Picture This!

Meet the Memory Cards

2008-08-20T10:00:11Z

In an ever changing world of technology, even memory cards are affected. Some of them stop being birthed all together like the SmartMedia card, while others improve in capacity such as the SDHC. I will now rundown the list of current memory cards and which camera brands they work with.

Olympus and Fufifilm cameras record images to the xD card. While Olympus only accepts these cards, Fujifilm now works with SD cards, too. The cards shown here are Type M and Type M+, the difference is that M+ can download images 1 and 1/2 times faster than it's predecessor. Both memory cards come in 1GB and 2GB*.

Sony cameras use Memory Sticks. The difference between these two Memory Stick Pro Duo cards is that the one on the right, reads High Speed. That means it transfers images faster, in this case, up to 80MB**/second. Please be aware that Sony changes their media cards frequently so be sure to check and see if your camera is compatible with their current Memory Sticks.

These are Compact Flash cards and nowadays you only see them being used in digital SLRs . Several years ago they were used by Canon in their point and shoot cameras. The card on the left has 256MB which held a lot of photos on a 4 megapixel camera. Compact Flash cards are now sold in 1GB, 2GB, 4GB, and 8GB capacities.

SD (Secure Digital) cards are the most commonly used memory cards, right now. With the exceptions stated above, these little guys go into every digital point and shoot and a good number of DSLRs. SDHC cards are upgraded versions of SD cards. What's the HC stand for? High Capacity. What does it mean for you? Less time downloading your images to the computer. Be aware that SDHC cards will only work in SDHC compatible cameras.

If you are unsure of what memory card your camera accepts, check your manual or the box.

*GB=Gigabyte, **MB=Megabyte

Disney Pic of the Week - Main Street

2008-08-19T10:00:01Z

Hiya kids! This week Barrie, Scott, and I will share some of our favorite photos of Main Street with you. Just the thought of walking down Main Street is sure to put a smile on your face. Right now I can smell the English toffee coming from the Candy Kitchen in Disneyland. I see the lamp posts glowing and I can hear the sound of metal horseshoes clanking on the pavement.

And while all of these images are certainly wonderful photographs, I'm going to take a slightly different approach this week.

I remember quite clearly when in the early 2000's Disneyland wasn't as pristine as it should have been. Then a new sheriff came to town in late 2003 by the name of Matt Ouimet. He turned things around rather quickly, making the park shine again by having the Enchanted Tiki Room refurbished to a beautiful paradise and had all of the burnt out bulbs replaced, and Snow White's Grotto cleaned up. He did a fine job of leading the way and getting the park ready for it's 50th anniversary.

With this one photo I'd like to applaud all of the men and women who made Disneyland a sparkling, gorgeous, and glorious part of America once again. You should all be proud. Thank You!

Online Photo Fun

2008-08-15T10:00:04Z

The Internet is an amazing tool for us photographers. We can share our photos with friends and family almost instantly even when we are miles away from home and imagine wonderful things we can do with them. As Walt Disney said, "If you can Dream it, you can Do it."

My dream was to see my photographs as works of art in a museum. With the help of a few websites, I got to see what they'd look like. The first is from Dumpr where I used a photograph I took of Space Mountain and hung it on a virtual museum wall with virtural art admirers included. I think they like it, don't you?

Space Moutain Portrait hanging in a Virtual Museum.

Now for some pizzazz, over at PhotoFunia you can choose from over 50 different effects. In keeping with my virtural museum theme, I selected a tri-colored effect on Norway's Stave Church. The little boy was kind enough to pose for me.

Modern Art version of the Stave Church in the Norway pavilion.

Well, you can't have your photographs called modern art unless you have a modern artist give you his version. Such is the case at Big Huge Labs who Warholizer photos in the style of Andy Warhol. What do you think of Cinderella's Castle? A nice 6 foot square print would look just grand in my living room, don't you think?

Warholizer version of Cinderella's Castle.

There are lots of websites like these on the Internet. Do you have any favorites?

Recreation - Hammock Time

2008-08-14T10:00:17Z

When I saw the list of themes that Barrie, Scott, and I were going to cover in these, our Disney Pic of the Week blogs, I panicked a bit. You see, I come from a family of non-athletes and so sports and major physical activities aren't something I look for, especially at Walt Disney World. Sure I can swing a golf club so long as the ball is only supposed to roll about 25-30 feet away from me but even that can be cause for mass hysteria. Just ask anyone who's mini-golfed with me.

I joked with Barrie that I had THE perfect photo for this series but I second guessed myself and therefore looked up the definition of "recreation". Thankfully, I was right. With the approval from www.dictionarycom, I give you my entry.

Taken with the Canon PowerShot S5 IS at Caribbean Beach.

recreation–noun
1. refreshment by means of some pastime, agreeable exercise, or the like.
2. a pastime, diversion, exercise, or other resource affording relaxation and enjoyment.

