Telling the story...

[Dave Tavener]

For our upcoming trip in December, I've been thinking a lot about what kind of pictures I'm going to try and take. When I look at the pictures from our last trip in 2005, I'm somewhat dissatisfied with what I got. There doesn't seem to be any flow or story to them. They seem to be just disjointed snapshots of a family on vacation. I've learned a lot about photography since that trip and I know I can take technically better pix, but what's the best way of telling the story of our vacation in pictures?

Thanks,
Dave

 

[webshark3]

Change up your view... get down get up.. if you got kids, take photos from their perspective.

I find when you take a photo from a kid's view, you get a whole new "story".

 

[Dave Tavener]

Sure - I try to do that all the time. What I'm looking for is more of a visual Trip Report. Has anyone tried to document the trip almost step-by-step? Taking pictures of the signs at the entry to each land, attraction signs, restaurants, etc... I want to be able to look at the pictures sequentially and almost relive the trip. Or is this going to lead to a lot of pictures of the family's backsides as we're walking down paths? How else can I tell a visual narrative of the trip?

 

[fitzperry]

Sure - I try to do that all the time. What I'm looking for is more of a visual Trip Report. Has anyone tried to document the trip almost step-by-step? Taking pictures of the signs at the entry to each land, attraction signs, restaurants, etc... I want to be able to look at the pictures sequentially and almost relive the trip. Or is this going to lead to a lot of pictures of the family's backsides as we're walking down paths? How else can I tell a visual narrative of the trip?

Personally I've moved away from the chronological narrative type "trip report" (I've never actually written a trip report, but I do scrapbooks of our vacations). My most recent Disney scrapbook is sort of an ABC album (i.e., A-Animal Kingdom, B-Big Thunder Mountain, C-Cousins (who went with us) and so on), except I don't have it in alphabetical order because I have several pages for some letters and only one for others, so I'm mixing it up. I'm finding it's a fun way to tell the story a little differently.

If you want to stay with the chronological narrative, I'd suggest looking at some of the trip reports people have posted here. Groucho has an ongoing one right now (http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1801283). There is a cool picture of his breakfast cinnamon roll sitting in front of his laptop. If I were going to try to document every aspect of a vacation, I'd try for shots like that--little details but from a unique perspective or maybe with unusual lighting or something like that so it doesn't look mundane (as you said, you don't just want a bunch of pictures of your family members' backsides walking up to a ride, etc.) I think Mark Barbieri also has links to his very humorous and detailed trip report(s?) in his signature.

 

[Code]

Sounds more like work than a vacation, somewhat akin to walking around with a camcorder filming every single second of every day.. not saying I don't end up with a bunch of shots of signs and the like but I only take them as the moment strikes me.

I can look through my pictures sequentially and be reminded very well what the course of events were during the day, but I wasn't trying for that. I just shoot without discretion and I end up with something like you are talking about anyway My trip report (link in sig) is sequential.

 

[AndrewWG]

The idea of a photographic trip report in the manner which you have laid out is an interesting one. However, I have one thing to have you keep in mind. You are on vacation. Your family is on vacation. If you spend much of your time planning and creating something like this, you will not only miss out on some of the fun of vacationing, I am certain that your family members will grow tired of your project. My suggestion would be to relax and enjoy the time you have with your family members. Sure, take LOTS of pictures when you can, but don't make it an objective, or your hobby will soon be getting in the way of your precious family time.

On my last trip, I tried too hard to photograph everything, and I can tell you, it made the trip VERY unpleasant at times. Unfortunately, we have the ability to remember the bad times more than the good ones.

 

[allie5]

Personally, Id rather spend time having fun than be taking pictures the whole time! I got caught out last year - so intent was I in taking good shots with my newly aquired DSLR, that my family got neglected! They would be miles ahead, whilst I was faffing around waiting for the perfect shot, or twiddling with camera buttons - no fun for anyone! I soon realised it wasnt fair on them and I resorted back to mom again, rather than The Photographer!!

