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Photography Tips

 

Here is a selection of the best places to take photos in the parks, if you have any to add, email me.


Magic Kingdom

Stand with your back to the flag pole in town Square, with your subject at the edge of the kerb, & look right up Main Street, you get your subject with the castle in the background.

 Anywhere along Main Street, looking towards the castle, best first thing in the morning, or especially at night with the castle lit up.

In Cinderella's rose garden, you can get a lovely shot of the castle.

Just off the bridge from the hub to Liberty Square.

On the bridge to Adventure Land, with the castle in the background.

 With your subject standing in front of the Mickey & Walt statue, with the castle in the background.

(the mistake made with this photo was not using the flash!)

At the entrance, in front of the Mickey shaped flowers.

 For this one you'll need to hire a water mouse from any of the Magic Kingdom Resorts, & preferably have a water proof camera! Take the water mouse out into Seven Seas Lagoon, & stop in the middle (away from the other boats!), you can get a great view of Magic Kingdom & the castle, & also the Grand Floridian.

Stand anywhere along Main Street at night when the fireworks are on, & you can get great shots of the fireworks going off over the castle (you might have trouble if you have a lot of talll people stood in front of you though!).

"A good spot to take photos of the MK fireworks is on the Contempoary obversation tower unobstructed view for your shot and for you." Dan

"Right as you walk past the train station on Main Street on the right there is a bench with goofy on it which makes for some fun photos"

"Just take Photos of characters signing an autoughrgh book or a wonderful sight, Disney World is such a beautiful place and easy to take good pictures"


MGM Studios

In front of Star Tours, crouch down under the raised foot of the giant AT-AT.

 Looking up Hollywood Boulevard to the Sorcerer's Hat.

Next to Gertie the Dinosaur.

Coparing your hand prints with those of the stars in front of the Great Movie Ride.

Playing air guitar in front of Rock 'n Roller Coaster.

Climb aboard the Star Wars Speeder Bike parked across from the exit of Star Tours.

Holding onto the handle of the Singin' in the Rain umbrella across from the Hunchback show.

Lie down in front of the steamroller near Studio Catering Co.

"It's fun to take photos of kids (or parents) at the "Honey We Shrunk the Kids" Playground." Tyler Broyles

"In MGM, take a picture of the Crossroads of the World statue at the front of the park" Tyler Broyles

"Get a fast film and take pictures of Fantasmic." Tyler Broyles

"MGM- Stand at the end of Sunset Boulevard, and take a shot with the Tower of Terror standing in the background."


Epcot

 Between Innoventions Plaza & Showcase Plaza, you get a great picture of Spaceship Earth, with the fountain in the foreground. Try this shot at night.

Standing on the ramp to the monorail station, to get a photo of Spaceship Earth, especially good at night. Better still, ask the CMs if you can go into the wheelchair area, the view of Spaceship Earth is then unobstructed.

 In Japan, at the edge of the lagoon, there is an archway with a seat in front of it. Get your subject to sit on this & take a photo, you get Spaceship Earth in the background, framed by the Japanese arch.

There are many lovely photo spots throughout World Showcase.

Take a picture in each country of one/all of your party wearing a hat or some other piece of clothing from one of the shops.

"When we were at Epcot, my boyfriend and I had a man take our picture and he had the 2 of us stand with our backs to the epcot ball and hold our arms out like we were holding it up. It turned out real cute."

 

Animal Kingdom

The bridge from Safari Village to Asia.

 The bridge from The Oasis to Safari Village, you get a lovely shot of the Tree of Life.

 Anywhere where there are animals, especially on the Safari.

 Against the waterfall as you exit the Safari.


Tips

 For night shots of parades & fireworks, a fast film (ISO 800) & a tripod are helpful.

Photo processing is quite expensive in Disney World, so it's best to either wait until you get home, or get the processing done off site.

Flash photography & video taping with a light is not permitted inside most WDW attractions.

When taking pictures of fireworks and Spectromagic, do NOT use a flash.

There are photo spots around the parks to help you get the best views for photos.

 You will find official Disney photographers in the parks, especially on Main Street & Hollywood Boulevard, who will take your photo, which you can later purchase. You can also ask them to take your photo with your own camera.

