SpectroMagic is one of my favorite things to photograph: Clicking on the picture takes you to its Flickr page, where you can read about the "magic" that enabled me to get this shot... Do you guys have any techniques or favorite shots from Spectro? I'd like to hear about/see them!
Go to the second showing (if they are doing one, just like the 3rd showing of Fantasmic! at DL), and I found that Frontierland was a decent place to shoot from - there are the natural elevated platforms to stand on so you can be over anyone right on the route. Either that or there just isn't anyone around.
I'll second what Roger said... go to the second showing. Even over Easter week, there was no one there for the second parade. I pretty much had the entire front of Main Street Station to myself.
Great shots, Roger and mSummers. I especially like the overhead angle on the SpectroMickey shot, mSummers! Where did you shoot that, Tony's? Here's another: Clicking the picture takes you to its Flickr page!
thanks everyone! Figment, I took those last three from the second floor of Main Street Station while waiting for the fireworks.
Terrific pictures! I have a hard time getting clear shots at night. Any tips (especially for those of us with cheap equipment?)
Well, that is going to depend on the meaning of the word "cheap". If you've got a dSLR, two of the major brands (and the #3 brand has them used) have a very inexpensive 50/1.8 lens. That's a great place to start. I did, until it reached it's demise on the streets of NYC, shortly after visiting B&H's ...megastore. (You know the overhead track at StarTours, they use the same system) With a P&S, you'd either need to bump up the ISO or make sure it has a fast lens (which is probably at the most wide-angle setting). A monopod or tripod can help, but only a little compared to large apertures or high ISO.
I second Roger. A 50mm 1.4 lens will work wonders for SpectroMagic. The parade is bright enough that even low ISO shots look good without too much blurring. If you're using a P&S, try burst mode for firework shots. A tripod will help to, even a small one can be put on top of a trash can for some good night shots. I like to use the self-timer function if I don't use a shutter release cable. I set the timer for two seconds, which helps avoid the shake you'd get from pressing the shutter.
a 50mm 1.4 would definitely help with SpectroMagic, but its possible to shoot it with a much slower lens. Most of my shots were taken at 1/50s, f2.8 at 320 ISO.
True, but a higher ISO would allow for more shadow detail (or a faster aperture). I did use a 2.8 lens as well on mine.
