Mediocre Shots on Disney Parks Blog?

[WDWFigment]

I don't know if any of you check out the Disney Parks Blog (I do--cool source of info); I've noticed that the photography section of the blog is pretty underwhelming. Some of the shots are alright (the recent ones have been better), but all seem to have at least some technical flaws, or something that makes them less-than-stellar. Maybe it's just me and my intense jealousy that these guys get paid to take pictures in the parks, but I've only liked one of the shots (out of all of them) that has been posted. Is it just me? Are these shots actually good, and I just fail to recognize true quality?

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/tag/photography/

 

[annnewjerz]

I'm pretty much in agreement, all of the shots are kind of just "meh" rather than "wow" like we see posted on these boards and Flickr. T

here are some that I really like, but more because they're not shots your average guest could get. One example would be the Walt Disney World Railroad coming straight toward a photographer that HAD to be straddling the tracks. If a normal guest with a camera did that, they'd probably get kicked out. It does make me very jealous that they get paid for it---but I don't think that has anything to do with while I find them to be underwhelming.

I wonder if you can submit a photo to be posted on the Blog, or if they only use their dedicated photographers.

 

[WDWFigment]

I'm pretty much in agreement, all of the shots are kind of just "meh" rather than "wow" like we see posted on these boards and Flickr. T

here are some that I really like, but more because they're not shots your average guest could get. One example would be the Walt Disney World Railroad coming straight toward a photographer that HAD to be straddling the tracks. If a normal guest with a camera did that, they'd probably get kicked out. It does make me very jealous that they get paid for it---but I don't think that has anything to do with while I find them to be underwhelming.

I wonder if you can submit a photo to be posted on the Blog, or if they only use their dedicated photographers.

The one shot that impressed me was the Partners overhead shot. The train shot was cool, but nothing you couldn't get with a point and shoot on automatic anytime during the day and standing on the track. I actually think you could get something similar if you follow the path from Toon Town to Tomorrowland--at one point the little path "bulges" out. Maybe not quite the same perspective, but close.

 

[annnewjerz]

The one shot that impressed me was the Partners overhead shot.

Agreed and admittedly have no idea how they did it---I'm guessing they just used a lift like you'd see them using to put the garlands/decor up on Main Street.

But again, that's what I mean, the photos that I like are more appealing because it's a shot that the normal visitor probably couldn't get in the parks and less because I think there is anything stellar about the photography.

I feel like the overhead of Partners is probably something you can get with a point & shoot in the middle of the day just like the train shot, as long as you knew some basic concepts of composition and had a crane.

I'm least impressed with the shots of the reflections in the water. Reflections have obviously been much better done by lots of non-paid Disney photographers.

 

[ssanders79]

It would be really cool if Disney offered a photo walk with special access to off limit areas (not backstage, more like the other side of a fence to get a better angle.) To top it off it would be great if these were offered before and after the park hours to take advantage of sunrise, night and empty parks.

 

[boBQuincy]

I don't know if any of you check out the Disney Parks Blog (I do--cool source of info); I've noticed that the photography section of the blog is pretty underwhelming...

We have become spoiled by all the really good photographers on this board! The creativity plus the technical expertise (not to mention the universal availability of good equipment) shows little to no separation between good amateurs and pros anymore. Plus with no deadlines the amateurs have the luxury of time on their side.
I am not surprised that many of our photographs are better than the official ones these days. Now if we could just get in the parks before/after hours and get up on that lift bucket...

 

[WDWFigment]

We have become spoiled by all the really good photographers on this board! The creativity plus the technical expertise (not to mention the universal availability of good equipment) shows little to no separation between good amateurs and pros anymore. Plus with no deadlines the amateurs have the luxury of time on their side.
I am not surprised that many of our photographs are better than the official ones these days. Now if we could just get in the parks before/after hours and get up on that lift bucket...

I understand your point, but I have to say that I really disagree with what you're saying. I'm not talking about their regular, possibly mass-done work (as in submitting 100 shots from the field of the Princess Tiana Liberty boat show). I wouldn't nitpick that. I understand those shots might not be shot in RAW, might have issues that could be corrected in PP, etc. These are shots they are handpicking to display on an somewhat irregular basis (once a week at most) on a blog. They could certainly take the time to make post processing corrections (however, that wouldn't fix the poor composition and other problems apparent in many of the shots) for these shots. Granted, I don't know what their workload looks like, but I really don't think any workload would be so burdensome that it would result in the quality of some of the shots on that blog. I don't want to paint with too broad of a brush because I've seen great shots from some of the official photographers, but a lot of stuff on the blog isn't good.

 

[DznyFan]

I agree, they're not that great! Many of the folks here do a MUCH better job at capturing the 'essence' of Disney than those shots, and overal superior quality images as well. They're clearly hiring the wrong people to publish on their site.
The overhead Partners shot, though... I did like that.

I feel like the overhead of Partners is probably something you can get with a point & shoot in the middle of the day just like the train shot, as long as you knew some basic concepts of composition and had a crane.

Ann, you do not take your crane with you to the parks?

It would be really cool if Disney offered a photo walk with special access to off limit areas (not backstage, more like the other side of a fence to get a better angle.) To top it off it would be great if these were offered before and after the park hours to take advantage of sunrise, night and empty parks.

Fabulous idea!! Oh, just to be able to hop that fence or barrier... or photographers only areas that give us the best vantage points without having to dodge other guests' bodies or heads.
I did go backstage of MK to the CM areas with my daughter one day back in October. Saw train barn, the monorail barn and a bunch of really cool stuff! I kept asking her, can't I PLEASE get my camera out and take pics? She looked at me like I'd grown a third eye, and said, "uh, NO, mom."

 

[DebºoºS]

I'm least impressed with the shots of the reflections in the water. Reflections have obviously been much better done by lots of non-paid Disney photographers.

LOL
Dittos, I saw those and shook my head.

It would be really cool if Disney offered a photo walk with special access to off limit areas (not backstage, more like the other side of a fence to get a better angle.) To top it off it would be great if these were offered before and after the park hours to take advantage of sunrise, night and empty parks.

In the 90's they offered a photo shoot tour of the Magic Kingdom. Can't remember if they went into Epcot. You would meet long before the parks opened and if I remember correctly they took you up on the roof tops for morning light. Not a crane but a cool angle nonetheless. I always wanted to do it.*Big sigh*