suggestions for taking pix of the castle at night?

[donaldsgal]

hello fellow Dis'ers!

we're going on our fourth trip this september (7 day Eastern cruise and one night at the Pop/two days at WDW) and every trip so far I've tried to take a picture of the castle at night. i really want to get a pic of the castle when it's changing colors, when the fireworks are going off, or any combination thereof.

I've seen several signatures on the boards with people who've managed to do what i've comoe to believe is the impossible - take a pic of the castle at night. we have a digital camera and a regular 35mm. how do you do it? i'd be so proud if i could...

thanks!
Jenny

 

[seashoreCM]

You need to use manual exposure settings, or a night exposure setting, if available. A "disposable" film camera probably will not do.

The exposure setting may require that the camera be sitting steadily on a fixed surface, or mounted on a tripod. It depends on the lens speed and camera (digital) or film (film camer) ISO rating.

For the castle the exposure is somewhere in the vicinity of 1/30'th second at f/2.8 for ISO 200. If the camera lens is rated f/8, the corresponding shutter speed is 1/4 second which is too slow for the camera to be hand held. For the fireworks you probably want the camera on a tripod so you can keep the shutter open and capture the trails of the fireworks. At leaast with a digital camera you can see the results (the finished picture, not the live view) on the view panel in back and retry with different settings if you need to.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[dBugged]

You can take night photos easily and you don't even need a digital camera that allows for the exposure to be controlled manually (although it can help a lot). I will assume, however, that your camera has an auto-timer (i.e. it can take a picture of you automatically within a few seconds after you start the timer).

Here is what you need to do:

1. Grab yourself one of those small pocketsize tripods (they are a couple inches tall). These come in handy for a lot of things. You can find them at most camera stores for about $10-15.

2. Screw the mini tripod into your camera and setup your shot the way you want it. Be sure to place the tripod on a solid surface. I have used railings, trashcans, and other surfaces for this. In a pinch, some of these mini tripods come with velcro that you can use to attach it to a pole or other such surfaces.

3. TURN OFF YOUR FLASH! This is important! If the flash fires, your shot won't be what you thought and will most likely be way too dark.

4. Set your auto-timer and let go of the camera. The picture may take a few seconds to expose before it is complete (this is due to the darkness). Do not touch the camera until you know the camera has done its job of taking the picture. Most cameras beep at the start and/or end of an exposure to indicate when it's safe to move/jiggle the camera.

5. The camera should snap a picture and it should be perfect. If it's not to your liking, just mess around with your manual settings and tweak until you get the desired look. Usually increasing the exposure time will do the trick. However, most modern digital cameras will sense that they aren't receiving enough light when the exposure occurs and will expose long enough to get you the shot. Your mileage may vary.

The tripod is important because it will help make sure the camera doesn't shake. With nighttime exposures, most humans aren't steady enough to hold the camera perfectly still long enough for the photo to come out without blurring. I love the mini tripod because I can stick it in my pocket or small camera bag and pull it out for unique situations (i.e. velcroing it to the railing inside Mission:Space to get a nice shot).

I have a few shots of the castle at night on our site at:
(I removed the link since the site is no longer available)

I have successfully taken night shots with point-n-shoot (Canon Elph/G2/G3) as well as SLR (Canon 10/20D) cameras, so you should be able to succesfully do it with just about any modern digital camera as long as it has an auto timer or the ability to be controlled remotely via a small remote control or remote switch. For most people, the auto-timer is a no brainer choice since it's built in and easy to use.

 

[Disnurse2B]

Great suggestions! I am going today to get a pocket sized tripod!

Another idea....you could try using a higher speed film like ISO 800. Just make sure you use it all at night or in low-light conditions. It also works well for taking pics of fast moving objects. Happy shooting!

 

[Disnurse2B]

BTW, dBugged: Wow, your pics are incredible!!!!!!!! Are you a professional photographer? If not, you should be!!

 

[donaldsgal]

4. Set your auto-timer and let go of the camera. The picture may take a few seconds to expose before it is complete (this is due to the darkness). Do not touch the camera until you know the camera has done its job of taking the picture. Most cameras beep at the start and/or end of an exposure to indicate when it's safe to move/jiggle the camera.

5. The camera should snap a picture and it should be perfect. If it's not to your liking, just mess around with your manual settings and tweak until you get the desired look. Usually increasing the exposure time will do the trick. However, most modern digital cameras will sense that they aren't receiving enough light when the exposure occurs and will expose long enough to get you the shot. Your milage may vary.

So that does mean I have to reset the auto-timer before every night shot? And what is "milage"?

Your pix are beautiful, by the way!

Thanks!
Jenny

 

[ricktib]

Also check to see if your digital camera has a "night mode". Mine does, and it's really idiot-proof, if you use a tripod or brace it completely still like the other posters have said.

