How to Shoot: SpectroMagic

[ents_2]

Thanks for the link - I sent you a private email ..... did you get it?

 

[pcmic]

Hello everyone,

I absolutely love everyones pictures of Disney!!!

First off let me say that I have been to Disneyworld at least 12 times but know I am going with 2 children under 3 and my wife. It is safe to say that there are not too many opportunities to set up tripods, or trashcans, bulb mode , hand held clicker, and take loads of pictures of fireworks.(I know this is the only way for fireworks and castle pictures but I will try to get a few though)

My Camera is Nikon d40 with the stock 18 X 55 lens but I am hoping to get the Vr 55 X 200 soon. I have read all the books and watched the DVD!! and I have been practicing with the camera for a year. I am not trying to cut any corners by asking these questions--i am trying to do all the work and day after day--pictures are getting better!! I took it last year in December and the flash broke after 2 days--so the only pictures to take were the ones out side.

This year we are going for the Halloween season and would love to get some nice pictures of the Parade, the Castle and Spectromagic!! Can anyone point me in a direction to take a half way decent picture of this and even the Headless Horseman!! Should I shoot in P mode, flash on, continuous, and go up to 400 or 800. or will some of this blurr the pictures. Maybe a better question is "should I keep it in Automatic--take 500 shots and hope that one comes out nice and clear. If anyone has some ideas thanks in advance!!

Chris and ohhhh yes--Have a Magical day!!!

 

[saturndb]

You might want to browse this threads. This will answer most of your questions on how to do the basics.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=20590733#post20590733

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1992784

Headless Horseman thread
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1936080&highlight=headless+horseman

 

[pcmic]

Hello Saturndb,

Thank you for the quick response to my questions!!! I have some time before our trip and I have already started reading all your information. When I get there i will try my best and I will update you when I get back. Wish me luck!!!

Thank you again,

Chris

 

[WDWFigment]

One interesting shot that I've never seen of this parade is a very long exposure shot. It would be fun to take some shots with the camera on a tripod that last 5 to 20 seconds. The lights on the parade would make an interesting abstract pattern.

This is an old thread with a lot of good SpectroMagic information, also.

I have seen at least one or two long-exposure Spectro shots but it's been a couple years. I tried one on my Jan 06 trip and was unhappy enough that I haven't tried it again since! I will probably try again sometime. The spinning floats may work best for such a photo.

As for metering... IMHO, it depends on the look you're going for. My best shots have been ones where I've added some positive exposure compensation, otherwise you tend to get good lights but a lot of darkness. I prefer to risk having the lights slightly blown out in order to capture more detail in the darker areas. This has worked quite well for seeing the performers themselves well without "revealing" too much that you're not supposed to see.

THAT is brilliant my friend. From the train station platform looking down Main St. would be perfect.

I have about 20 more like this, although I prefer this one the best. I will post the others when I get them edited. The spinning floats definitely look cool!

 

[knieriem]

I'm wanting to take some pictures of Spectromagic but I was wondering if anyone could tell me what settings to use on my camera. I know that i'll have to do some tweaking but can someone help me get close?

 

[annnewjerz]

It all depends on the lens, wadda ya got?!

The faster the lens, the better. The high-ISO capabilities of the D90 are pretty good. Combined with noiseware (which you probably shouldn't even need), you should be just fine if you have a lens that opens up to f/2.0 or lower with an ISO of probably no more than 1600 or so.

Although there was a recent A-M-A-Z-I-N-G shot of Spectro at f/2.8 and ISO 1250, but that was shot with a D3 I'm going to try the f/2.8 with 1250 ISO out when we go in December to see if I can get anything usable---so if you are going after that, just wait around and I'll post some pics!

 

[WDWFigment]

I'm wanting to take some pictures of Spectromagic but I was wondering if anyone could tell me what settings to use on my camera. I know that i'll have to do some tweaking but can someone help me get close?

You'll be pushing the outer limits of what's acceptable with the kit lens (assuming that's all you have). If you have at least the 50mm f/1.8, you'll end up with settings around f/2, ISO 1600, shutter 1/80, give or take.

Personally, I wouldn't use anything wider than 24mm on the D90 to shoot Spectro. I'm not impressed with the look of wider shots.

 

[scoot241]

I found shutter priority at ISO 800 with 1/50 of a second shutter speed gave me some very nice shots with the Sigma 30mm f/1.4. I also threw in -2/3 exposure compensation. The one problem I had was getting shots of the characters that wore the suits with lights on them in the parade; I never got that one quite figured out.

Shutter priority, 1/50 sec., f/2.5, ISO 800, -2/3 EC


Shutter priority, 1/50 sec., f/2.8, ISO 800, -2/3 EC


Shutter priority, 1/50 sec., f/2.5, ISO 800, -2/3 EC