My plan this year, is to have some specific shots in mind for each park - where maybe 3 or 4 times in the day I can request to my family that Id like a few minutes to get the shot I want - the rest of the day will be focused on having fun, taking family snaps and yes, enjoying the photography, but alongside enjoying our family time together.

What you want to do doesnt sound like a whole bunch of fun for anyone If Im honest - but there is nothing to stop you having a go if it floats your boat!

 

[boBQuincy]

For our upcoming trip in December, I've been thinking a lot about what kind of pictures I'm going to try and take. When I look at the pictures from our last trip in 2005, I'm somewhat dissatisfied with what I got. There doesn't seem to be any flow or story to them. They seem to be just disjointed snapshots of a family on vacation. I've learned a lot about photography since that trip and I know I can take technically better pix, but what's the best way of telling the story of our vacation in pictures?

Thanks,
Dave

Check out the scrapbook forum on Disboards, they have a lot of tips for telling a story. It doesn't have to be a lot of work nor does it take a lot of time and ruin your vacation. What it does take is some planning up front as to what kind of photos you want to tell the story.

I sometimes carry a small card with me listing some of the types of photos I want as a reminder. Lots of signs, transportation, atmosphere, sequences, etc.
Have fun!

 

[MarkBarbieri]

What I'm looking for is more of a visual Trip Report. Has anyone tried to document the trip almost step-by-step?

I did exactly that on our last trip. I posted it in the trip reports forum here.

It sounds like what you want to do is similar to what scrapbookers do. You might want to ask them about how they do it.

 

[Dave Tavener]

The idea of a photographic trip report in the manner which you have laid out is an interesting one. However, I have one thing to have you keep in mind. You are on vacation. Your family is on vacation. If you spend much of your time planning and creating something like this, you will not only miss out on some of the fun of vacationing, I am certain that your family members will grow tired of your project.

Well, that's why I'm asking the question. I'm looking for tips on how to achieve what I want without ruining the vacation or spending the whole time behind the viewfinder...

Mark and Bob - thanks for the tips - I'll check out the scrapbookers and see what they do. I'm hoping if I go in with a plan, I can sneak in what I want without cheesing everyone off....

 

[boBQuincy]

To get you started with some scrapbook ideas:

http://www.suzieandbob.com/wdw/dec06/index.htm

 

[handicap18]

I have the trip report from our last trip in my signature. I did a lot of photography stuff, but also did a lot of family stuff. You can do both depending on how your trip flows. I was able to give myself some time alone to get some photography in and then basically documented the rest of the trip with photos. At one time we spent 3 hours in Toontown while the kids were having fun playing. So I took a lot of pictures there while enjoying the fun they were having.

I wouldn't try to get to "artistic" with a lot of stuff if you are walking around with your family. If you can plan ahead and add in time for you to go out alone for an hour or 2 here and there at different parks I would do that. If your at a Disney resort then take advantage of the EMH. DW would usually go out for the early one's by herself so she could do her thing and I would stay back with the kids. Then for evening EMH, she would go back with the kids to get them to bed and I would have some alone time for taking pictures at night. There were a few times where I would have my 3 year old. She'd fall asleep in the stroller, so I would take her with me and take pictures while she slept and DW would take the other 2 kids and do some rides or play in the parks or do some shopping. Go down as a team, plan as a team, and the individuals will get rewarded.

 

[webshark3]

Sounds more like work than a vacation, somewhat akin to walking around with a camcorder filming every single second of every day..

My last trip, for kicks, I walked the countries of Epcot with my Camcorder in front of me. I LOVED it. It put me right back there.

Next trip, I may mount a small "sports cam" on my hat (they're small enough not to be geeky ). I have a flash camcorder that will get me 8-40 hours a day ( HD to web quality respectively).

Why not record my whole trip as I see it?