These were taken in night mode while holding it still against a railing or trash can. The settings the camera came up with were 1/4 sec. for the shutter and f:2.8:

 

[BamaTigger]

Rick---GREAT PICS!!!!!!!!!!!!

What speed film and brand were you using? I have a Nikon N65 35mm (with 3 different size lenses) and Im a "PROFESSIONAL AMATEUR" photographer..


and I love to find new shots and new angles for the castle pics....
Usually at night I use 800 film (kodak) and I use my night setting...but they are still slightly grainy...any suggestions?

I am still learning about shutter speeds and apetures, so I usually just put it on Auto Focus and whatever setting Im doing at the time (sport, landscape, close, and night)

Seashorecm--------GREAT PICS AS WELL!!! Beautiful night shots!!!!!!!!!!

 

[ECU Pirates]

If you do not know how to set the camera yourself just get one of the Disney photographers to take your picture with their camera and then ask them to use your camera. The ones that have taken our picture have always set our camera to the proper setting, and then you can take your own pictures as well.
They are usually set up in Main Street just before you get to the Hub.

 

[PocahontasLookALike]

Great thread, replying so I can have it 'marked'!

 

[ricktib]

Rick---GREAT PICS!!!!!!!!!!!!

What speed film and brand were you using? I have a Nikon N65 35mm (with 3 different size lenses) and Im a "PROFESSIONAL AMATEUR" photographer..

Thanks! It's a digital camera - Fuji FinePix S602 Zoom, but it says that the ISO setting was 200. Like I said, it's a really idiot-proof camera and I really love it. I'm learning a lot too.

 

[disneyaggie]

You can take night photos easily and you don't even need a digital camera that allows for the exposure to be controlled manually (although it can help a lot). I will assume, however, that your camera has an auto-timer (i.e. it can take a picture of you automatically within a few seconds after you start the timer).

Here is what you need to do:

1. Grab yourself one of those small pocketsize tripods (they are a couple inches tall). These come in handy for a lot of things. You can find them at most camera stores for about $10-15.

2. Screw the mini tripod into your camera and setup your shot the way you want it. Be sure to place the tripod on a solid surface. I have used railings, trashcans, and other surfaces for this. In a pinch, some of these mini tripods come with velcro that you can use to attach it to a pole or other such surfaces.

3. TURN OFF YOUR FLASH! This is important! If the flash fires, your shot won't be what you thought and will most likely be way too dark.

4. Set your auto-timer and let go of the camera. The picture may take a few seconds to expose before it is complete (this is due to the darkness). Do not touch the camera until you know the camera has done its job of taking the picture. Most cameras beep at the start and/or end of an exposure to indicate when it's safe to move/jiggle the camera.

5. The camera should snap a picture and it should be perfect. If it's not to your liking, just mess around with your manual settings and tweak until you get the desired look. Usually increasing the exposure time will do the trick. However, most modern digital cameras will sense that they aren't receiving enough light when the exposure occurs and will expose long enough to get you the shot. Your milage may vary.

The tripod is important because it will help make sure the camera doesn't shake. With nighttime exposures, most humans aren't steady enough to hold the camera perfectly still long enough for the photo to come out without blurring. I love the mini tripod because I can stick it in my pocket or small camera bag and pull it out for unique situations (i.e. velcroing it to the railing inside Mission:Space to get a nice shot).

I have a few shots of the castle at night on our site at:
http://www.wdwpix.com/MK,MK2003C.album

I have successfully taken night shots with point-n-shoot (Canon Elph/G2/G3) as well as SLR (Canon 10/20D) cameras, so you should be able to succesfully do it with just about any modern digital camera as long as it has an auto timer or the ability to be controlled remotely via a small remote control or remote switch. For most people, the auto-timer is a no brainer choice since it's built in and easy to use.

Awesome pictures! Nice job!

 

[dBugged]

Great suggestions! I am going today to get a pocket sized tripod!

Another idea....you could try using a higher speed film like ISO 800. Just make sure you use it all at night or in low-light conditions. It also works well for taking pics of fast moving objects. Happy shooting!

Yes, a higher speed film will work. I frequently kick my 20D up to 1600. The only downside, however, is that the photos contain a lot more noise.

 

[dBugged]

BTW, dBugged: Wow, your pics are incredible!!!!!!!! Are you a professional photographer? If not, you should be!!

Not a professional, just someone who loves to take photographs. Although, I have considered it a few times because it is much more enjoyable to what I do for my real job.

 

[dBugged]

So that does mean I have to reset the auto-timer before every night shot? And what is "milage"?

Your pix are beautiful, by the way!

Thanks!
Jenny

Most cameras will stay into auto-timer mode after you take a picture with the feature turned on. The owners manual should say if your remains active and must be turned off or if it resets itself after every shot.

Oh, and milage is a typo.

 

[Stiff]

here is how Ive had success

I set my digital to where it takes the three pictures in a row....snap, snap, snap.....they come out crystal clear and I just delete the ones I dont want

same thing with fireworks