Most Unique Photo 'Ops' in WDW

[WDWFigment]

Heading off to WDW in three days, and one of my big goals this trip is to get a lot of great pictures. I've been looking through the Picture of the Day thread and have my own ideas for some great Disney pictures, but I also thought it might be fun to give your lists (with optional pictures to help illustrate) of your favorite unique photo ops in WDW (So a picture in front of Cinderella's Castle or SSE wouldn't count, but a picture of SSE in the background of the Living Seas pavilion would).

Oh, please limit pictures you post in this thread to one per post if you link from your WDW Magic albums. If you link from an outside site, post away!

(Mods: this is correctly categorized as WDW General Discussion because it is not a tip about photography nor is it a photo per se. It is a thread about locations in WDW that are most photo-worthy.)

 

[haveyoumetmark]

This is probably the most unimaginative reply you'll receive, but I figured I'd add something for now. When I have a chance I will look through all of my own photos and see what I can come up with. For now:
1. The best pictures of the castle are not in front of it, but rather from its left side. These stunning pictures are usually taken from the bridge to Liberty Square.
2. A 'unique photo op' would most definitely be exterior of Wonders of Life now that it's almost all gone. A lot of the time people forget that it even exists back there, but if I were going to Epcot, that would be a photo I would take for sure.

I'll see if I can think of any good ideas later today. :lol:

 

[WDWFigment]

Suppose I'll post a couple of my own:

1. Living Seas with SSE in background (a la example)
2. Morocco with ToT lined up perfectly
3. Frontierland dock overlooking back of Cinderella's Castle

Great idea with the WoL pavilion! I will be sure to photograph it.

 

[RiversideBunny]

Be on the look out for things and situations that look like good pictures.
Think like Spielberg.
Don't use all staged photos. Get a lot of candid ones.
Zoom in and cut out any clutter; concentrate on what makes the picture great.
Be very familiar with your own camera before you go. In bright sunshine and in darkness.
Be sure to take enough memory and batteries.

Good luck.
:king:

 

[garyhoov]

I should preface this by saying that (as many around here know) I am practically a professional photographer, so I have a gift that allows me to take spectacular photos in a way that many simply can't recognize until they see the beauty of my composition, but here are a few examples of my work (actually, I have to give the credit for the last two to my son, but clearly he has inherited my gift):

 

[jeffb]

Exterior shots of the Mission Space pavilion. A few examples:

 

[WDWFigment]

I should preface this by saying that (as many around here know) I am practically a professional photographer, so I have a gift that allows me to take spectacular photos in a way that many simply can't recognize until they see the beauty of my composition, but here are a few examples of my work (actually, I have to give the credit for the last two to my son, but clearly he has inherited my gift):

This picture is great! I think I will emulate it...except I will expose my tummy a little. Hopefully I'm not forcefully removed... :lookaroun

 

[LeeSeeBabe]

I remember someone here had mentioned this a while ago, so the last time I was at Disney I had my boyfriend do it but it didn't work out very good. There were people waiting for us to walk by and I was trying so hard to get it lined up. Obviously there are better angles to choose from too, but you get the drift. Maybe someone here could try and get a better one!

I am no photographer :lookaroun

Line your hand up with the Globe (aka SSE) so it looks like it is resting in your hand:

 

[carolina_yankee]

Mimicing statues is always good for fun - too bad the living statues from Italy are not longer there . . .

Now that I have all the standard shots, I'm learning to look for unusual angle are moments. The late afternoon light on the Castle or SSE is wonderful, and I agree that the side views can be the best (especially if you can get the reflection in the stream around it). Taking closeups, focusing on a turret or something can also give you a new perspective.

I also like to shoot window displays - you never know what you'll find in them, and people often overlook them. I love that Cafe Orleans in Disneyland worked in a Ratatouille homage - pretty cheeky for a restaurant!

Catching the odd moment in the stremosphere acts can create a unique photo - this was accidental, but I love the expressions:

Also, pay attention to signage. Sometimes Imagineers will put in a fun joke. Unfortuantely, this is Disneyland - but the entrance to the restrooms by Space Mountain clearly serve all life forms:

The joke was even better in that the alien life form was identical on the entrance to the women's room. I just didn't have a courage to be a male visibly taking a photo of the entrance to the women's restroom!

So, my advice would be - afternoon lighting, closeups, live shows.

Dirk

 

[raven]

I remember someone here had mentioned this a while ago, so the last time I was at Disney I had my boyfriend do it but it didn't work out very good. There were people waiting for us to walk by and I was trying so hard to get it lined up. Obviously there are better angles to choose from too, but you get the drift. Maybe someone here could try and get a better one!

I am no photographer :lookaroun

Line your hand up with the Globe (aka SSE) so it looks like it is resting in your hand:

We tried this with the PhotoPass people and it turned out horrible...like the rest of the PhotoPass photos from our trip. I honestly sometimes think they only know how to take one type of picture pose. :brick:

 

[WDWFigment]

I remember someone here had mentioned this a while ago, so the last time I was at Disney I had my boyfriend do it but it didn't work out very good. There were people waiting for us to walk by and I was trying so hard to get it lined up. Obviously there are better angles to choose from too, but you get the drift. Maybe someone here could try and get a better one!

