MarkBarbieri
Semi-retired
- Joined
- Aug 20, 2006
- Messages
- 6,172
This is another in a series of threads focused on how to shoot different shows, attractions, rides, and events at Disney Theme Parks. The purpose is to help people learn how to shoot those things with their camera and what they can reasonably expect from their camera.
On this forum, we run the gamut from cell phone cameras to high end DSLRs with rediculously large lenses. I'm hoping that we'll get a variety of posts from people with cameras in all ranges. Even if you feel that your photos don't measure up to what others have posted, please post some samples anyway. We're all at different levels of gear and skill and we can all learn from each other. A typical S3 user will probably learn more from your S3 shot than they will from GDad's latest masterpiece.
Other posts in the series include:
How To Shoot: Fireworks
How To Shoot: Parades
How To Shoot: Indoor Shows
How To Shoot: The Safari Ride
How To Shoot: SpectroMagic
How To Shoot: Dark Rides
Cinderella's Castle is almost certainly the most photographed subject in all of Disney World. The Castle is a great subject for any shooter, regardless of their camera. It doesn't move, so no shutter lag concerns. It's pretty during the day, no tripod needed. It's really, really big, so you don't need a long zoom lens. And it never sprays your camera with water.
Most people photograph it from the central hub or spots nearby. Because the Castle is north of the central hub, you don't have to worry about shooting into the sun.
One of the best spots for a Castle shot is on the bridge connecting the central hub with Liberty Square. It's a beautiful shot with water in the foreground and the castle in background. I'm embarrased to admit it, but I don't have an online version of this shot as an example. When standing on the bridge, the sun sets behind you, so I bet that makes for some pretty evening light on the castle.
Another popular background castle shot is one taken with some of the flowers along the walk from the central hub to Tomorrowland in the foreground. For shots in which you are focusing on something really, really close and something really far away, it can be a real challenge to get both objects in focus.
You would think that a shot taken from the top of the train station at the end of Main Street would be great, becuase you would get all of Main Street with the Castle at the end. Sadly, a flag pole is right in the middle of the street near the train station. You can still get a good picture by moving to the side and lining the flagpole up with some other buildings, but you lose the symmetry.
Standing south of the Castle is great during the Wishes fireworks show because the Castle makes a perfect foreground object in front of the fireworks.
Another popular castle shooting technique is to use it as a background for other shots. One popular foreground subject is the statue of Walt and Mickey.
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Of course, anyone can find great pictures of Cinderella's Castle online. To make your picture special, make sure to include the people special to you in a shot in front of the Castle. The "family in front of the Castle" shot is the traditional summary photo for a family trip to the Kingdom.
During the day, you'll notice a long, thin wire from high up on the castle down to some place between Main Street and Tomorrowland. That's Tinkerbell's safety line (she really flies down, but they have the safety line because she gets nervous flying that high). It's pretty easy to clone this line out with a photo editor if it really bothers you.
If you get to the park and you see a crane hovering over the Castle, don't be too disheartened. In my experience, they always take it down toward the end of the day, leaving you with a little time for a clear shot at the castle and a clear view of the castle for the fireworks show.
So what are your tips for great Castle shots? Any great shots in and around the Castle? Any good shots using the castle gates to frame a view looking out from the Castle?
On this forum, we run the gamut from cell phone cameras to high end DSLRs with rediculously large lenses. I'm hoping that we'll get a variety of posts from people with cameras in all ranges. Even if you feel that your photos don't measure up to what others have posted, please post some samples anyway. We're all at different levels of gear and skill and we can all learn from each other. A typical S3 user will probably learn more from your S3 shot than they will from GDad's latest masterpiece.
Other posts in the series include:
How To Shoot: Fireworks
How To Shoot: Parades
How To Shoot: Indoor Shows
How To Shoot: The Safari Ride
How To Shoot: SpectroMagic
How To Shoot: Dark Rides
Cinderella's Castle is almost certainly the most photographed subject in all of Disney World. The Castle is a great subject for any shooter, regardless of their camera. It doesn't move, so no shutter lag concerns. It's pretty during the day, no tripod needed. It's really, really big, so you don't need a long zoom lens. And it never sprays your camera with water.
Most people photograph it from the central hub or spots nearby. Because the Castle is north of the central hub, you don't have to worry about shooting into the sun.
One of the best spots for a Castle shot is on the bridge connecting the central hub with Liberty Square. It's a beautiful shot with water in the foreground and the castle in background. I'm embarrased to admit it, but I don't have an online version of this shot as an example. When standing on the bridge, the sun sets behind you, so I bet that makes for some pretty evening light on the castle.
Another popular background castle shot is one taken with some of the flowers along the walk from the central hub to Tomorrowland in the foreground. For shots in which you are focusing on something really, really close and something really far away, it can be a real challenge to get both objects in focus.
You would think that a shot taken from the top of the train station at the end of Main Street would be great, becuase you would get all of Main Street with the Castle at the end. Sadly, a flag pole is right in the middle of the street near the train station. You can still get a good picture by moving to the side and lining the flagpole up with some other buildings, but you lose the symmetry.
Standing south of the Castle is great during the Wishes fireworks show because the Castle makes a perfect foreground object in front of the fireworks.
Another popular castle shooting technique is to use it as a background for other shots. One popular foreground subject is the statue of Walt and Mickey.
Of course, anyone can find great pictures of Cinderella's Castle online. To make your picture special, make sure to include the people special to you in a shot in front of the Castle. The "family in front of the Castle" shot is the traditional summary photo for a family trip to the Kingdom.
During the day, you'll notice a long, thin wire from high up on the castle down to some place between Main Street and Tomorrowland. That's Tinkerbell's safety line (she really flies down, but they have the safety line because she gets nervous flying that high). It's pretty easy to clone this line out with a photo editor if it really bothers you.
If you get to the park and you see a crane hovering over the Castle, don't be too disheartened. In my experience, they always take it down toward the end of the day, leaving you with a little time for a clear shot at the castle and a clear view of the castle for the fireworks show.
So what are your tips for great Castle shots? Any great shots in and around the Castle? Any good shots using the castle gates to frame a view looking out from the Castle?
