Personal challenges?

[NowInc]

Anyone else ever set personal photo challenges for themselves when they go out to take pictures?

For example: My last trip I challenged myself to use only a low model DSLR.

I am going again in 2 weeks and my next challenge is going to be: Use only a 35mm 1.8. Prime only..no zooming allowed.

I dunno..I guess for me its different since I go many times a year so I don't care if I get EVERYTHING in a trip..but in other life situations..do any of you do things like this or am I just odd?

 

[wiigirl]

I want to take more pictures of my kids that aren't in poses. You know those random shot when they are just having the time of their life?

 

[NowInc]

I hate posed pictures. I think the term is "real life" shots...where you get people just doing what they normally do. I always felt poses ruin a pic..even tho here and there I of course DO take shots like that...but the majority of it..are shots taken at random. This also makes my friends upset..lol.

 

[ddbowdoin]

Anyone else ever set personal photo challenges for themselves when they go out to take pictures?

For example: My last trip I challenged myself to use only a low model DSLR.

I am going again in 2 weeks and my next challenge is going to be: Use only a 35mm 1.8. Prime only..no zooming allowed.

I dunno..I guess for me its different since I go many times a year so I don't care if I get EVERYTHING in a trip..but in other life situations..do any of you do things like this or am I just odd?

I sort of met my challenge my last trip... I've wanted to migrate away from digital format for my personal work. I've noticed there aren't many people who are really shooting Disney in a serious way, even less on film. That was my challenge, I failed. I didn't work enough with my medium format to master it's functions and only shot a couple of rolls of film down the world.

So I was able to acquire a great camera, but I didn't use it to the level it's capable of or what I wanted when I was down there. The other challenge was it was my Disneymoon and we were celebrating, sometimes the camera becomes a distraction to me and an annoyance to my wife.

At some point I'd love to go large format... still dreaming on that.

 

[ddbowdoin]

I want to take more pictures of my kids that aren't in poses. You know those random shot when they are just having the time of their life?

I hate posed pictures. I think the term is "real life" shots...where you get people just doing what they normally do. I always felt poses ruin a pic..even tho here and there I of course DO take shots like that...but the majority of it..are shots taken at random. This also makes my friends upset..lol.

they're called "candids"... these are the best shots, 100% agree

 

[CP_alum08]

The last couple times we've gone my challenge has been to find something new to shoot. It sounds vague but we live close enough to go basically whenever we want, which is great but somethings start to get stale from a photography perspective. I love shooting SSE at night, but I bet I have close to 1000 shots of SSE and there aren't that many different angles to shoot it from. So wanting to shoot something new usually forces us to go to areas of the parks we normally wouldn't or attractions we might normally skip.

99% of the time it's just my GF and I that go and we both agreed we need to have more photos of us in the parks. For as much as I shoot we don't have a ton of us. So that means I either need to hand the camera off more or set up the tripod more during the day, which for some reason I just can't be bothered to do that often.

 

[ddbowdoin]

The last couple times we've gone my challenge has been to find something new to shoot. It sounds vague but we live close enough to go basically whenever we want, which is great but somethings start to get stale from a photography perspective. I love shooting SSE at night, but I bet I have close to 1000 shots of SSE and there aren't that many different angles to shoot it from. So wanting to shoot something new usually forces us to go to areas of the parks we normally wouldn't or attractions we might normally skip.

99% of the time it's just my GF and I that go and we both agreed we need to have more photos of us in the parks. For as much as I shoot we don't have a ton of us. So that means I either need to hand the camera off more or set up the tripod more during the day, which for some reason I just can't be bothered to do that often.

LOL I hear you... I have like 5 photos of myself there

 

[NowInc]

Guilty as well. I take on average about 7000 pictures each trip..and zero have me in it.

 

[Allen C]

I did a prime lens day during our August 2012 trip. The 50 mm on a crop body was great for family candids but I found it difficult to get anything more creative. I think the juices just weren't flowing that day. For next time I plan to have a 35 mm prime in the bag - that or a full frame body.

 

[NowInc]

I like forcing a prime lens on me because it forces me to move and compose a shot more thoughtfully. Yes..I won't get everything I want (that simply isn't possible), but it will get me some different things for sure

 

[Joshua&CalebDad]

I am a noob so don't roll your eyes but my personal challenge on our next trip will be to take some long exposure firework shots.

 

[ddbowdoin]

I am a noob so don't roll your eyes but my personal challenge on our next trip will be to take some long exposure firework shots.

that's a great one to have... and an easy one too! Depending on how many nights you're staying you have several nights to attempt and adjust after a show. Especially with digital you can simply LCD it real quick and adjust on the fly.

