do i need to be on the boat? can i get it from not being on the boat? am i totally off? i want the full front view nit from the angle where the cue is.

thanks everyone!

jimi

PS also if you guys were going to shoot when the park closes where is the best place to plant yourself for when the park closes?

do they run the dumbo's each night at close up in the air? or is that hit or miss?

thanks again!
jim

 

[zackiedawg]

Typically, the best way to get a shot of the front door entrance side of the Haunted Mansion is to ride the Liberty Belle boat, and stand on the upper deck. This gives you the front view of the mansion and from a more eye-level view that's just above the queue.

As for when the parks close, I personally prefer more of the 'classic' architecture, so I would lodge myself at the farthest points of Frontierland, wait until the crowds are mostly gone, then try to slowly make my way through Frontierland to Liberty Square and into Fantasyland, to the point where the CMs are starting to try to clear folks.

 

[mom2rtk]

Doesn't Dumbo run the cars up at the end of each ride cycle? That one is a good option to shoot near closing, so you don't have to use time after closing to shoot it. If you do a long exposure, people will ghost out. You really just have to hope there are no strollers parked out front.

I shot this one late at night, but while the park was still open:

IMG_0035 by mom2rtk, on Flickr

 

[jimim]

Typically, the best way to get a shot of the front door entrance side of the Haunted Mansion is to ride the Liberty Belle boat, and stand on the upper deck. This gives you the front view of the mansion and from a more eye-level view that's just above the queue.

As for when the parks close, I personally prefer more of the 'classic' architecture, so I would lodge myself at the farthest points of Frontierland, wait until the crowds are mostly gone, then try to slowly make my way through Frontierland to Liberty Square and into Fantasyland, to the point where the CMs are starting to try to clear folks.

that's what i was thinking about a path to walk but i thought i wouldn't be able to get into FL from Frontierland without being asked to move in the dir of main street? should i sneak down by sleepy hallow and up the side ramp of the castle which dumps me on the side of the caslte where the fairy godmother usually meets?

jim

 

[zackiedawg]

It depends on just how late you are staying in the park past closing. Within the first 45 minutes or so, there are still plenty of people lingering, getting out of food service places, coming off rides, etc, who start towards the exits, that you could still likely get away with heading slightly off the entrance direction - if a CM asks, you can always mention that you were heading to meet family at another park section and heading out together. Unless you were the very last person there, you probably wouldn't even be hassled. I will usually stick around a good hour or so after closing - and even when I think surely I must be one of the last people there, and it starts getting really abandoned looking, I start walking along and end up running into other people. Once you pick your farthest spot you can get away with, start taking all your night photos in a clearly determined way, that shows you appreciate the need to clear the park and you don't intend to be a problem...I set up the tripod, quickly start my exposure, and as soon as the shutter closes, I pick up the tripod and walk a few dozen feet in the direction of the exit...then maybe stop for another shot, and so on. That way, even if CMs are within view of you, or watching you, they see that you are working your way out, and as long as there are still others somewhere in the park, they aren't generally going to pay you any mind. I'm not too keen on being the very last one, where the CMs are almost pushing you out of the park...about an hour or so is reasonable, because there are generally still a few of the last riders on rides and last diners who had the very last dining reservations, who are just getting out, and you're still not the last one there...yet the park is empty enough you can set up your tripod almost anywhere and take some nice long exposures without worrying about crowds tripping over your tripod legs and walking through your shot.

 

[WilsonFlyer]

Doesn't Dumbo run the cars up at the end of each ride cycle? That one is a good option to shoot near closing, so you don't have to use time after closing to shoot it. If you do a long exposure, people will ghost out. You really just have to hope there are no strollers parked out front.

I shot this one late at night, but while the park was still open:

I know it's slightly off-topic but I have always been intrigued by this process. Could you please point me towards anything that expands on how to do this?

Thanks!

 

[CaptainCook]

I know it's slightly off-topic but I have always been intrigued by this process. Could you please point me towards anything that expands on how to do this?

Thanks!

Most night shots require a long exposure, say 10-20 seconds, to allow enough light to reach the sensor to expose the image. (You'll need a tripod for this.) Attractions that have lots of lights will require less time. It's partly a matter of personal preference; I usually underexpose a little according to the meter, then check the screen and adjust. If someone walks through your frame during a long exposure they won't likely register in the image.

 

[mom2rtk]

And if you time it just right, instead of them disappearing, they do actually have a ghost-like appearance. I've always wanted to do this out in front of Haunted Mansion but never remember to. I've seen some cool shots like that.

 

[jimim]

It depends on just how late you are staying in the park past closing. Within the first 45 minutes or so, there are still plenty of people lingering, getting out of food service places, coming off rides, etc, who start towards the exits, that you could still likely get away with heading slightly off the entrance direction - if a CM asks, you can always mention that you were heading to meet family at another park section and heading out together. Unless you were the very last person there, you probably wouldn't even be hassled. I will usually stick around a good hour or so after closing - and even when I think surely I must be one of the last people there, and it starts getting really abandoned looking, I start walking along and end up running into other people. Once you pick your farthest spot you can get away with, start taking all your night photos in a clearly determined way, that shows you appreciate the need to clear the park and you don't intend to be a problem...I set up the tripod, quickly start my exposure, and as soon as the shutter closes, I pick up the tripod and walk a few dozen feet in the direction of the exit...then maybe stop for another shot, and so on. That way, even if CMs are within view of you, or watching you, they see that you are working your way out, and as long as there are still others somewhere in the park, they aren't generally going to pay you any mind. I'm not too keen on being the very last one, where the CMs are almost pushing you out of the park...about an hour or so is reasonable, because there are generally still a few of the last riders on rides and last diners who had the very last dining reservations, who are just getting out, and you're still not the last one there...yet the park is empty enough you can set up your tripod almost anywhere and take some nice long exposures without worrying about crowds tripping over your tripod legs and walking through your shot.

Cool very cool.

Now I just have to decide if I want to buy a new tripod. Lol

Other question. Do u bracket a lot these shots or just go for a longer exposure and then post process as needed. I didn't know if I should spend the extra time to bracket vs get some pics.

Jimi