Official Disney Parks Thread

Grand Dad wrote in post #19018054
Nice, and I assume a composite shot. Where did you shoot the MW from?

Yes... Definitely a composite... Playing around with composites, as of late... Fun stuff... What's MW, Larry?

airbutchie wrote in post #19018057
Yes... Definitely a composite... Playing around with composites, as of late... Fun stuff... What's MW, Larry?

Milky Way!

Grand Dad wrote in post #19018319
Milky Way!

Airbutchie, and Grand Dad, both of your night pics are great. Are you using a tripod, or placing your camera on a stable object? I'll be there chasing my grand kids around the park in May (provided the corona virus doesn't close the park). I'll have my tripod with me, staying on property. Is it a hassle to try to use a tripod with people around?

tombrewer wrote in post #19018523
Airbutchie, and Grand Dad, both of your night pics are great. Are you using a tripod, or placing your camera on a stable object? I'll be there chasing my grand kids around the park in May (provided the corona virus doesn't close the park). I'll have my tripod with me, staying on property. Is it a hassle to try to use a tripod with people around?

Thanks for the compliment, Tom. I wouldn’t say using a tripod is a hassle, but you do need to plan ahead. I seldom shoot there during the day, the camera bag and tripods stay in a locker. But while we’re enjoying the parks, I’m also scouting locations and thinking about how I can set up later after it gets dark. I will typically find a hard object to use as a bit of a shield to avoid someone tripping over a tripod leg or bumping into me. I’ll find a railing, wall, bench, planter or even a trash can and align two of the legs against the object and then stand over the third leg. I also tend to not splay out the legs to full spread to make things easier. But this can require patience as there might be a family, standing where I want to be, trying to decide where to eat or something.
But I always carry a second mini tripod that I can’t imagine being without. It's a RRS TFA-01 Ultra Pocket 'Pod & BH-25 Pro Ballhead. This extremely solid mini tripod can be set onto benches, tables, trash cans, sculpted walls, planters, etc. I can also place and hold it against a vertical wall and get some otherwise impossible-to-get shots using a standard tripod. It's very small and light so it's always in my bag or pocket, if I'm traveling light. It supports my longest lenses with no problem. Yes, I know it's expensive, but I use this tripod more than my other two larger ones combined.
If you have a dark ND filter, you might want to bring that along. That allows for long exposures that will enable you to make people disappear from some scenes. Have a great time, enjoy being with the grandkids during the day and grab your gear in the evening and marvel at the amazing light that the imagineers provide for us photographers.

Larry, Thanks for the info. Since we are staying on site I plan to leave the tripod in the room during the day. I have a Gorilla Pod that I haven't used in a while. I'll test it out with the 5D and wide lenses to be sure it still supports them before we leave.

tombrewer wrote in post #19019119
Larry, Thanks for the info. Since we are staying on site I plan to leave the tripod in the room during the day. I have a Gorilla Pod that I haven't used in a while. I'll test it out with the 5D and wide lenses to be sure it still supports them before we leave.

Tom, we also stayed on site (Port Orleans Riverside), but the bus ride from the park to the hotel took 30 to 60 minutes round trip, depending on which park and the crowds. I thought the $10 to $15 for a locker at the park entrance was well worth the time savings. YMMV

tombrewer wrote in post #19018523
Airbutchie, and Grand Dad, both of your night pics are great. Are you using a tripod, or placing your camera on a stable object? I'll be there chasing my grand kids around the park in May (provided the corona virus doesn't close the park). I'll have my tripod with me, staying on property. Is it a hassle to try to use a tripod with people around?

Hey Tom,

Pardon the delayed response... For me personally, if I was going to be in the park all day, I'd either get a locker and place it there until you need it or if my accommodations were close by, I'd leave it there and come back to get it when needed... As always, when I'm using my tripod, I'm aware of where I put it... I also try and let people coming close to it know that it's there... That way they don't trip over it or something... Enjoy the day with your grand kids and try the tripod captures at night, when you'll need it the most... Be cautious and aware of its surroundings and best of luck in your nightscapes at Disneyland!!! Take care...

Butch

Thanks Butch.

Missing our Disney fix. From last December.