Must Do Photos

[Hannah1284]

Anyone care to share their must-photograph's?

 

[real mad hatter]

Hi There,If you mean what should you photograph,well,more like what not to snap,there's so much colour and parades,etc.If you mean what photos are your favourites,there's a section on photography on this site.

 

[wiigirl]

Any charector with my kids.

 

[Allen C]

I agree with real mad hatter. There is so much at all 4 parks and all the resort hotels that it's difficult to exclude anything.

That being said, I think it's a good, fun exercise to make a list of must-photographs. The question could go like this: Let's say you have a memory card that has space for only 10 images. What 10 things at WDW would you shoot?

Here's my must-shoot list:

1. Cinderella's Castle from the Tommorowland Bridge. You can take a head-on, frontal view of the castle from main street but my preference is the view from the bridge to Tomorrowland. There's a spot before you reach Stitch's Great Escape where the view at sunset can be magical.

Golden Hour at Cinderella's Castle by Allen Castillo, on Flickr

2. Expedition Everest from the Flame Tree Barbecue. There's an area at Flame Tree where you can get close to the water's edge. The view of EE from there is simply spectacular. Extra points if you can get this shot at night.

Mountain Reflections by Allen Castillo, on Flickr

3. Spaceship Earth + Monorail. This iconic structure at Epcot must be on everyone's list. Extra points if you can get a monorail in frame.

Silver Streak 2 by Allen Castillo, on Flickr

4. The Temple of Heaven, China Pavilion, Epcot.

Moon Over China by Allen Castillo, on Flickr

5. The Liberty Belle Riverboat at the Magic Kingdom.

The Liberty Belle by Allen Castillo, on Flickr

6. The Tree of Life at the Animal Kingdom. There are many places around the park where you can get a good shot of DAK's iconic structure. I do like this spot because of the reflection on the water.

The Tree of Life by Allen Castillo, on Flickr

7. France Pavilion, Epcot - from the International Gateway Bridge. Try to get this shot at night if you can.

View From the Bridge 3 by Allen Castillo, on Flickr

8. Victoria Gardens at the Canada Pavilion, Epcot. A pretty out-of-the-way spot that really begs to be photographed.

Victoria Gardens by Allen Castillo, on Flickr

9. The Lobby of the Animal Kingdom Lodge - Jambo House. IMO the best themed lobby of all the WDW resort hotels. Best taken at night.

The Jambo House Lobby by Allen Castillo, on Flickr

10. Pixar Place at Disney's Hollywood Studios. The best themed area IMO in all of DHS.

Extra Magic Hours at Pixar Place by Allen Castillo, on Flickr

 

[Mukta]

My goodness, Allen. Your photos are stunning.

 

[real mad hatter]

I agree with real mad hatter. There is so much at all 4 parks and all the resort hotels that it's difficult to exclude anything.

That being said, I think it's a good, fun exercise to make a list of must-photographs. The question could go like this: Let's say you have a memory card that has space for only 10 images. What 10 things at WDW would you shoot?

Here's my must-shoot list:

1. Cinderella's Castle from the Tommorowland Bridge. You can take a head-on, frontal view of the castle from main street but my preference is the view from the bridge to Tomorrowland. There's a spot before you reach Stitch's Great Escape where the view at sunset can be magical.

Golden Hour at Cinderella's Castle by Allen Castillo, on Flickr

2. Expedition Everest from the Flame Tree Barbecue. There's an area at Flame Tree where you can get close to the water's edge. The view of EE from there is simply spectacular. Extra points if you can get this shot at night.

Mountain Reflections by Allen Castillo, on Flickr

3. Spaceship Earth + Monorail. This iconic structure at Epcot must be on everyone's list. Extra points if you can get a monorail in frame.

Silver Streak 2 by Allen Castillo, on Flickr

4. The Temple of Heaven, China Pavilion, Epcot.

Moon Over China by Allen Castillo, on Flickr

5. The Liberty Belle Riverboat at the Magic Kingdom.

The Liberty Belle by Allen Castillo, on Flickr

6. The Tree of Life at the Animal Kingdom. There are many places around the park where you can get a good shot of DAK's iconic structure. I do like this spot because of the reflection on the water.

