Off-Camera Flash at Disney World?

[disneyboy2003]

Just wondering if anyone here has used off-camera flash at Disney World?

I normally keep my external flash on my camera. But books on flash tell me that getting the flash off-camera makes for more interesting, directional lighting.

I've never seen anyone at Disney World do off-camera flash. When would you consider using off-camera flash there, if at all? And if you do, do you bring radio triggers?

I have a feeling I'm over-thinking this.

 

[zackiedawg]

I'm not real big on using flash except for event photography...but the few times I do use flash, it's off camera more often than on, for scenic stuff. I've used it for backlighting effect, or rim lighting on flowers, or for putting some light on a subject from the corner of the frame which tends to have a natural feeling shadow cast. My DSLR has built in wireless support so no additional triggers needed - just take the flash off and fire. But I'd say flash makes up 1% of my overall photography, and at Disney...I haven't used one that I can remember.

 

[Chikabowa]

I have.
Not particularly well though... for taking snaps of the family it really was too much time and effort. But I got a couple of cute pics of DH and DD#1 eating pizza on the boardwalk together around 11:30 at night.

Now... if Disney would allow me to just do my thing, for like a parade or something, then it would be a blast. But that would require prime location for set up and seating! LOL Which I seriously doubt they'd like. LOL

ETA: Justin and I posted at the same time.
I have to piggy back on what he said... Disney does a fantastic job of lighting their scene really well. It creates a great backdrop of ambient light and great directional light if you read/use it well. I rarely find any need for flash, which is why I haven't done much of it in the past, as the light at night is fantastic, quality, and easy to use.

 

[jdgower]

Definitely. If you're talking about lighting the subject, which is what my mind jumped to...then take that flash off camera and angle it opposite to the sun (assuming the sun is behind the subject). Angle your subject so that the sun acts as a rim light if you can then use that flash as a main light. So much better than some on camera fill can do and definitely much better than no-flash snapshots (not that you cant do decent photography with no flash, but it's more difficult to get stand-out shots).

I plan on taking a couple of flashes and radio triggers when i go...probably take one flash each night we go somewhere and then take both a couple of times for grins...wife will love being my light stand while i take photos of the kiddos.

 

[disneyboy2003]

Thanks for your replies. I guess I tend to use my external flash a lot:

• during the day for fill flash (sometimes the characters hang out under a shaded tree, and the background is bright & sunny)
• another fill flash situation: if the sun is behind my subject, so that my subject is back-lit and dark
• inside a restaurant, especially the dimly-lit ones, like sitting at Tokyo Dining at the Japan Pavilion, where it's dimly-lit inside, we're seated next to the window, and it's bright & sunny outside
• late at night, like if I bump into Mickey, Minnie, & Donald at the very end of a nighttime party, like MNSSHP or MVMCP
• at night, if my subject's standing in the foreground and either Cinderella's castle is in the background or the Osbourne's Dancing Lights are in the background

So, I guess I tend to use my external flash a lot at Disney World. But I can't see how or when to use it as off-camera flash. What I'd picture would be me holding my external flash on my outstretched left hand while taking the picture with my right hand, like this guy:

 

[mom2rtk]

Someone posted a photo last summer of Cindy's fountain behind the castle side lit with an off-camera flash with a colored gel. If was very cool. Might have been Code or Gdad........ or the 2 of them working together. Maybe someone will post it here again.......

 

[Code]

Someone posted a photo last summer of Cindy's fountain behind the castle side lit with an off-camera flash with a colored gel. If was very cool. Might have been Code or Gdad........ or the 2 of them working together. Maybe someone will post it here again.......

Here it is.. This is still the only time I've used OCF in the parks, though I have plans for my next trip

Tom Bricker (WDWFigment) has also put one up on flickr, but he doesn't post here anymore. here's a link


Cinderella Fountain in Pink by CodyWDWfan, on Flickr

 

[mom2rtk]

Here it is.. This is still the only time I've used OCF in the parks, though I have plans for my next trip

Tom Bricker (WDWFigment) has also put one up on flickr, but he doesn't post here anymore. here's a link


Cinderella Fountain in Pink by CodyWDWfan, on Flickr

And of course I still LOVE that shot! Thanks for posting it. And I forgot about Tom's shot. It's stunning as well! If he's not posting here any more, it's a loss for this forum.

I can't wait to see what you plan with OCF on your next trip!

 

[GrillMouster]

Tom Bricker (WDWFigment)...doesn't post here anymore.

Tom posted as recently as 4/9 and 4/5. Has something happened since then that has caused him to leave?

 

[Code]

And of course I still LOVE that shot! Thanks for posting it. And I forgot about Tom's shot.

Thanks, it's one of my all time faves

Tom posted as recently as 4/9 and 4/5. Has something happened since then that has caused him to leave?

Sorry, I shouldn't be putting words in his mouth, especially when I'm wrong. forget i said it (and sorry Tom)