MousePlanet Mailbag for November 17, 2005
Compiled by Stephanie Wien, Mailbag editor
This week’s mailbag continues the feedback for MousePlanet staff photographer Frank Anzalone that was presented in last week’s mailbag. Frank receives a lot of feedback from readers eager to capture their Disney moments on film. You can find links to Frank’s Photo Tips articles on his bio page at MousePlanet (link).
Sharyn Richard writes:
I just read your tips for nighttime photos in the dark. I am especially frustrated with my attempts to capture the fireworks! Will use your tip regarding anticipating the burst.
Question: Were the early evening shots taken without flash? How do you get the movement to blur? I finally bought a digital camera about a year ago, but tend to leave it on auto. Even if I choose the nighttime setting, pictures don’t turn out as I would like. This is a great series for amateur photographers who are striving to improve—like me!
First off—ALL the pictures in this article were taken with NO flash—just available light.
The movement blur comes from the subject moving faster than the shutter speed of the camera. What I will do when I want to leaving the camera on an automatic setting, is to set the camera’s film speed/sensitivity to low (as if I was taking a picture in full bright daylight). If your camera uses numbers for this, set it as the lowest number you can. This is telling the camera that you do not need a lot of light to take the picture. So now, the automatic camera exposure will force your shutter to stay open longer to capture enough light for your picture. Make sure to have a steady surface to help hold your camera while you do this. Even when you hold the camera and just push down the shutter button, it can be enough movement to shake and blur your picture. Hold your camera against a lamp pole or tree, or set it on top of a trashcan to minimize the camera shake.
For nighttime shots that you are not trying to blur something on purpose—use that nighttime setting you have and just try to move the film sensitivity to a higher number; the higher the number, the more sensitive and more chance you will get a good exposure—just also remember to set it back when you are in the daylight (a higher sensitivity setting will make the picture look “grainy” in an enlargement—and, that’s OK for night pictures—but you do not want that for those day time pictures).
So during your next trip, try some of the photo tips—and then send me a sample or two to share how you did.
Sharyn replies:
Hi Frank—thanks for your speedy reply! What service! I will try to find the film speed setting on my digital camera. I have a Kodak Easy Share 6490 and it really is quite simple to use. But, I’m still referring to the manual and learning. I will try out your tips in September—I tried a shot of my son and I at the side of the castle, as you had suggested last March, and was pleased with the results. I am always looking for interesting angles and different shots—especially at Disneyland. Once again, I greatly enjoy you articles and information on taking pictures in the parks!
My friend from high school and I had a great Disney trip last week! Thanks for all your photo tips. I tried some low light pictures with varying results. #1 is the queue at Space Mountain—I like the way it turned out. #2 Was taken at the Main street train station. I balanced the camera on the rail and used the (10X) zoom. #3 Taken from balcony at Dessert Fantasmic. I rested the camera on the rail and set the camera to “nighttime” and used the zoom. Although I like the effect, why is this shot so blurry when I used the rail to steady the camera? I noticed the ISO setting on my camera goes down to 80. Anyway, I took about 85 other photos, but wanted to thank you for your advice on low light/nightime photography. My next trip to the park will be in December and I will practice some more then!
Good job on the images. It takes practice, and you are on your way.
Even though you steadied the camera, you probably gave it a little shake when you pushed the shutter button. This takes practice to not move the camera while actually taking the picture or during the exposure. Sometimes, I will set the camera on the railing and use the ‘self time’ to trigger the picture. The camera will trip the shutter and the movement is a lot less.
This happens when I take pictures, too. So at night, try to use that ‘steady on the rail’ technique. Then take a breath—let it out half way and press the shutter as you relax—chances are you will shake less (just your heart beat can make you move ever so slightly!)
On the Fantasmic! picture—you can see the ‘light poles’ near river’s edge are near sharp—and the movement of the show is blurry… So you got pretty close on that one! (I love the water spray with the color lights)
Anyway—next photo tips are coming out November 1st… More park pictures and that means Disneyland and Walt Disney World. Watch for it!
Carrie Teramoto writes:
I would like to try and take pictures of my family when I’m on a ride like how you did on Thunder Mountain (over the shoulder). I am using a 35mm Nikon camera and normally use 200mm speed film. Should I use 400mm or more? What would you recommend for film speed to use at Disneyland or any theme park?
When I use film, I use 200 speed (technically, that speed is called “ISO,” not “mm,” which stands for “millimeter”) for my all-purpose film. Shooting a ride picture on an outdoor attraction during the day, 200 speed film is fine. When you do this, take more than one. You might hit a bump and misaim the camera as you are experiencing the ride.