The Tree of Life by Allen Castillo, on Flickr

7. France Pavilion, Epcot - from the International Gateway Bridge. Try to get this shot at night if you can.

View From the Bridge 3 by Allen Castillo, on Flickr

8. Victoria Gardens at the Canada Pavilion, Epcot. A pretty out-of-the-way spot that really begs to be photographed.

Victoria Gardens by Allen Castillo, on Flickr

9. The Lobby of the Animal Kingdom Lodge - Jambo House. IMO the best themed lobby of all the WDW resort hotels. Best taken at night.

The Jambo House Lobby by Allen Castillo, on Flickr

10. Pixar Place at Disney's Hollywood Studios. The best themed area IMO in all of DHS.

Extra Magic Hours at Pixar Place by Allen Castillo, on Flickr

Awesome pics.Your obvious knack for composition and light means your a professional.If not you should be.

 

[ThinkTink721]

OK - I've got to get a better camera!
Beautiful pics!

I always have to get family photos in front of the 4 park icons, especially the castle.
Character pics are always important too.

 

[Allen C]

Thanks for the compliments!
@real mad hatter: I'm not a professional by any means. We've been going to WDW as a family for a while now but it wasn't until 2010 when I got my first DSLR that I started getting into the "photography" thing. Besides, as an amateur I can photograph anything I want, any time I want - no deadlines and no pressure to get it right. Just happens that Disney is one of my favorite subjects.
@ThinkTink721: I have tons of family photos with characters and in front of Disney landmarks - plus hours of video dating back to 1997 when my eldest son was barely 2 years old on his first trip. Each and every one is a precious memory. Now the question "Do I need to upgrade my camera?" is a tricky one so I suggest starting a thread in the photography section. I'm sure you'll get very good advice there.

 

[Hannah1284]

Hi There,If you mean what should you photograph,well,more like what not to snap,there's so much colour and parades,etc.If you mean what photos are your favourites,there's a section on photography on this site.

What I meant was, are there any things, places, characters, etc, that when you are planning a trip you are going "I really want a picture of that!" More of a personal/subjective question than a general/objective "what should i take pics of?"

Sorry I wasn't clearer!

For example... I love to photograph flowers so I'm really looking forward to getting some shots while I'm down in WDW.

 

[Hannah1284]

I agree with real mad hatter. There is so much at all 4 parks and all the resort hotels that it's difficult to exclude anything.

That being said, I think it's a good, fun exercise to make a list of must-photographs. The question could go like this: Let's say you have a memory card that has space for only 10 images. What 10 things at WDW would you shoot?

Here's my must-shoot list:

1. Cinderella's Castle from the Tommorowland Bridge. You can take a head-on, frontal view of the castle from main street but my preference is the view from the bridge to Tomorrowland. There's a spot before you reach Stitch's Great Escape where the view at sunset can be magical.

Golden Hour at Cinderella's Castle by Allen Castillo, on Flickr

2. Expedition Everest from the Flame Tree Barbecue. There's an area at Flame Tree where you can get close to the water's edge. The view of EE from there is simply spectacular. Extra points if you can get this shot at night.

Mountain Reflections by Allen Castillo, on Flickr

3. Spaceship Earth + Monorail. This iconic structure at Epcot must be on everyone's list. Extra points if you can get a monorail in frame.

Silver Streak 2 by Allen Castillo, on Flickr

4. The Temple of Heaven, China Pavilion, Epcot.

Moon Over China by Allen Castillo, on Flickr

5. The Liberty Belle Riverboat at the Magic Kingdom.

The Liberty Belle by Allen Castillo, on Flickr

6. The Tree of Life at the Animal Kingdom. There are many places around the park where you can get a good shot of DAK's iconic structure. I do like this spot because of the reflection on the water.

