Your feelings on flash photography

[NEmickeyfan]

I have to say if you are told no flash on dark rides. then don't do it. It is annoying and ruins the experience on the ride. Your flash is only good for a max of about 15 feet... anything beyond that, flash is pretty much useless. Alot of people who use flash haven't bothered to learn to shut it off on the little point and pray camera... or they just don't care.

 

[rufio]

honestly, I dont even know why people bother... at the end of the day there must be a massive amount of ignorance or really poor eyes because when people go home and download those images I can't see how people can be impressed with anything they see.

even with a f1.8 and mid grade body (push ISO high) you better have a great breathing technique to shoot at 1/20 of a second... but people think their little 100 dollar point and crap with flash is going to be awesome?!?!?!

Yeah, my P&S always leaves me with really crappy pictures of dark rides, but I also scrapbook so I do like having pictures of pretty much everything, even if the quality isn't that great. It does pretty well outdoors. That being said, I normally take pictures without the flash (even if I do tend to accidentally blind people with little red lights). The time I took a picture with the flash it was because I WANTED the crappy picture of the behind the scenes stuff. Turned out kinda cool too! But I would never do that on a crowded ride.

 

[Vader2112]

I truly can not stand Flash on dark rides and shows. Went to the Little Mermaid Stage Show with the kids at HWS and between flashes and screens from cameras. Totally runis the experience. Especially in a show like Mermaid where it could realistically casue a performer who is totally in darkness to loose focus.

 

[dreamfinder]

If the ride says no photography, or no flash photography, it should be obeyed. As many PP's have pointed out, trying to use your camera on a dark ride will yield terrible looking pictures. And unfortunately if you don't know enough about your camera and how it works to turn off the flash, odds are you don't know that the flash is useless in that situation either.

The only time it is quasi acceptable is during the already pointed out, no one else is on the ride near you. Like you are the absolute last person in line before close and you have them wait 15-20 vehicles before loading no one else near you. And even then, short of trying to make out details in the HM attic scene to see some of the neat hidden stuff, I can't think of any dark ride situation that won't end up exposing how they make it work like they do and ruining the picture.

 

[LuvtheGoof]

I've noticed A LOT of upset over flash photography on dark rides throughout the boards. I would be lying if I said that I hadn't had the urge to flash some photos in various dark rides just to see the things that I can't normally see. I would also be lying if I said I hadn't given in during an off season ride on Seas with Nemo. My friend and I were the only people for about a six car distance so I did it. I snapped some flash photos.

So how do you really feel about flash photography on dark rides? Are there any acceptions? Perhaps like my example of being nearly alone on a ride?

One of the main reasons for no flash photography is that you aren't supposed to see things you can't normally see! I would be in the "flogging is good" group for anyone doing it. Also, just because you don't think that anyone is around you, doesn't mean there aren't. Do to ride construction and flow, you may not be able to see someone, but they will see your flash.

 

[ExtinctJenn]

To echo what many of the previous folks have said... it's a courtesy to others thing. It has less to do with capturing things maybe you shouldn't see or that would "kill the magic" (though that's true too) and more to do with the effect constant flashes have on other guests trying to enjoy the attraction using the lighting Disney designed.

A perfect example (for me) is the Epcot Nemo attraction in the former home of the Seacabs. It's dark and enclosed and the lighting is designed to give you that "under the sea" feeling. It never fails however that I end up with flashers (hah) on either side of my family while we're riding. Instead of enjoying the experience we end up focused more on the flash from the vehicles around us.

I too, like the original poster, have to admit that there have been many occasions where I've wanted... oh so badly... to take a flash shot, but I just won't do it. In fact that one time I did accidentally I flushed immediately and felt horrible (inside CoP - immediate dirty looks from everyone around me). Again though, it comes down to understanding that while you want the perfect shot, those around you want to experience the magic of the attraction without the distraction of discourteous guests around them flashing their cameras.

These days most cameras allow you to change your ISO settings... make them high and you'll get your shot sans-flash!

 

[alawrence]

On my Flickr page, I have a photo of Michelangelo painting on the ceiling on SE, and of the man with the dog on HM. Both were taken while the rides were stopped, and the lights on.We sat on SE for 30 minutes. I took about 10 pics in there, but the lights were on in side the ride. Does anyone see and issue with that? I have had several people say something about it when I posted the pics on this site, and leave comments on my Flickr page about it. "No Flash!!!" "Someone doesn't know how to follow rules!!!"

Am I wrong for taking pics while the ride is stopped, and the lights are on? This has only happened two times in our many visits, but when it has, I have taken photos.

 

[ExtinctJenn]

Am I wrong for taking pics while the ride is stopped, and the lights are on? This has only happened two times in our many visits, but when it has, I have taken photos.

Lights on... fair game in my opinion.

 

[Jeff456]

Definitely not acceptable in dark rides, completely ruins the experience, the photos don't tend to look very good either!

 

[Redsky89]

I personally don't like it. Even if it's on a slow ride like Pirates I can still see the flash from someone in the boat in front or even behind me. I find it annoying.

 

[alawrence]

Lights on... fair game in my opinion.

That is what I thought too. We are on the same page.

 

[joanna71985]

BTW have you ever actually seen any photographs taken on a dark ride that really turned out well? The answer to that is no. No, you have not.

Actually, that's not true. I'm pretty happy with how some of my pictures have come out on dark rides

I HATE flash photography on dark rides with a passion. We were on GMR in May and some girl in front of us was taking flash photos. She spoke Englsih (I heard her talking) so I knew she heard the announcement and the CM had to ask her 3 more times to stop. Finally she didn't and I tapped her on the shoulder and told her in a polite as I could way to cut it out with the photos. She stopped after that. I will be the first person to call someone out who's taking flash photos. Sorry but you're not going to ruin MY ride experience because YOU feel entitled to take pictures. I do take pictures with my DSLR but I do not use the flash. And I don't take pictures every 5 seconds.

Thank you! I greatly appreciate that

that is an autofocus assistance light on your camera... on Nikon DLSR's its a white light. You can shut this feature off.

How, if you don't mind telling me?

 

[Princess7]

If everyone turned their flash and cell phones off, we could all enjoy the rides and shows a little more.

 

[ddbowdoin]

Actually, that's not true. I'm pretty happy with how some of my pictures have come out on dark rides



Thank you! I greatly appreciate that



How, if you don't mind telling me?

I'd have to look it up for you, I did it the first time taking it out of the box. I shoot a lot of shows and concerts, can't be sending out a white beam for auto focus assist!

 

[HM Spectre]

If you're all by yourself and won't ruin anyone else's experience, then have at it. Otherwise, I want nothing to do with it. Honestly, I want nothing to do with it anyway but I don't care if it's not affecting others.

People who see WDW through a camera confuse me to no end. Is it really worth taking these half-dark mediocre pictures to not see it through your own eyes and make a memory? Heck, anything worth taking a picture of you can probably find on google in better quality anyway... just put the camera away and enjoy the ride.