Focus on Disney World Blog

2008-08-13T15:23:49Z

Hi Everyone,

Just wanted to let you know I am still out of town and will not be able to post any more blogs until I return. Look for me to resume posting in about 10-14 days.

Til then, Scott and Lisa will keep you going with the Picture This! Photo Blogs!

Thanks for understanding. Enjoy the rest of your summer,

Barrie

Hollywood Studios' Streetmosphere

2008-08-13T10:00:53Z

One of the things I enjoy most about Disney's Hollywood Studios are the Streetmosphere characters even though I don't always get a chance to stop and watch them. When I do, they always make me smile and/or laugh.

Part of their time on-stage is scripted while the rest is improvised. You never know what they might say or do and that lends itself to the appeal of these roaming "attractions".

During my visit last May, I spotted something rather unusual to my left. Ah huh! This cop was undercover and trying to blend into his surroundings. I tried to follow him as he went from place to place attempting to blend in all the while the spurs on his shoes clicked up and down Hollywood Blvd.

During MouseFest 2007, I came across a director filming a movie scene featuring a young starlett. I was running to a meet so I only got a few quick shots. This is my favorite one.

To get the best pictures possible, be prepared. Have your camera turned on and in-hand ready to shoot. Try using the action mode as these actors don't sit still. I know, I lost the cop!

Disney Pic of the Week: Fishing on Seven Seas Lagoon

2008-08-12T10:00:35Z

Believe it or not, there's a whole lot you can do at Walt Disney World besides spending time in one of the themeparks. Besides swimming at your resort, there are all sorts of recreational activities like golf, minature golf, surfing, tennis, horseback riding, parasailing, waterskiing, driving a race car and fishing. What did you say? Fishing? There are some hardy people who get up early (just like us photographers will for the AllEars.net Picture This! PhotoWalk at Mousefest) so they can go after the big ones.

To lead off this week's Disney Pic of the Week theme on Recreation, I choose this photograph of some fishermen who are not only enjoying some early morning fishing but where else in the world could they see a monorail quietly going by while they are doing it?

Barrie and Lisa will be along with their Recreational photos on Thursday and Saturday.

Fishing on Bay Lake.
Nikon D70/18-200VR, 1/800s, f/7.1, 200 ISO, -0.3 EV, 200mm Focal Length

October Disney Calendar

2008-08-11T10:00:56Z

If you read my December 25, 2007 blog, you know that my holiday gift to you is that each month I will post a photo calendar page that you can print out and use at home or work during 2008.

I love going to Walt Disney World in autumn. The weather is perfect, the crowds are low, the decorations are fabulous - and who doesn't love Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party or the Food and Wine Festival?! This photo was taken by the train station in the Magic Kingdom. The Mayor was one of several jack-o-lantern people on display.

You will need to have Adobe Reader on your computer to download the calendar(s). Just click on the photo to download the calendar you want.

This one prints out at 8.5" x 11". It's handy if you need a calendar that you can write on.

This one prints out at 4.75" x 4.75", the perfect size for a CD Jewel Case frame.

Click here to see all of the calendars from past months.

Looking for Where in the World?

2008-08-10T10:00:06Z

Hi everyone! In case you missed my note last week, I am on vacation and won't be posting a Where in the World challenge this week. That means you you still have time to enter last week's challenge!

See you next Sunday!

Characters: Pluto, the Supermodel!

2008-08-09T10:00:09Z

I'll conclude this week's theme, characters, with some extremely humorous images of Pluto taken at Disney's California Adventure. During my latest visit "home," I waited in line to meet Pluto and when he realized I just wanted photos of him, he told me in gesture, to wait a moment while he thought. In less than a minute he began posing and modeling for me. It was the absolute highlight of my day.

Please put your paws (or hands) together for Pluto, the Supermodel!

Canon 30D and Canon EF-S 17-84mm USM IS

Maharajah Jungle Trek Photo Tips

2008-08-08T10:00:33Z

Komodo Dragon on the Maharajah Jungle Trek

The Maharajah Jungle Trek is a walking trail featuring the beautiful and powerful Asian Tigers. Unlike the Kilimanjaro Safari (see link below), you can take your time viewing the animals. At least until those with you bug you to move on. You will need a camera that can take good photos at ISO speeds ranging from 100 or 200 to 800 or 1600 as the light varies greatly along the trail. To be able to fill the frame, a lens of 200mm in length is a must. With the crop factor on dSLR cameras this often gets you a 35mm equivalent of 300mm. A Point & Shoot camera with a zoom factor 10x or more will give you excellent range to get viewfinder filling shots.

When shooting at these magnification, your camera will be using large apertures which means the depth of field or zone of focus will be small. You need to be careful what you are focusing on. Like people, the eyes must be in sharp focus. Viewers will overlook softness in other features of the animal as long as the eyes are in focus.

Luck has a lot to do when photographing an animal doing something when you are there. The photo of the Komodo Dragon above was taken on my seventh trip to Animal Kingdom. All the other times, he would be lying there with his body flopped on the ground. In this case, a bird had landed in his enclosure and he was hunting it. You can increase your chances of seeing activity by walking the trail early or late in the day. As mentioned on the AllEars.net page on the Maharajah Jungle Trek, the tigers get very active around 4pm in the afternoon.