The Tree of Life by Allen Castillo, on Flickr

7. France Pavilion, Epcot - from the International Gateway Bridge. Try to get this shot at night if you can.

View From the Bridge 3 by Allen Castillo, on Flickr

8. Victoria Gardens at the Canada Pavilion, Epcot. A pretty out-of-the-way spot that really begs to be photographed.

Victoria Gardens by Allen Castillo, on Flickr

9. The Lobby of the Animal Kingdom Lodge - Jambo House. IMO the best themed lobby of all the WDW resort hotels. Best taken at night.

The Jambo House Lobby by Allen Castillo, on Flickr

10. Pixar Place at Disney's Hollywood Studios. The best themed area IMO in all of DHS.

Extra Magic Hours at Pixar Place by Allen Castillo, on Flickr

Amazing photos! Do you enhance with any software? The Liberty Belle one especially looks like it has some editing, but if not, then more props to you!!

This was exactly what I was talking about. We often go on trips and take photos and there are several that I love to come back to time and time again just to look at because I love them. If i visit the same place again I would love take the same photo and see how it has changed. We have some awesome photos of the streets of London and Dublin from our last big trip that I would to dupe again and again and again!

I love your list and may steal a few, haha.

 

[Hannah1284]

OK - I've got to get a better camera!
Beautiful pics!

I always have to get family photos in front of the 4 park icons, especially the castle.
Character pics are always important too.

I like the photo in front of the park icons and may steal that one as well!

As for the camera question. I have a low/mid range DSLR that takes wonderful photos. If you can swing it, and enjoy photography, then I believe it is a worthwhile investment. It provides entertainment and also allows you to capture memories clearly. I do carry a point and shoot and my husband has a "tought" point and shoot, which both take great photos, but they just can't do all the things the DSLR does. However, if it wasn't in my budget...a photo with ANY camera is enough to "take you back." Just my opinion...

 

[Allen C]

Amazing photos! Do you enhance with any software? The Liberty Belle one especially looks like it has some editing, but if not, then more props to you!!

This was exactly what I was talking about. We often go on trips and take photos and there are several that I love to come back to time and time again just to look at because I love them. If i visit the same place again I would love take the same photo and see how it has changed. We have some awesome photos of the streets of London and Dublin from our last big trip that I would to dupe again and again and again!

I love your list and may steal a few, haha.

Thanks Hannah. Glad my list gave you some ideas.

Since I shoot in RAW I have to process my shots before I can print or post online. All of the shots in my list have gone through some form of editing or post-processing mostly in PS CS5.

Since you love to photograph flowers you should really try to plan a trip during Epcot's International Flower and Garden Festival. I was fortunate enough to catch both last year's and this year's events.

 

[dreamfinder]

Thanks Hannah. Glad my list gave you some ideas.

Since I shoot in RAW I have to process my shots before I can print or post online. All of the shots in my list have gone through some form of editing or post-processing mostly in PS CS5.

Since you love to photograph flowers you should really try to plan a trip during Epcot's International Flower and Garden Festival. I was fortunate enough to catch both last year's and this year's events.

A little bit of HDR post process in some of those shots?

 

[Allen C]

A little bit of HDR post process in some of those shots?

Actually the only one without HDR tone mapping or exposure fusion is the SSE/monorail shot. I try to shoot brackets whenever possible: usually -2, 0, +2. This makes it easier in case I need to tame blown highlights or bring out details in shadows.

 

[dreamfinder]

Actually the only one without HDR tone mapping or exposure fusion is the SSE/monorail shot. I try to shoot brackets whenever possible: usually -2, 0, +2. This makes it easier in case I need to tame blown highlights or bring out details in shadows.

The clouds/sky are usually a giveaway for me. Nice shots. The one downside to bracketing while in RAW is that you blow through your memory cards 3 times as fast.

 

[Allen C]

The clouds/sky are usually a giveaway for me. Nice shots. The one downside to bracketing while in RAW is that you blow through your memory cards 3 times as fast.

Absolutely right! Good thing the D7000 has dual SD slots so I usually have 2x8GB or 2x16GB cards plus another 2 or more in reserve whenever I'm in the parks. Plus I back up everything to a laptop/external HDD when I get back to the hotel at night (or early a.m. when there's EMH).