That's a great one to have!

The biggest challenge is finding a good spot and holding your ground. How many times have people cramped my space and kicked a tripod leg while the shutter was open... COUNTLESS

 

[Allen C]

The biggest challenge is finding a good spot and holding your ground. How many times have people cramped my space and kicked a tripod leg while the shutter was open... COUNTLESS

The perils of fireworks photography.

However, there are a few places where tripod bumping can be less of a problem:

For Wishes:
>Frontierland at the edge of the Rivers of America where you can have Liberty Belle in the foreground of the shot.
>The Transportation and Ticketing Center - at the ferryboat dock area.

For Illuminations:
>Teppan Edo balcony - be there early and stake out the corner.
>The Odyssey Bridge

 

[CP_alum08]

The perils of fireworks photography.

However, there are a few places where tripod bumping can be less of a problem:

For Wishes:
>Frontierland at the edge of the Rivers of America where you can have Liberty Belle in the foreground of the shot.
>The Transportation and Ticketing Center - at the ferryboat dock area.

For Illuminations:
>Teppan Edo balcony - be there early and stake out the corner.
>The Odyssey Bridge

Another good spot is the pathway that goes around the hub to Tommorwland. I've set up there a few times and you can put the tripod in the grass so no one kicks it. It's a little off-center, but not bad. I don't have the patience to stake out a spot an 1+ hours in advance and that pathway usually doesn't fill quickly. You can do the same thing between Casey's and Crystal Palace but that fills up faster.

 

[ddbowdoin]

The perils of fireworks photography.

However, there are a few places where tripod bumping can be less of a problem:

For Wishes:
>Frontierland at the edge of the Rivers of America where you can have Liberty Belle in the foreground of the shot.
>The Transportation and Ticketing Center - at the ferryboat dock area.

For Illuminations:
>Teppan Edo balcony - be there early and stake out the corner.
>The Odyssey Bridge

This is where I captured the image below, I showed up an hour before and claimed my corner. My wife was shopping down below while I waited. It's not a great image, my lens is not wide enough for this show. It's shot at 127mm (about 64mm in 35mm equivalent). Also, need a damn ND filter.

 

[Allen C]

This is where I captured the image below, I showed up an hour before and claimed my corner. My wife was shopping down below while I waited. It's not a great image, my lens is not wide enough for this show. It's shot at 127mm (about 64mm in 35mm equivalent). Also, need a damn ND filter.

I forgot to add the Imagination Fountain for Illuminations. Having both the fountain and fireworks in frame is something special. I was practically all alone when I got the shot. No crowds to kick your tripod.


A Prosperous New Year to all! by Allen Castillo, on Flickr

I guess finding new and unique perspectives for fireworks shots can also be a personal challenge.

 

[ddbowdoin]

I forgot to add the Imagination Fountain for Illuminations. Having both the fountain and fireworks in frame is something special. I was practically all alone when I got the shot. No crowds to kick your tripod.


A Prosperous New Year to all! by Allen Castillo, on Flickr

I guess finding new and unique perspectives for fireworks shots can also be a personal challenge.

awesome shot man... did you you use an ND?

 

[Allen C]

awesome shot man... did you you use an ND?

Thanks! Yes, I use a 0.9 ND filter for all my fireworks shots.

 

[nngrendel]

The perils of fireworks photography.

However, there are a few places where tripod bumping can be less of a problem:

For Wishes:
>Frontierland at the edge of the Rivers of America where you can have Liberty Belle in the foreground of the shot.
>The Transportation and Ticketing Center - at the ferryboat dock area.

For Illuminations:
>Teppan Edo balcony - be there early and stake out the corner.
>The Odyssey Bridge

Teppan Edo Balcony composite shot.

Similar shot from the Rose and Crown Veranda. On the far left of where the tables with the umbrellas are.

Wishes Dessert Party. Tomorrowland Terrace.

 

[Joshua&CalebDad]

I forgot to add the Imagination Fountain for Illuminations. Having both the fountain and fireworks in frame is something special. I was practically all alone when I got the shot. No crowds to kick your tripod.


A Prosperous New Year to all! by Allen Castillo, on Flickr

I guess finding new and unique perspectives for fireworks shots can also be a personal challenge.

Teppan Edo Balcony composite shot.

Similar shot from the Rose and Crown Veranda. On the far left of where the tables with the umbrellas are.

Wishes Dessert Party. Tomorrowland Terrace.

You guys are killing me.

At this point I have all the equipment I should need including the D filters. I'll have two nights apiece in MK and Epcot so I should at least get one good shot. My next step was to sit down and watch the shows on Youtube and time the shows so I'll know when to release the shutter. Wish me luck