Shooting Osbourne Lights??

[jpeka65844]

Any tips for getting good pics of these? I'll be using a Canon Powershot S5!

Thanks in advance!!

 

[Amy]

I'll be down there using my Canon S3 in a few weeks, so I'll let you know how they turn out! I'm going to start with NightShot, but if that doesn't work, I'll prob. end up using my old standy, Sports mode. Sports did a pretty good job with fireworks, so it might be good with the Osborne lights.

 

[Jeanne B]

If you have a camcorder be sure to bring it, this is SUCH a fantastic show!! I ended up using the video on my S3 last December since we didn't have our camcorder with us.

 

[Amy]

I dug back thru some shots, and found this from last year, taken at Oglebay Resort, Wheeling, WV. I used my S3 on Night Scene BUT I used a tripod.

When we were at WDW in Dec. 2005, I had a Canon A70 and got some ok hand-held shots. (I looked to see what mode I shot them in, and it just said "fast shutter" mode, whatever that is ) I remember the crowds were horrible, so I'm not sure how well it'll work to try to set up a tripod to take shots (people banging into it, etc.).

 

[skr8pn]

By chance I have a picture of the lights here at work, and even further chance I have all my info wrote on the back since I used this picture in a photo class I took.

I used a Canon Rebel XT but the idea should be about the same.
I set mine to Tv (shutter priority) and then set it to 1/25th. From what I've heard 1/30th is commonly all that can be hand held without blur. I also had my ISO cranked to 1600. Printed at 4x6 there no blur and the light looks great. If it blurs just go with a little faster speed. You should be able to find a happy medium.

 

[JR6ooo4]

Use a tripod.
and have three people around you to stop others from accidently kicking the legs.

Mikeeee

 

[seashoreCM]

Particulary for video, you would want to use a night setting or a minus number on exposure compensation, or manual settings to darken the picture. Otherwise the lights themselves may be washed out.

So many times I have seen people in the Osborne Lights display with their camcorders, and on the viewfinders all the lights are white instead of colored due to overexposure. The camera or camcorder is doing an automatic exposure, opening the lens as wide as it can trying to make the nighttime scene look like daytime.

Digital camera hints: http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/digicam.htm

 

[MarkBarbieri]

I dug back thru some shots, and found this from last year, taken at Oglebay Resort, Wheeling, WV. I used my S3 on Night Scene BUT I used a tripod.

When we were at WDW in Dec. 2005, I had a Canon A70 and got some ok hand-held shots. (I looked to see what mode I shot them in, and it just said "fast shutter" mode, whatever that is ) I remember the crowds were horrible, so I'm not sure how well it'll work to try to set up a tripod to take shots (people banging into it, etc.).

What a beautiful shot. That's awesome.

My recent experience with the Osborne lights was similarly crowded. There was no way to set up a tripod. I suppose if we'd stayed longer it might have cleared out. I HATE dense crowds, so I only stayed a few minutes.

 

[Groucho]

I don't think that the Osbourne Lights are too challenging to shoot - they are pretty bright. With IS, you should probably be OK - it's certainly not nearly as touch as, say, SpectroMagic.

Here's a couple shots from my last trip. Both were shot at ISO 400, 50mm, F2.0, no image stabilization.

Worst case, you may need to use a high ISO and run it through a noise reducer later. I also have some shots taken with a Canon SD600 (similar sensor, etc as the S3) but not online.

 

[souper]

So glad I found this thread.

Thanks to everyone that gave tips. Last year I converted from SLR to Digital (Canon 30D). I have not experimented much with night photography on the 30D. The Osbourne Lights are shots I would not want to miss.
Thanks Again!

 

[SharonLowe]

I shot some of them this year. I used my little Canon sd700 IS to do some movies of the lighting ceremony. My dSLR was set to ISO 800 and I used my 24-70mm set at f/2.8. I set the camera to burst mode and typically shot off 3 frames of the same image. Typically, the first one isn't in focus but the 2nd and/or 3rd one will be. No way could I have set up a tripod with those crowds!

