What's Your Best NIGHT SHOT in the MK???

[mom2rtk]

We're stopping in Orlando on June 7th on our way back from a vacation at the beach. Since we have a 7 day trip planned for the fall, I'm just going into the MK for EMH with my daughter that one evening.

I'm dragging my tripod along, and want to stay til park closing. I have seen SO many pretty shots at night in the MK. I'd like everyone's help making a list of what is NOT to be missed! I would even love to see your shots posted here.

If you have suggestions on camera settings too, that would be great. I have a Canon Rebel Xti and only know enough about advanced settings to be dangerous.....

 

[VVFF]

We're stopping in Orlando on June 7th on our way back from a vacation at the beach. Since we have a 7 day trip planned for the fall, I'm just going into the MK for EMH with my daughter that one evening.

I'm dragging my tripod along, and want to stay til park closing. I have seen SO many pretty shots at night in the MK. I'd like everyone's help making a list of what is NOT to be missed! I would even love to see your shots posted here.

If you have suggestions on camera settings too, that would be great. I have a Canon Rebel Xti and only know enough about advanced settings to be dangerous.....

I don't have any to share right now...but I will say this. I find my best shot comes when I least expect it. Planning to take certain shots is nice but it rarely turns out the best...at least for me!

 

[Suburbanmom]

I wish I had set up my tripod in more other places in the park, but I tried to keep up with my family instead. My fav is a shot of Wishes.

 

[zackiedawg]

I love night photography, and take tons of such shots all over Disney and the resorts. I like two types of night shooting - slow shutter tripod shots, and handheld high ISO shots. Since you mention tripods, I'll presume you mean the slow shutter variety.

I've got a thousand of the castle from every conceivable angle, as well as the Main Street station and Main Street itself. But I've always had a particular affinity for Tomorrowland at night, because of the bright neons and colors. This is still a favorite of mine, even though it's from about 3 years ago with an older camera:

 

[mom2rtk]

I wish I had set up my tripod in more other places in the park, but I tried to keep up with my family instead. My fav is a shot of Wishes.

Beautiful castle shot! One of the reasons I want to get some great shots this trip is that I'm leaving the boys in the room. They don't care about Disney like my daughter and I do, so they don't care. And when we're there on a regular trip, we're always there from park opening, and tired by the end of the day.

This will be my one shot at playing around a bit with my camera and tripod!

 

[mom2rtk]

I love night photography, and take tons of such shots all over Disney and the resorts. I like two types of night shooting - slow shutter tripod shots, and handheld high ISO shots. Since you mention tripods, I'll presume you mean the slow shutter variety.

I've got a thousand of the castle from every conceivable angle, as well as the Main Street station and Main Street itself. But I've always had a particular affinity for Tomorrowland at night, because of the bright neons and colors. This is still a favorite of mine, even though it's from about 3 years ago with an older camera:

I LOVE that shot, and recognize it from the photo of the week contest a while back. It's stunning!

I'd like to do something fun with the teacups. Do you have suggestions on camera settings?

Remember, I know just enough to be dangerous. I have always used a shotgun approach, shooting as much as possible and hoping something turned out good.......

 

[zackiedawg]

On the teacups...definitely use a tripod, and I find actually that you don't want to go too long on the shutter speeds. If you let them spin too much, you can't even tell what you're looking at anymore. You want it to look like the teacups, but see the movement and spin...so use a 2-3 second shutter once the ride gets up to speed. Keep the angle wide enough to still get some of the roof and center, as that's part of the identifyable theme. There's actually enough light in there for even compact cameras with basic lenses to get a workable shot. I took one in there last year at night when I was up on a conference, so I only brought my ultra-compact pocket cam...it can only shoot at up to 1 second shutter speed, so I was quite limited with night shots - but there was enough light even at ISO80 to get good detail and a touch of the motion:

 

[mom2rtk]

On the teacups...definitely use a tripod, and I find actually that you don't want to go too long on the shutter speeds. If you let them spin too much, you can't even tell what you're looking at anymore. You want it to look like the teacups, but see the movement and spin...so use a 2-3 second shutter once the ride gets up to speed. Keep the angle wide enough to still get some of the roof and center, as that's part of the identifyable theme. There's actually enough light in there for even compact cameras with basic lenses to get a workable shot. I took one in there last year at night when I was up on a conference, so I only brought my ultra-compact pocket cam...it can only shoot at up to 1 second shutter speed, so I was quite limited with night shots - but there was enough light even at ISO80 to get good detail and a touch of the motion:

ABsolutely GORGEOUS shot! I'm going to check out your photo gallery and look for inspiration!

