More WDW Night Time Photos (warning: big download)

[Geoff_M]

You folks responded so well to the first set of my natural light WDW night time photos. That I "went wild" during our trip down there this month. Each are sized for use as wall paper (for 1024 x 768 desktops).

Enjoy!

Pleasure Island.

The "spring" in the lobby at WL.

WL lobby and the "geologic" fireplace.

The queue area of Splash Mountain. I liked the lanterns in the trees! This is an eight second exposure!

The mountain of BTMRR. There was a nice thunderstorm off in the background that added a little bit to his photo.

Castle In Blue. From the bridge out of Frontierland. I liked the water reflection at the bottom of the photo.

Castle In Pink. Taken from near the "Partners" statue.

The same thing for you "purple" castle fans.

Tomorrowland at the end of E-night.

Mainstreet USA as people depart MK after E-night.

Castle and Mainstreet after E-night.

Castle and Mainstreet taken from the deck of the train station.

The "Iron Spike Room" at the Villas at The Wilderness Lodge (our new "home" )

The Magic Kingdom as seen from the observation deck of the California Grill at the CR.

The seating area of the musical stage outside of the American pavilion at Epcot. We're listening to Bering Straits. Good group.

Illuminations!

More Illuminations!

The Boardwalk and Dolphin as seen from the Epcot end of the Boardwalk.

 

[harperwi]

Wow, those were incredible photos! I live with a budding photographer, and I have to ask how you got those shots of Illuminations. Were they timed exposures too? What kind of
lens(es)? Did you use any filters? Were they tripod shots or did you take any of the shots on the page w/o tripod?

Whatever info you can share would be appreciated!

Wow (again).

Jon

 

[wdwpshyco]

Those are the most unbelievable pictures I've ever seen!!!! Great job.

You mentioned other pictures you've posted. Is there a link to them?

DW and I are going in December. Are you available to take our pictures for us??????

Thanks

 

[Geoff_M]

I really didn't use any special equipment for these photos. I actually left all of my high-end equipment at home. I used my Nikon CoolPix 950 (2.1 mega-pixel digital point-n-shoot). For most of the shots I also used an Eddie Bauer "Ultrapod" for most of the photos. After I posted the first set of pictures and mentioned that I used lamp posts, fence railings, trash cans, etc. to steady my camera during the long ambient light photos someone mentioned the Ultrapod as handy to use too. I found one on my way back from a trip to Milwaukee and it was only $12 and looked a lot better than the cheap miniature tripods I've seen before, so I bought one. It also has a nice long Velcro strap that allows you to secure it to handrails and such.

For the exposures I switched the automatic flash off, used aperture priority exposure metering (usually the "A" setting on your camera), opened the lens aperture wide open, adjusted the tripod (though you can see in the "Bering Straits" photo I'm resting the camera of the seat back railing), and then usually used the self-timer to take the photo. Use the self-timer allows the camera to stop vibrating when I let go of it after pressing the shutter release. The exposures ranged in length from around 1/2 to 8 seconds in length.

 

[Geoff_M]

The other thread that had the first set of photos is: http://disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=385045&highlight=+nighttime++photos

 

[toefungus]

Wow!! Amazing pictures!! Please post some more!!

 

[bratray]

WOW

these photo's gave me goose bumps- These are like pics you would buy for a postcard!!

what a fantastic job- is your profession a photographer??

thank you for sharing

lisa

 

[Geoff_M]

Thanks for all the kind comments everyone.

I'm a pro, but only semi-pro.

Toefungus... Your wish will be granted. I've got another set ready to go and will post them within the hour! However, I will note that these are from the "B" list!

 

[Ratpack]

July will be my first "digital" Disney trip. I hope I get pics close to the great ones you have posted here.

Thanks for sharing.

 

[BrerMom]

Cool!

 

[JANIE G.]

YOUR PICTURES ARE WONDERFUL. I HAVE A SONY MAVICA, 3 MEGAPIXEL DIGITAL CAMERA AND I REALLY LIKE IT, BUT IT IS A BIT TOO BIG TO CARRY AROUND THE PARKS. I'M PLANNING ON GETTING A SMALLER CAMERA FOR OUR UPCOMING TRIP IN SEPTEMBER. DO YOU HAVE ANY RECOMMENDATIONS OR OPINIONS ON THE FOLLOWING: NIKON 4500, PENTAX OPTIO 550, OR THE CANNON POWERSHOT S50. I'VE LOOKED AT ALL THE REVIEWS ON THE INTERNET, BUT I AM REALLY TORN AS TO WHAT ONE TO BUY. IF YOU CAN GIVE ME ANY ADVICE, GEOFF, IT WOULD BE MOST WELCOME.

THANKS,
JANIE

 

[llfowl]

WOW!!!!

Thanks for sharing!

 

[Geoff_M]

I'm not that well versed with the other models, but I'd recommend the CoolPix 4500. Until 6/30 it has a $200 rebate that should drop the price down to $450. I really like the swivel design of the 4500. It's literally great for shooting while the camera is raised over head or low to the ground. It also uses CF memory cards which are the cheapest on the market.