Generally, I have used the 200 speed film for all of my older park pictures (now that I shoot digital, I generally use an equivalent ‘film speed’ of 250 for most outdoor images). With a good 35mm camera like what you have, you can get most any shot with 200 speed film. If you want to shoot night time and have a little more luck with low light, use 400 speed film (sometimes, you can even find an 800 speed film). Good luck! And thanks for reading MousePlanet.
Carrie replies:
Thanks for the speedy response! I really appreciate your photo tips. I’ve been a reader of MousePlanet for about 4 years. MousePlanet really helps me plan my yearly trips to the park. I live in Hawaii, so I’m not able to go that often. It also meets my daily fix of the MOUSE, if you know what I mean.
I will continue to use 200 speed film and get a few 400s for my upcoming trip to Disneyland this coming late September. Maybe I will see you there…
I am so glad MousePlanet helps you with all those details (the staff here does a great job with those. I just shoot the pictures).
Make sure if you ever see me at Disneyland, that you come up and say hello! (and hopefully., it as been 12-14 years but, I hope to visit Hawaii next April. Maybe I can get some tips from you!).
Aubree writes:
I really enjoy your articles, and have read them several times. Thank you! We are leaving for our trip soon, and if you have time I would love to get your opinion on the following:
I have been practicing with my digital camera, but I have a couple questions. In the “Best Shot” setting, it has several choices that seem to lend themselves to low lighting.
So today I took my daughter to see the musical Rodgers and Hammerstein Cinderella. The theater was dark and the stage was lit. I used all of the settings listed below, and really didn’t get a good picture. I held the camera on the ledge, so it would be as still as possible, and most of them are just horrid, and the okay ones are nothing more than just okay. So… I am wondering if any of you are familiar with these settings, and which you would use in the scenarios I have listed below.
Camera: Casio Exilim EX-Z40 4.0 megapixels
Setting choices: Candlelight Portrait, Sundown, Night scene, Night scene portrait, Fireworks and Twilight.
So which would you recommend for:
1) Parade shots
2) Aladdin Show
3) Fireworks (I know this seems obvious that I should use Fireworks, but I would like your opinions.)
4) Inside Pirates, “it’s a small world”, Buzz etc.
5) Inside (before the ride) Star Tours
6) During the ride Indiana Jones (is this even possible to get a good shot?)
7) At the Blue BayouThose are the ones I am concerned about off the top of my head. If you have any other suggestions you would like to share, please do. Thank you so much Frank!
Wow! Thank you!
Did any of these settings come out better than another? Part of this ‘challenge’ is learning how your camera will respond for given situations (and they are all different!) I am not familiar with your Casio, but let’s try some things here.
It seems like they give you many options, but overall the camera needs lots of light for night shots.
1) Parade shots: Night scene? Thinking there is a lot of light here and there as opposed to light in a small concentrated part of the overall frame. (think of a single lamp in your front room versus many lamps all over the front room).
2) Aladdin Show: I might use either night scene or twilight.
3) Fireworks (I know this seems obvious that I should use Fireworks, but I would like your opinions.): Use fireworks or twilight.
4) Inside Pirates, “it’s a small world”, Buzz etc.: That is tough no matter what. Maybe try candle portrait.
5) Inside (before the ride) Star Tours: Same as above
6) During the ride Indiana Jones (is this even possible to get a good shot?): That ride moves too fast—just sit back and enjoy it!
7) At the Blue Bayou: Candle portrait might work for you here.
All these are just suggestions. If I had a chance to work with your camera, I might have more intelligent suggestions instead of my best guess. The deal is, with digital, take lots of pictures, try different settings. Check it at the hotel room and go back if you want more. Delete the bad ones and keep shooting/experimenting.
Do not ever think that when you see a shot of mine, it is the one and only shot I took for a low light situation. The light changes all the time; our eyes are so awesome how they adapt, much better than any camera, so we wonder why the camera did not see what we did. I generally take a bunch, sort through those for the best one, and go on from there.
I am so glad you are trying all this out. It makes picture taking interesting, and maybe a little frustrating too. Overall, you try and sometimes you get those great shots. Enjoy your vacation, and send me some samples!
Vicki Smith writes:
I loved the third edition of Photo Tips! I have always wanted to take fireworks photos, but after a few very failed attempts had given up trying. I have a new camera since then and you have inspired me to read up on the camera settings and give it another try on our next vacation to Walt Disney World this fall! I am also going to take the mini-tripod that came with my camera package to see if this helps. Your Photo Tips articles are my most favorite out of all of the MousePlanet articles (I am a daily reader). Thank you so much for all the time you put into your tips!
Thank you for the kind words about the articles. I enjoy putting them together (more excuses to take pictures).
The mini tripod is a great idea. At Walt Disney World, there are some great spots where you can set that up where no one will be in your way and still have a great view of the castle. (or Epcot or Pleasure Island or…).
