We receive considerable feedback regarding our site. Although we cannot publish them all, the following may be of interest to our readers.
Feedback for Frank Anzalone
MousePlanet staff photographer Frank Anzalone has received a lot of feedback
from readers eager to capture their Disney moments on film. You can find
Frank’s Photo Tips articles in the More Mouse section of MousePlanet (link).
Brett and Michelle ask about how to photograph large groups:
Brett writes:
I absolutely loved your article on photos! I love it so much, I read
it three times to make sure I do it right. I’m leaving in just a few
days to Disneyland (from Canada) with friends and was wondering if you
could send me tips on how to take that perfect photo with a group of
people?
Michelle Culver writes:
I thank you profusely for the tips you have already provided. In just
that first article, I have learned so much. (especially that breaking
scenery into thirds. What a great idea!) I understand you are going
to be touching on taking “people pictures” this next time,
however would you be so kind as to also touch on taking large group
photos? We have a family reunion coming up for Father’s Day at Disneyland
(my husband has 5 other brothers and sisters) and I want to make sure
that these precious memories are captured correctly!
My tip for group family shots is to get in close. Do not worry about
getting the full body; with a large group of people you want to get as
close as you can to see the facial expressions. Tell them, “You’re
family! Get close together!”
Sometimes the typical shot has lots of people around so go to the sides
of the castle (instead of dead-on front) and place the family with the
castle in the background; that will be easier to take without distraction,
too. Enjoy your trip and send me a sample or two to let me know how you
did.
Wendy writes:
Thank you Frank for your wonderful tips on taking photos. I never knew
that such great pictures could come out of the disposable cameras! One
tip I offer: Make sure you stand still. We’ve got a lot of pictures
that come out blurry because the kids or husband was walking as they
were taking the picture (duh!).
I love using my 35mm camera vs. my digital camera. Sure, there are
advantages of the digital (being able to delete is the top one) but
there’s something special about using a regular camera. I can’t wait
to read your second edition.
Steve writes:
Very nicely done. This topic is one of the highest priorities on my
trips (love to snap away) and you reinforced the basics of good
picture-taking. Even though my family has visited [Walt Disney] World
eight times, I look forward to our trip to put your ideas into practice;
to redo some of the classic poses and locations that we haven’t done
in years. Your suggestion to use fill flash on the outdoor rides is
so basic but so overlooked (don’t forget to remind us to not
use flash on indoor/dark rides).
I really look forward to the rest of your articles, especially
nighttime/fireworks pictures. Thank god for digital or I wouldn’t get
any nighttime shots. Click… click… click… click.
Chris writes:
I’m glad to see your new series. I have found very little information
for photographing Disney World/Disneyland beyond the most general things.
I am an advanced amateur and find Disney World to be the best place
to photograph; so much variation between the different lands, resorts
and parks. It’s far different from shooting squirrels in the neighborhood
park.
So I’m looking forward to your series and hope it gets more detailed
and specific (not necessarily more technical) as it goes along. I saw
a lot of people at Disney World in January, carrying thousand-dollar
digital SLRs, and we could all use more advice in using them in Disney
World/Disneyland better.
Dawn writes:
Thanks Frank. I have been an avid amateur photograph for over 20 years,
but I learned some interesting tips from you. I am off to the 50th Celebration
at Disneyland, so I will be putting your suggestions to use.
Hi Dawn – When you are at the Disneyland 50th, just look at all
the color of the morning and late afternoon light. It’s fun!
Kathy writes:
Wow. I thought I was a pretty sophisticated digital-camera-using photographer.
I’m downright embarrassed at how many of my Disney pictures look like
your “don’t” shots. Your few simple tips are going to make
my family photos 100% better. Thank you so much—and can you speed
it up with the next installment? I want to read it before I return to
Disneyland!
Heather writes:
Thanks to Frank for such a great article on photo tips. I can’t wait
for the rest of the series to be published.
I personally take pretty good shots myself, and then happily share
them with my friends. However, my friends tend to take pictures the
“typical” way (like in your examples). And I am usually disappointed
with what I receive in return. So I tend to be the main shutterbug,
and as a result I get left out of most of the shots. I would really
love to have more (usable) shots of me with my friends.
Luckily my friends are also avid readers of MousePlanet and I will
make sure they follow the publication of this wonderful series.
Hi Heather – I know what you mean about not getting into the pictures.
At the 50th Disneyland press event, we had some fun among photographers—exchanging
cameras so we could all have our shot for “mom”… (don’t
be shy to ask a cast member to shoot the entire group).
