Calling all Night Parade Experts! I need your help! [Archive] - Tagrel.com

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Scottwdw

10-21-2010, 06:55 AM

I'll be photographing night parades at the Magic Kingdom next week. I need your best tips as I have not been too successful in the past. Thanks!

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1318/5101457019_7191e9da1d_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/sthomasphotos/5101457019/)
How do You Photograph a Disney Night Parade? (http://www.flickr.com/photos/sthomasphotos/5101457019/) by Scottwdw (http://www.flickr.com/people/sthomasphotos/), on Flickr

Timon

10-22-2010, 11:53 AM

Geeze Scott, I rely on your expertise. I wish I could give you tips.

Scottwdw

10-22-2010, 11:58 AM

Thanks, Timon! I've been bugging everyone about this and got some great tips at TMIP and on flickr. Click on my parade photo to read some of them. Good stuff!

However, it seems these parades don't have a tried and true technique or techniques. I am planning my game plan which will try several things and will blog about it when I get back. I sure hope it goes better than my attempts to recreate some great flickr photos the last time. :rolleyes:

WDWNJ

10-22-2010, 03:05 PM

Jellyrolls

10-22-2010, 04:07 PM

God doesn't allow Canadiens fans to get good shots of night time parades. I'm just saying.

Scottwdw

10-22-2010, 06:04 PM

God doesn't allow Canadiens fans to get good shots of night time parades. I'm just saying.

Hey, no whining from the Bruins corner. :D

Photographer

10-23-2010, 09:05 AM

Patience, grasshopper.

WillCAD

10-23-2010, 10:13 AM

No way I would ever call myself an expert. Like Mark said, I look to you guys for advice.

Not sure if you saw my shots of MSEP in my trip report but I shot those in Shutter Priority 1/125 with ISO at 3200 and let the camera set the aperature. I was using my kit 18 - 200 lens which only goes to 3.5 - 5.6.

I'm fairly happy with the results but they were tweaked with quite a bit of post processing.

I have not dabbled in RAW yet but the suggestion of rear sync flash is interesting.

Have fun. Can't wait to see your results.

John, you use 1/125 as your shutter speed? When I use that technique for fireworks, I generally go to 1/15. I haven't tried it with my 50D and 18-200 lens yet, but I'm sure I'll get way better results than I did with my old camera and lens due to the better low-light performance, higher ISO, image stabilization in the lens, and overall better optics.

I've used the technique for parades in the past and got about the same results as I do for fireworks. With my old camera, I got about one usable shot out of every 10.

WDWNJ

10-23-2010, 02:33 PM

John, you use 1/125 as your shutter speed? When I use that technique for fireworks, I generally go to 1/15. I haven't tried it with my 50D and 18-200 lens yet, but I'm sure I'll get way better results than I did with my old camera and lens due to the better low-light performance, higher ISO, image stabilization in the lens, and overall better optics.

I've used the technique for parades in the past and got about the same results as I do for fireworks. With my old camera, I got about one usable shot out of every 10.

Yeah - I did alot of research, checking exif data in Flicker, looking at other night parade pics. And 1/125 seemed to be the average. Made sense to me for hand held shots trying to stop the action with no blur.

Fireworks is a whole other ballgame where using a tripod allows slower speeds and lower ISO. I'm disappointed that I didn't get a chance to play with the tripod this past trip.

Photographer

10-24-2010, 09:49 AM

Bring your tripod next time and we can use them in a duel!

WDWNJ

10-24-2010, 09:50 AM

Bring your tripod next time and we can use them in a duel!

:lol: I had my tripod with me this year, but it never left the room.

Scottwdw

10-24-2010, 09:54 AM

Bring your tripod next time and we can use them in a duel!

You better have your tripod next week!

DebºoºS

10-24-2010, 01:14 PM

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1318/5101457019_7191e9da1d_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/sthomasphotos/5101457019/)
How do You Photograph a Disney Night Parade? (http://www.flickr.com/photos/sthomasphotos/5101457019/) by Scottwdw (http://www.flickr.com/people/sthomasphotos/), on Flickr

That is such a beautiful picture! You don't need my tips that's for sure. But, since you asked here's my .02 :)

I try to shoot RAW, M, 1600 and as fast as I can handheld given my lens and location. I like 1600 but anything higher for me is just too muddy & grainy without post processing work. My fave lens is the Sigma 30. I've tried the 18-200VR but it just wasn't fast enough and the Nikon 50 1.2 was fast but too tight.

Scottwdw

10-24-2010, 02:59 PM

That is such a beautiful picture! You don't need my tips that's for sure. But, since you asked here's my .02 :)

I try to shoot RAW, M, 1600 and as fast as I can handheld given my lens and location. I like 1600 but anything higher for me is just too muddy & grainy without post processing work. My fave lens is the Sigma 30. I've tried the 18-200VR but it just wasn't fast enough and the Nikon 50 1.2 was fast but too tight.

I'll be shooting with a full frame so the 50mm f/1.8 should work fine. Equivalent to your 30mm on a cropped body. Also, I'll be able to go up to 6400 ISO if I get the exposure right. I sure hope it works!

DebºoºS

10-24-2010, 07:26 PM

I'll be shooting with a full frame so the 50mm f/1.8 should work fine. Equivalent to your 30mm on a cropped body. Also, I'll be able to go up to 6400 ISO if I get the exposure right. I sure hope it works!

Awesome, that'll do it very nicely. You can't miss with that combo.

Yes, the 30mm is equiv to the old nifty fifty.The 50mm AI-s f 1.2 worked really well on my Nikon SLRs but is equiv to a 75mm on the D200 with a crop factor of 1.5. I like the 50mm 1.8AF D as a portrait lens. When I'm at WDW I just keep the 18-200VR on during the day and swap it out at night. It sure would be nice to have a full frame D700...Santa are you listening?

I'm really looking forward to your pics. They're always amazing.