 

[handicap18]

When we were there 2 years ago I used my Canon S30 PnS to photograph the Osborne Lights. I mostly used that camera in Portrait mode because I liked the way the colors came out that way. I can't get the ISO right now on the computer I'm on, but shutter was 1/60th and f/stop was 2.8. I got great color and most are pretty sharp. ISO is set automatically with that camera so I'm guessing maybe 400. There isn't a lot of noise and with that camera at 800 I get A LOT of noise. Though now that I think about it, the flash may have gone off too. But for most of the pics, it didn't do anything because I was to far away.

The white dots you see is the "snow" that they create. The flash is picking up those. Gives it a "different" effect.

With an S5 IS you should do perfectly fine. Since its digital, take a few shots in different modes to see what works. Like Groucho said, they are pretty bright and its fairly easy to photograph.

 

[DizneyNutz]

When we were there 2 years ago I used my Canon S30 PnS to photograph the Osborne Lights. I mostly used that camera in Portrait mode because I liked the way the colors came out that way. I can't get the ISO right now on the computer I'm on, but shutter was 1/60th and f/stop was 2.8. I got great color and most are pretty sharp. ISO is set automatically with that camera so I'm guessing maybe 400. There isn't a lot of noise and with that camera at 800 I get A LOT of noise. Though now that I think about it, the flash may have gone off too. But for most of the pics, it didn't do anything because I was to far away.

The white dots you see is the "snow" that they create. The flash is picking up those. Gives it a "different" effect.

With an S5 IS you should do perfectly fine. Since its digital, take a few shots in different modes to see what works. Like Groucho said, they are pretty bright and its fairly easy to photograph.

Yes flash fired on this photo like you said. Great photo by the way.

 

[We-Luv-Disney]

I would say, use a tripod along with the camera self timer. Also maybe go to the lights while fantasmic is going on, this might help reduce the crowds. Have fun.

 

[boBQuincy]

Osborne Lights is where a monopod really works. Most of the lights are plenty bright enough for a shutter speed that is not too slow for a monopod.
This one is 1/25 @ f/4, ISO 400 with -1-1/3 exposure compensation to keep the highlights from blowing out.

Most of my photos from that evening were from 1/8 to 1/30 shutter speed. The area was very crowded when it opened but was very uncrowded about a hour later.

 

[DizneyNutz]

I would say, use a tripod along with the camera self timer. Also maybe go to the lights while fantasmic is going on, this might help reduce the crowds. Have fun.

But I can tell you from experience, there are plenty of people thinking the same way. The start of the show was elbow to elbow, so just dive in and experience the magic, but don't expect a down time for this show because everyone is wanting to see this spectacular show. Go with flow on this one and capture what you can. Iwalked down the center of the street with my video camera on a tripod held above my head trying to hold it as steady as possible while making our way through the crowd. It came out very well with the conditions we were in and I am sure you will have a GREAT experience.

 

[scejas]

Here are some from this pass weekend...

 

[scejas]

oh and to be honest I didn't take many shots because i was in "awe" so make sure you brace yourself when going out there...lol

 

[klmall]

But I can tell you from experience, there are plenty of people thinking the same way. The start of the show was elbow to elbow, so just dive in and experience the magic, but don't expect a down time for this show because everyone is wanting to see this spectacular show. Go with flow on this one and capture what you can. Iwalked down the center of the street with my video camera on a tripod held above my head trying to hold it as steady as possible while making our way through the crowd. It came out very well with the conditions we were in and I am sure you will have a GREAT experience.

I'm going to try these suggestions when we are there in a few weeks! You certainly have nothing to lose (if you hold on to your camera!).

 

[BorisMD]

Hmm, I'm wondering, what would work out better for this, a 50mm 1.8 fixed, or the 10-22 3.5-4.5?

I'd probably take a monopod and use a higher ISO setting.

Any thoughts on white balance? Automatic or incandescent?

Thanks,

Boris