The teacups are one of my favorite rides and I've hoped to take this shot for some time.

Any favorite spots for capturing unique shots of the castle at night??? We'll be seeing plenty of fireworks, etc in the fall, so I think we're skipping Wishes that night. (My daughter and I want to see what it's like to ride Dumbo during Wishes!)

 

[boBQuincy]

Wishes from behind the castle can be good,

as can long shots of Cindy's castle from the railroad station:

 

[KCmike]

This is a good one for subscribing.

 

[handicap18]

I'm going to go with 2 only because the first one won me 1st place in the '07 Tomorrowland weekly photo contest and the 2nd one won me 2nd place for Fireworks that same year:

 

[handicap18]

as can long shots of Cindy's castle from the railroad station:

LOVE this shot Bob. I'll have to remember that for my trip next month. Excellent job!!!

 

[ColleenG]

Awesome night shots everyone! I can't wait to get back to the World and try to get some decent night shots now that I sorta know what I am doing and how to use manual mode. Hopefully by the time we go back I'll have a DSLR!

When shooting at night what do you set the white balance to?

 

[mom2rtk]

Wishes from behind the castle can be good,

as can long shots of Cindy's castle from the railroad station:

Both are AWESOME and very inspiring! I especially love the Wishes shot from behind the castle. Since I'll be in that area riding Dumbo with my daughter as planned I should be able to try a few shots there.

And I'll definitely have to do the one from the Train Station.

Anyone know if I don't make it to the front of the park until AFTER park closing, will they let me climb the steps up to the train station for a couple of shots before leaving, or will they make me head right out?????

 

[mom2rtk]

I'm going to go with 2 only because the first one won me 1st place in the '07 Tomorrowland weekly photo contest and the 2nd one won me 2nd place for Fireworks that same year:

That Tomorrowland shot is gorgeous! I can't wait to give it a try.

So what is your favorite spot to shoot fireworks?
I won't be out in front of the castle on this trip, but am going back in September and will be looking for a spot to shoot during MNSSHP.

Anyone want to give me some advice on camera settings? Remember, I'm not very advanced, but am using a Rebel Xti and can learn!

 

[bostran1]

I'm going to have to go with this photo I took from outside the California Grille. I love it.

 

[mouselovenfamily]

Here's a couple of mine:

Have a great trip!! On a side note...Shouldn't you be sewing??

 

[mom2rtk]

Here's a couple of mine:

Have a great trip!! On a side note...Shouldn't you be sewing??

You're KILLING me! I'm getting to know too many people on the boards. Maybe I need a second "incognito" ID for when I'm playing hookey from my work! We leave Sunday and I still have to finish up a few loose ends and make something for my daughter to wear to the park that night!

GREAT SHOTS, but don't tease me with those Spectro shots. It's not showing the night we're there. I'm not even sure if we'll see it when we're down for a week in the fall. (Love the view of C & D in the mirror! and great capture of low light Mickey!)

The River Boat shot IS workable though...... I have to keep reminding myself there IS more to the Magic Kingdom than Fantasyland.......

 

[boBQuincy]

Anyone want to give me some advice on camera settings? Remember, I'm not very advanced, but am using a Rebel Xti and can learn!

My photo of the castle is a HDR from three exposures, 1/4s, 1s, and 4s all at f/8, ISO 200, mode Av. Even if you do not plan to use HDR I still recommend bracketing for night photos, the exposure is tricky. Btw, I am lazy and even though I know how to use Manual I rarely do since Av and P usually work so well.

My main exception to this is fireworks, where M is best.
Wishes is 3s, f/16, ISO 100, Mode M. Both were taken with a Rebel Xsi

 

[mom2rtk]

I'm going to have to go with this photo I took from outside the California Grille. I love it.

Beautiful.........