There are many wonderful photo opportunities during the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival every year, and this year is not an exception. While I'm not an expert photographer by any means, today I'm going to use some examples to show you how to take better photos, especially during the Festival.
The ostrich topiaries are one of the various display in the main entrance planter, which is currently themed to Fantasia. During the afternoon, these topiaries have their back to the sun. So how are you supposed to take good photographs of them if you don't get to Epcot until later on?
This photo of the Fantasia ostriches in the main entry planter is taken from too far away, and the backlighting makes the ostriches much harder to see clearly. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.
We're going to look at two techniques here. Firstly, get close to your subject. The less space around the focus of the shot, the more likely the camera will be to better adjust the exposure for a shaded image. In addition, consider the use of a fill flash; force your camera's flash to trigger, even though the bright background will make the auto-exposure want to suppress the flash. Firing the flash will light the front of the subject despite the bright background, or “fill in” the rest of the picture.
Now the ostriches pull your attention to them, and the fill flash makes their features much easier to see. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.
One of the biggest issues that vacation photographers seem to have is being in too much of a hurry to see everything—to get a quick shot and then move on to the next location, as if it's a checklist of things that must be done in a certain amount of time.
If the shot is there, sometimes patience is the best approach.
In a hurry to get the shot and move on? This completely adequate photo of a Future World parterre may be the result. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.
If you're in a hurry, you may not notice that the clouds that are currently dimming the view will not be there shortly; you just have to wait them out. Patience is one of the most valuable tools in a photographer's arsenal.
With a bit of patience, the sun emerges and improves the shot tremendously, making the colors more vibrant. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.
Sometimes the required patience is not for natural phenomena but rather other park guests. At some popular locations, it can be difficult to get a clear shot due to others trying to take their own photos in front of the topiaries, especially if you are trying to take the photo from a different angle as those posing in front of the blooms.
In these cases it may help to have someone helping you, perhaps by standing in line with the posing guests and then backing out of the picture when it's your turn. Another method of teamwork is to have your “assistant” block the approach to the line and explain that you're trying to get a photo with no people in it. It may work to have a conversation with your friend discussing that you think you can get the picture that you've been waiting for “as soon as this next guest is done and moves away.” Not every guest will respect this stated intent, but many will, rewarding your patience with the opportunity to take the shot that you've been waiting for.
It was a long wait for the walkway in front of this popular topiary to clear of people taking photos, but the dwarfs' faces are still in shadow. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.
Once you get your opening, you should already be prepared with any adjustments you may need to make; shifting your location and warming up your fill flash are two examples. In this scenario, you may only have two or three quick shots before the next group moves in for their photo opportunity.
The use of fill flash lets you see the faces of the dwarfs. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.
Sometimes, capturing all of the topiaries in a given flower bed is not the best way to capture an interesting image. This year Peter Pan is holding down the big planter along the causeway between Future World and World Showcase, along with Captain Hook, Tick-Tock the croc, and a treasure chest full of booty.
This long shot captures all of the topiaries in the Future World causeway, but it doesn't really have a focus or tell a story. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.
Take a look and see which characters are the best-positioned and seem to have a story to tell. In this case, you can tell the story of Tick-Tock and Captain Hook, making it seem as if the croc is about to finally catch the pirate.
By focusing on just two characters, a narrative emerges and a better shot appears. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.
In the Pixie Hollow Fairy Garden, Tinker Bell and her fairy friends hold court in topiary form. At various times of day, the fairies have various amounts of sunlight shining on them, and their poses do not necessarily work well from all angles.
At the Pixie Hollow Fairy Garden, Iridessa fades into the background, and her arms appear to be in an awkward position. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.
By moving your location to best fit the subject and using a fill flash, your photograph looks much better.
Iridessa's arms look much more natural, and she is lit much better with a fill flash. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.
Shifting your approach and using a fill flash are useful in many situations. While sometimes the best shot of the topiaries themselves is from an unusual angle, sometimes it's really from dead center in front of them.
This is a nice, safe long shot of the Toy Story planter. The photo was taken from out of the way of the Photopass photographer standing out front. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.
In the case of topiaries, you will want to consider the locations that the figures are apparently looking towards. If you've got multiple figures and the direction of their visions cross, that is a great spot to shoot from. In the case of this year's Woody and Buzz topiaries, their vision crosses at a spot about halfway between them and the location of the Photopass photographer stationed nearby. To improve the photo even more, consider kneeling down to get fully into the focus of both characters.
Despite a little lens flare, Woody and Buzz are looking right at you, and the fill flash lights up their faces for you. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.
Continuing the “get closer” and “check the figures' sightlines” tips, don't be afraid to kneel or sit on the ground to get your shot. Taking a photo from farther away is not a new one, and sometimes results in quite good photographs. At other times, however, the really attention-getting shot must be taken from wherever is best, and again sometimes requires patience and strategy to get a clear shot from your ideal location.
This photo gives a nice long view of the Lady and the Tramp topiary at the Italy pavilion amid a floral display. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.
By getting in closer and below the topiary, the two dogs “pop” in this picture. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.
Continuing the “get closer” and “check the figures' sightlines” tips, don't be afraid to kneel or sit on the ground to get your shot. Taking a photo from farther away is not a new one, and sometimes results in quite good photographs. At other times, however, the really attention-geting shot must be taken from wherever is best, and again sometimes requires patience and strategy to get a clear shot from your ideal location.
“Where is the best place to shoot from: is a question that you need to answer. Often, the most documentary shots are taking from straight in front, while the most artistic shots are frequently from a tighter angle.
These pandas are made to look as if they're having fun. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.
From the side, it looks as if the pandas are all playing together. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.
Finally, consider each and every possible angle for your photo. Sometimes the best photos are the ones that you didn't expect to take.
This long shot of the dragon at the China pavilion again covers the entire subject, but doesn't pop. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.
Zooming in tighter will give you a much more dramatic photo of the dragon. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.
Sometimes taking a shot around the back side presents a great new take on the subject matter, while other attempts such as this one really don't look great at all. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.
By closing in for a head shot, the dragon fills the frame and brings it to life. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.
Sometimes the best shot is such a closeup that you can't even see what the original subject was. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.
What are your favorite photo tips? Share them in the comments below!