Film is available at shops & carts throughout the parks, but is more expensive than off-site, so ensure you bring plenty of film with you.

The Camera Center on Main Street(MK), the Camera Center near Spaceship Earth, Cameras & Film at Journey into Imagination, or World Traveller at International Gateway(Epcot), The Darkroom on Hollywood Boulevard (MGM), or Garden Gate Gifts near the Oasis (AK), all fix certain types of cameras & Video cameras.  You can also get your video camera battery recharged in the parks (remember to bring your charger unit!).

Don't be afraid to ask other guests to take a photo of your whole party, & don't forget to return the favour!

Make a small card with your name, address & phone no. on, keep it in your camera case. every time you start a new film, take a photo of the card, then if your film gets lost during developing, it will be easier to track you down.

 "Don't forget to take some shots of quiet moments too. One of my favorites from a recent trip is of my husband (the workaholic) sitting in front of Coronado Resort on a bench with a cup of coffee looking at the lake."

Don't be shy. Bend your knees, squat or lie down, climb trees, whatever it takes. And don't psyche yourself out. Be intrusive. Get closer. Let your subject fill the frame.

Bring life to the scene. Pictures of buildings or architecture will be more interesting with people in them. People give architecture a sense of scale, as do children, pets, birds.

Forget thinking you need all the latest equipment, but if you buy one thing, buy a good tripod. Most blurry pictures come from camera shake.

Ignore the old adage that when taking portraits, the photographer should have the sun at his or her back. That just gives you washed out faces of people squinting. Instead, put subjects in shadow & use a flash - even in broad daylight - to fill the shadows.

Count to three then take the picture on five or six, after the fake smile has gone. Or try taking two pictures in a row, one of the fake smile, the second of the genuine one that usually follows.

Keep Your Camera Ready - How many once-in-a-lifetime pictures have you missed because you didn't have a camera with you? It's easy to avoid that frustration by keeping a camera handy. Spontaneous moments make priceless pictures. To capture them, you need a camera with you. If your regular camera is too large to carry conveniently, consider a low-cost pocket-sized model as a stand-by.

Get Close - As a general rule, the closer you get to the subject, the better your pictures will be. Getting close eliminates distracting, unnecessary backgrounds and shows the subject clearly. Think about showing just enough of the scene to make the picture clear and interesting. Be sure to check your camera manual to learn the closest distance at which your camera takes sharp pictures. Many point-and-shoot cameras cannot focus closer than four feet from the subject.

Keep People Busy - When photographing people, keep them busy! Your pictures will have a feeling of lively spontaneity. To avoid stiff, static poses, prompt your subjects to be active. Their expressions will be more relaxed and natural.

Place the Subject Off-Center - There is nothing wrong with placing the subject in the center of your viewfinder. However, placing the subject off-center can make the composition more dynamic and interesting to the eye.

Include Foreground in Scenics - When taking scenic pictures, try including objects in the foreground. Elements in the foreground add a sense of distance, depth and dimension.

Look for Good Lighting - Adequate lighting is essential to expose film, but good lighting can make your pictures more interesting, colorful, dimensional, and flattering to the subject. Strong sunlight is only one of many types of good lighting. Some people are surprised to learn that cloudy, overcast days provide the best lighting for pictures of people. Bright sun makes people squint, and it throws harsh shadows. On overcast days, the light is soft and flattering to faces.

Hold Your Camera Steady - Sometimes good pictures are missed by overlooking the basics. Holding the camera steady is vital for sharp, clear pictures. When you push the shutter button, press it gently rather than jabbing it. Even slight camera movement can rob your pictures of sharpness. Use a brace to steady your arm or use a tripod, if available.

Use Your Flash - You can improve your pictures by taking full advantage of the flash built into most cameras. It provides extra light when you need it, especially indoors, and it freezes action for sharp pictures. Be sure to stay within the "flash range." This is the range of distance which will be properly exposed. A typical range is four to twelve feet. Check your camera manual for the effective range of your flash. Flash can improve pictures outdoors, as well as indoors. Using flash outdoors will soften shadows and brighten colors.

Tips for taking photos at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge...


Do you have any tips to put on this page? Email me or fill in the box below. (Please do not use the box to ask questions, as they will not be answered by email)

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