We will be visiting Walt Disney World in mid-October, so I might end up next to you trying to shoot the same fireworks show! By the way, one time, I went to the top of the Contemporary hotel (the California Grill), and you can walk outside onto an observation deck. If you can time that out, it is an interesting view and opportunity for Magic Kingdom fireworks pictures.
Make sure to send me a sample when you try out your new camera at Walt Disney World.
Tracy asks for advice on capturing fireworks:
I would like to know how to get good pictures of fireworks using a digital camera. And I was also wondering how you got such excellent shots of the castle unveiling ceremony on Thursday. Would it be possible for me to make prints of some of them for my scrapbook? I was there but my pictures were from so far away that they are a joke. I can pay you for rights or something, will give you credit, and they will only be seen in my scrapbook. Please let me know if this is something that is allowed, as I am not quite sure what the rules may be about this. I figured it was worth a shot though.
As far as firework shots (I will have a future article address this), just set that digital camera to its most sensitive light exposure; use a steady surface for the camera—a tripod is the best, if you can. Shoot many exposures—you never know with fireworks—and try to trigger the shutter just before you think the firework will explode.
Jim writes:
I really enjoyed you Photo Tips (Part 3) article. One note on the fireworks, those of us lucky enough to have cameras with manual exposure controls might need a lot of trial-and-error to get a good exposure. I’ve found that 6 seconds at f/8 is easy to shoot with and provides great results.
One thing I want to try on my next trip in December is to shoot fireworks with a rear curtain flash, so you get the burst, then freeze the subjects in the foreground. Should be great.
When I use a manual exposure camera, the f8 is more important than the shutter. What I mean is, the shutter could be longer, but the f8 cuts out a lot of the little light, saving the real exposure for the brighter firework moments. Overall, you probably do have the best setting there!
Send me a sample when you do your December trip—I would love to see your “rear curtain flash” results.
Kristan Molchin writes:
I just wanted to say thank you for your wonderful photography articles. I just got back from Disneyland two weeks ago, but read your articles prior to leaving. Armed with great knowledge I came home with wonderful shots and look forward to my next trip. (My scrapbook pages are going to be awesome!)
Yay for the slow-flash mode and double yay for digital cameras! Thanks again.
Glad to hear you got some great shots, and glad the tips made a difference.
If all goes well, I will have one more tips article in MousePlanet early December. Send me some samples of what you shot—I would love to see how you did.
Michelle Carter writes:
Dear Frank, Just saw your latest tips on taking photos at Disneyland and just wanted to say “thanks.” We are going to Disneyland at Christmas (all the way from Oz!) and I love to take photos of everything and you gave me a different view on how to approach my photos while I am there. Thanks again; can’t wait for the next lot of tips!
Glad you got a chance to see this installment. I love taking pictures of the parks. Disneyland is so special during the holidays—lots of great picture possibilities. Send me some samples when you get back.
Heather Donovan writes:
I’d like to send a quick note to thank you for the photo tips. My husband, Nate, and I were in L.A. in early October. When asked by co-workers, the official reason for our trip was the [King] Tut exhibit over at Los Angeles Contemporary Museum of Art; the real reason was a trip to see Disney during the 50th.
I’m a planner and a researcher by habit so I was thrilled when I found MousePlanet a few weeks prior to our trip, and read through your tips. I’m sheepish to admit that I looked through our old albums and saw some familiar mistakes.
I spent most of our vacation pleading with Nate to “focus on faces, not feet.” In many cases, it worked. We have some great photos for the album this time ’round. However, I did notice that the photos of the two of us together weren’t as successful. Whenever we gave the disposable to a third person to take the shot, they would back way up to include all of the background behind us. Once we asked two different cast members to take a photo and got two very different results.
As a result, I think that your tips should be required reading for anyone at Disney. I hope to get even better pictures during the holidays. Sadly, the worst culprit is my Da, who considers himself the photographer in the family! I am a hopeless optimist, but do you have any tips for teaching an old (and somewhat stubborn) dog new tricks?
I am glad you got a chance to get in on the Disneyland 50th anniversary. The park looks so good and there is so much energy.
For ‘couples’ pictures, you get what you get (I know, I have my share of these same images you have!). Here is what I have done to help things along: I will put my wife where I want to have ‘us’ stand. Then I stand where I want the picture taken from (holding the camera framing up the picture). This way, the person I give the camera to can just stand in that spot as I hand the camera over, to get the idea of what I wanted (without specifically saying “do this and do that”). In general, it works.
As far as with your Da, maybe just print out the photo tip articles. You could give them to him with some film and say, “Happy unbirthday… Let’s have some fun!” Take care and keep taking those pictures!