Meals with Character

2008-08-07T10:00:08Z

Snuggling up with Eeyore in the Magic Kingdom's Crystal Palace restaurant.
Nikon Coolpix 995, 1/30s, f/2.8, 100 ISO, 0 EV

The best and easiest way to meet and greet characters at Walt Disney World is to attend a Character Meal. There the characters come to you as you sit at your table. The characters will interact with each person at the table and you can get very memorable photos of you and your family. Click the link for a complete list of character meals, locations and which characters are featured. In the photo I choose for this week's Disney Pic of the Week theme on Characters, I wanted to show character meals are not just for little ones as my two teenage daughters snuggled up to Eeyore in the Magic Kingdom's Crystal Palace restaurant a few years ago.

Gran Fiesta Tour - Epcot

2008-08-06T10:00:53Z

Amigos, I'm sure that some of you have sailed along el río with The Three Caballeros en México. Personally, me encanta (I'm enchanted) with the attraction even if most of my time is spent searching out that wandering fowl, Donald Duck or Pato Donald. At least I'm not the only one. Panchito and José Carioca are looking for him, también (also).

Photographing these pájaros (birds) is a lot of fun if you are prepared. Are you prepared?

A digital camera with a high ISO setting of 800 or higher and the ability to allow you to control your shutter speed and f-stops is necessary. Don't bother trying to use a flash to photograph the animation because you'll wind up with wasted shots.

Here are a few examples from two separate cameras and excursions. This first set was taken with the Canon PowerShot S5 IS.

ISO 400, f4, 1/80
This image is not only noisy (all that grain) but it's also underexposed due to a ISO of 400, shot at f4 at 1/80. The bad exposure lends itself to the noise.

Here I had set the ISO to 800 and shot at f4, 1/125. The image has noise from the higher ISO but considering the lack of lighting and the fact that I'm photographing a movie, I'm content with the results.

Since I am moving and the cartoon is moving, a faster shutter speed at the widest aperature is most effective.

These next images were taken with the Canon 30D and the Canon 28-135mm USM IS lens.

ISO 500, f4, 1/125

ISO 500, f4.5 1/20

Yes, I just said that shooting with a faster shutterspeed is ideal to capture movement however for this shot, since the boat had slowed down and maybe even stopped, (I forget-it's been a while), that I went for a slower rate of 1/20 and it worked out alright. There's some motion visible but I'm rather pleased with my shot.

Looking for the release of "The Three Caballeros" on DVD? Find it here, packaged with "Saludos Amigos."

Random acts of info: José Carioca is a Brazilian parrot who was created initially for "Saludos Amigos" as Joe Carioca. On the original posters for "The Three Caballeros" his name is still Joe but somewhere in time, he became José. However in Brazil his name is Zé Carioca. Zé being the Brazilian Portugese version of Joe.

Disney Pics of the Week - Characters

2008-08-05T10:00:54Z

Who is more popular than a rock star, signs more autographs than a movie star and poses for more photos than a top model? Just about any Disney character, that’s who! This week in our Pic of the Week series, Lisa, Scott and I will be sharing a few of our Disney character photos with you.

Winnie the Pooh is one of my favorite characters. What a lovable ball of fur! Here he is on his float in the Disney Dreams Come True Parade at the Magic Kingdom.

Don’t forget to check back on Thursday and Saturday to see Lisa and Scott’s character photo picks.

Where in the World #49

2008-08-03T10:00:41Z

This was Challenge #48:

This is Warden Post No. 4, another example of how much detail Disney includes in its attractions. When you exit Kilimanjaro Safari at Disney’s Animal Kingdom you pass by this post. Only a few people got this one right. I bet a lot of people miss this because they're in a rush when they get off the Safari to get to the next attraction.

Paula Potts was the first to send in the correct answer this week! Congratulations to Paula and all the readers who got the answer right: Amy Miller, Zack Dameron, Anne Hainsworth, Melina Hillis, Regina Reed, Jessica Reed and Kim Riley. Each of you were entered in the July winners’ drawing.

It’s monthly drawing time again! This month’s winner is Andrea Mayo! Congratulations Andrea, you are the lucky recipient of a Passporter’s Walt Disney World guide and some really cool AllEars schwag!

For this week's challenge, everyone will have two weeks to get your guesses in. I won't be posting a new challenge until August 17 because I am on vacation. See you then!
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Challenge #49: Where in the world is this?

Do you know? Do you have a guess? Send in your answer, before the end of the day on Thursday, August 14, by clicking HERE!
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Everyone who sends in a correct answer to a Where in the World Challenge this month will be entered in a drawing at the end of the month for some special AllEars® goodies and a copy of PassPorter's Walt Disney World by Jennifer Marx, Dave Marx, Allison Cerel Marx!