Tips on Photographing at Disney World About This Page:

[mdobereiner]

I did a blog post this weekend about tips I recommend with regards to photographing a Disney vacation (as a result of lots of recent questions.) Thought I'd share here in case anyone's interested. These are basic things that I have been asked about.

Most Magical Place- Panama City Beach Family Photographer | Panama City Beach, 30a, Destin, Northwest Florida Beach Portrait Photography | Melissa Dobereiner Photography

Mel

[Cam22]

Great list of tips, Melissa! But I still have a question, what settings are you using for the MNSHHP and MVMCP parade photos? Did you use a tripod, too? I've tried several settings and my photos are still just lousy.

[LizardCop]

I'm not Melissa, but you've seen my photos. I usually go manual, push the ISO up to 800, sometimes 1600 depending on the camera, and hand hold at 1/30 or 1/50 using my body as a tripod or set the camera on a trash can, bench, or tree...

I'm hoping to post some pics from the last trip within the next few weeks, I can still only upload one photo at a time.

You can see some of my latest on Facebook, I've set up a number of albums... Got some good Tiger pics this trip!

[rhinohunter]

Thanks for the tips. I need to follow several of them everyday not just at the park. You never know when a great shot will pop up.

[mdobereiner]

Originally Posted by Cam22

Great list of tips, Melissa! But I still have a question, what settings are you using for the MNSHHP and MVMCP parade photos? Did you use a tripod, too? I've tried several settings and my photos are still just lousy.

Hey Cam,

I'm happy to share my settings (I almost did in that post but that's venturing into more detail than what I've been asked about lately so I pulled out those parts )

Here are a few of the pictures:
IMG_2635.jpg
My settings were: F2.0, 1/200, ISO 3200

And

IMG_0659.jpg
My settings were: F2.2, 1/160, ISO 3200

As a general rule, I don't push my SS below 1/160 unless I'm shooting something stationary or unless I'm trying to achieve motion blur in a shot (think of the shots of car lights on a bridge type of thing...)

Depending on what you are shooting with, you might struggle to push your ISO too high within it becoming too grainy. The best way to combat that is with exposure- you will not notice grain in a photograph shot with a high ISO if it is exposed properly nearly like you see it in shots that are underexposed.

The next adjustment I make once I've pushed my ISO as far as I'd like is aperture. I shot these at F2.0 and F2.2 but for a parade, I'd drop that down to F1.8, maybe F1.6 before sacrificing shutter speed.

I didn't use a tripod (we are already lugging too much into the parks for Stella ) but I do have a tiny table top tripod I could throw in my bag if I felt like I needed it and then put in on a trash can. The other option, similar to what Lizardcop mentioned, is almost making yourself a human tripod. Depending on your balance, I will usually squat and brace my elbows on my thighs or just sit criss cross applesauce and brace my elbows on my thighs.

I hope that helps Cam!
Mel

[mdobereiner]

Originally Posted by LizardCop

I'm not Melissa, but you've seen my photos. I usually go manual, push the ISO up to 800, sometimes 1600 depending on the camera, and hand hold at 1/30 or 1/50 using my body as a tripod or set the camera on a trash can, bench, or tree...

I'm hoping to post some pics from the last trip within the next few weeks, I can still only upload one photo at a time.

You can see some of my latest on Facebook, I've set up a number of albums... Got some good Tiger pics this trip!

Bill, I'd love to check out your FB pictures- do you have them in a public album that I can see?

Oh Tiger, his orange fur is an editing nightmare!!!

Mel

[mdobereiner]

Originally Posted by rhinohunter

Thanks for the tips. I need to follow several of them everyday not just at the park. You never know when a great shot will pop up.

Me too I'm thinking of trying to do a 365 day challenge in 2013- I'm just afraid I'll run out of ideas, lol!

Mel

[shazza]

Great Tips. And, wanted to add that I just love your Photos, Melissa!

Re shooting the parade, I found that it worked well shooting without a tripod. In fact, using a tripod would be difficult because the floats and characters are moving as they go by, so longer exposures won't work.

I shot the Christmas Parade at ISO 5000 and f/2.8 (which is the widest aperture setting I could get on the 70-200mm f/2.8 lens). My Canon 5DMIII is pretty good at higher ISO, but I could have probably dropped it to 3200 in retrospect.

Lightroom 4 is pretty good at helping reduce noise in the hi ISO photos, especially if you only want to make small prints or use them on the web.

I didn't really need as much telephoto as I used, but I wanted to get some close ups, like this one:

settings: ISO 5000, f/2.8, 1/500 sec, 138 mm (This was my first night time parade, so really wasn't sure what would work)



I used the same lens for the MSEP, and found I would have been better off going with my 50mm f1.4 lens.

[mdobereiner]

Originally Posted by shazza

Great Tips. And, wanted to add that I just love your Photos, Melissa!

Re shooting the parade, I found that it worked well shooting without a tripod. In fact, using a tripod would be difficult because the floats and characters are moving as they go by, so longer exposures won't work.

I shot the Christmas Parade at ISO 5000 and f/2.8 (which is the widest aperture setting I could get on the 70-200mm f/2.8 lens). My Canon 5DMIII is pretty good at higher ISO, but I could have probably dropped it to 3200 in retrospect.

Lightroom 4 is pretty good at helping reduce noise in the hi ISO photos, especially if you only want to make small prints or use them on the web.

I didn't really need as much telephoto as I used, but I wanted to get some close ups, like this one:

settings: ISO 5000, f/2.8, 1/500 sec, 138 mm (This was my first night time parade, so really wasn't sure what would work)



I used the same lens for the MSEP, and found I would have been better off going with my 50mm f1.4 lens.

What a great shot!!!! My daughter just got very excited seeing Donald and Dasiy

I agree with you on the tripod, and if I wanted to bring something to provide some stability to my camera, I think I'd probably bring a monopod.

Mel

[LizardCop]

On Facebook, most of my photos (that don't have personal family type pictures) are public. Search by e-mail and use bill@lizardcop.com. Friend me (let me know how I know you) and you can see them all...

[LizardCop]

Originally Posted by mdobereiner

Me too I'm thinking of trying to do a 365 day challenge in 2013- I'm just afraid I'll run out of ideas, lol!

Mel

Looks like you live in or near Panama City Mel, you should have NO problems with ideas!!!

[mdobereiner]

Originally Posted by LizardCop

Looks like you live in or near Panama City Mel, you should have NO problems with ideas!!!

Lol, during tourist season we sure don't!!!

Mel

[MomOnTheGo]

I loved the article. Gorgeous photos. I am thinking of buying a new camera. All of the comparisons and options make my head spin.

[Cam22]

Thank you, Bill, Melissa, and Sharon! I love all three of your photos and just wish I would be more patient with myself when practice. Bill, I have your information on a post it that I care with me everywhere, and I've been using trash cans and anything else I can for support, but they are still either too dark or too blurry. I'm not remembering adjusting the f/s so that may be my problem. Melissa and Sharon, I'm making post its of your info and I'm determined to practice until I can get the colors as clear as you three and the pictures as crisp.

[Cam22]

BTW -- I have a Sony Alpha 100 DSLR.