Gina writes:
Thanks for writing about taking photos at Disneyland. I’m looking forward
to reading the next installment. You’re providing me with the kinds
of specific tips I can really use.
Do you have any suggestions for videotaping at Disneyland? We haven’t
used our video camera there very much because we don’t want to get too
caught up in filming and miss out on the fun. We’re thinking of coming
up with a list of places we would like to capture but we’re not too
confident that we’ll end up with a real representation of our vacation.
Hi Gina – Video… Well, best I can say is try to hold as steady
as possible and do not pan or zoom too fast (biggest mistake).
Anthony writes:
What a great article about taking pictures. I used to manage Wolf and
Ritz Camera locations and I always gave customers tips on how to get
the best photos. Your examples are great and by showing what most people
do wrong is a huge help. I currently manage a Circuit City and my passion
remains with cameras—always giving tips and new ideas so customers
get the best shots.
I have visited Disney World many times and will again in just three
weeks. On a trip there in 2002 of just me and my 8-year-old son, we
took about 600 pictures over nine days using two SLRs and a point-and-shoot.
This time we are just taking my 7-megapixel, point-and-shoot digital.
I’m sure in your series you have much to cover. My two biggest tips
have always been to get to the same level of your subject (like on one
knee when taking those kids-and-characters pictures) and take the picture
of what’s happening around you (like your child waiting in line for
the Buzz ride while he/she looks at the entrance or whatever).
Thanks for helping people get great pictures!
Ramon writes:
I believe it was your photos that were shown on this site a few months
ago. You offered some as wallpapers. They were excellent. In that segment
you mentioned that there would be more photos/wallpapers from you in
the future. Did I miss these updates or have they not been posted yet?
[Editor: Photos for desktops are here.]
Cathy writes:
I really enjoyed your article. You had great and easily executed tips.
It was an excellent idea to use a disposable camera for all your shots
to prove that good picture-taking does not rely on quality of camera.
One thing that I am definitely going to remember is having one’s subject
closer and shooting vertically. I noticed that although the range behind
the subject was smaller, the main points of interest (such as the castle)
appeared larger and clearer and mostly what was missing was crowds of
unknown people to the right and left. This surprised me. Thanks for
your tips; I am looking forward to your next article.
Daisy Sparks writes:
I just wanted to send a big “Thank You!” for the great photo
tips. I’ve been an avid scrapbooker for 8 years but not necessarily
a great photographer. I also used to be a cast member (1989-2001) and
I always to had a camera at work. I got some good photos and not so
good ones. The photo tips were helpful and I can’t wait to use them
when I go to the Park tomorrow. I also shared the photo tips with my
8-year-old daughter since she has her own camera now. I think it will
give her the confidence to take the right photos so she won’t be disappointed
with the results.
Mike writes:
Thanks for the great ideas. It was good to be reminded about some of
the simple tricks to photos. I am currently using a Nikon Cool Pix 5700.
I like the camera a lot, but I want to move up to a camera with changeable
lenses. Do you have any recommendations?
Hi Mike – I am very much a Nikon guy, although there are many options
out there. Take a serious look at the Nikon D70; I have seen quite a few
of these used by the media, and they are “decently reasonable in
price” (whatever that means). I use a Nikon D100.
Tonya writes:
First of all, I must say your pictures are fantastic. I read your photo
tips and look forward to your next installment.
I am a Disneyland fanatic and visit quite often, however I have never
been able to get pictures like you are able to do. I loved the pictures
of Sleeping Beauty’s Castle from the Sword in the Stone, and I believe
the Snow White [Wishing] Well. I plan on trying your tips on my next
trip, and was also wondering if you had a list of favorite photo spots
for “different” Disneyland photos. I would like to decorate
with photos similar to the ones you listed, but of other attractions
as well. I’m just not creative enough to “see” those in a
photo. I would be grateful for any other tips, or advice.
Hi Tonya – I am working on a photo article dedicated to “the
park” (the initial article was more introductory). The park article
will hopefully point out some neat and unique spots for those special
Disneyland pictures. You just have to always look! Look! Look! Sometimes
the people I am with say I am “distracted” when I walk through
the park, but all I am doing is just looking at things from all angles
as I walk.
Alice writes:
Thank you so much for sharing your great picture-takings tips. I loved
the way your pictures came out. I will definitely put these tips to
use when I go to Disneyland or Disney World again. Maybe my family and
I will see you there.
Hi Alice – Enjoy your next photo shoot at Disney. If you ever see
me there at the parks, get my attention and I’ll take your picture. It
would be my pleasure.