I am no photographer :lookaroun

Line your hand up with the Globe (aka SSE) so it looks like it is resting in your hand:

We tried this with the PhotoPass people and it turned out horrible...like the rest of the PhotoPass photos from our trip. I honestly sometimes think they only know how to take one type of picture pose. :brick:

I would think the most effective way to do this would be to "palm" it from the upper right. There are no trees, etc. in the way up there, so it would look more convincing, and you'd hide that unsightly metal structure and crane on that side!

 

[dukehoopsfan]

We tried this with the PhotoPass people and it turned out horrible...like the rest of the PhotoPass photos from our trip. I honestly sometimes think they only know how to take one type of picture pose. :brick:

Raven -

We just returned from a week at WDW - we had over 80 photos taken = and there are some good Photopass Photographers out there who taken photos with a bit of humor and creativity. In front of the Tree of Life - the four of us (two adults and two teens) had the "traditional" photo - and then had us put our hands up in the air in a "ta-da" manner. In front of Cinderella's castle - the photographer had the kids put their hands over their eyes - and then had us kiss! It is probably one of my favorite photos!

 

[WDWRLD]

This one is not all that creative but... if you have kids and plan on returning to thhe world take a picture of them with the cigar store indian in front of the Market House on Main Street. Its been there for years and years (it did disappear for while during the recent Market House refurb).

Another is at EP, get a drink and walk down past the fountain towards WS and have someone hold up the cup. If you get it lined up right it makes SSE look like a snow cone which will be even better again now that the wand is gone.

At MK go to Snow white and there are crowns on all the support posts by the line. Have someone stand just so the crown lines up on their head.

At the exit of Buzz Lightyear have someone get inside of the cage with Zurg.

I know there are many more that I cant remember now.....I will have to think a little.

 

[Huck]

I actually love a picture we took behind the Contemporary in the big metal Mickey head. If you've seen it, you know what I'm talking about (and if you haven't, you can't miss it back there!).
It's designed to be a photo-op and even has a stand for your camera, but even though it lacks origianlity and whimsy, it still makes a nice picture.

 

[WDWRLD]

I actually love a picture we took behind the Contemporary in the big metal Mickey head. If you've seen it, you know what I'm talking about (and if you haven't, you can't miss it back there!).
It's designed to be a photo-op and even has a stand for your camera, but even though it lacks origianlity and whimsy, it still makes a nice picture.

Yea ive seen it and it would be neat if they had more stands for cameras at prime picture locations, I wouldnt want them everywhere or to be really noticeable but kinda hidden in with the themeing.

 

[DisneyGigi]

Be on the look out for things and situations that look like good pictures.
Think like Spielberg.
Don't use all staged photos. Get a lot of candid ones.
Zoom in and cut out any clutter; concentrate on what makes the picture great.
Be very familiar with your own camera before you go. In bright sunshine and in darkness.
Be sure to take enough memory and batteries.

Good luck.
:king:

Great advice! I love the candid shots, we are always so happy with the spur of the moment pictures, the ones that catch that special moment, even more so than the planned photos.
I also love character pictures taken close up or at on odd angle.
And Yes ...I second the memory and batteries I missed an entire day at DAK because my battery died and I forgot to pack another... the park did not have the right size:hammer:

 

[sarabi]

I love to take pictures of the "theming". As in, I don't take a picture of the castle, but I take one of the murals inside. I don't take a picture of the entrance to "It's Tough to be a Bug" but I take one of the movie posters in the holding area. I don't take one of the Philharmagic entrance, but I take one of the poster that says "Genie Sings the Blues". It's those little things that I think makes Disney so special. In DAK in particular the theming is so nice... I like to take pictures of the ornamental roofs on the buildings in safari village, and the the bougenvilia (spelling?) in Africa, and the shrines in Asia.

Also, a little Disney "secret" is that at Cinderella's fountain (behind the castle in Fantasyland), if you kneel down, you can put the crown in the background on her head... or anyone's head for that matter if you have them pose.

I also like the cheezball things, like "hugging" the goesphere.

My very favorite photo from my last trip was actually during the Jack Sparrow bit in Adventureland. He was doing his show and choosing pirates from the audience. At one moment, I thought to take the camera off of him (not an easy thing to do, you know... he's jack sparrow!) and I snapped a picture of the kids in the crowd. What I got was the best picture of about 10 kids with looks of pure awe and wonder on their faces as Jack Sparrow talked to them. Now that's Disney magic.

 

[ldsprincess]

ROTFL!!!! this is the funniest thing i've seen all day! haha! i can't stop laughing! man, we gotta get more creative in our photography! love it!
~Renee

 

[sarabi]

Oops. I forgot to mention the "obligatory monorail picture" which I'm not sure if you will think is unique or not. It's something we have to take every trip. At EPCOT, where the monorail tracks cross through Futureworld, we like to get a picture when the sun is setting (preferably with some nice clouds in the sky) so that the monorail and tracks are backlit and sillhouetted against the palm trees and sky.
We take this one so often that if one of us stops in the middle of futureworld with their camera and the other says "hey what are you doing?" the response of "the obligatory monorail picture" always suffices. We've come up with some great photos that we've blown up and framed doing this.

 

[WDWFigment]

Also, a little Disney "secret" is that at Cinderella's fountain (behind the castle in Fantasyland), if you kneel down, you can put the crown in the background on her head... or anyone's head for that matter if you have them pose.

Does anyone have a picture of this? I can't envision what you're describing.