Focus on Disney World - May Calendar

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.

This photo of Buzz Lightyear was taken during the Stars and Motor Cars Parade at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. That parade has now been replaced with Block Party Bash which debuted on March 14, 2008. Check out Mike Scopa’s Parade Moving 101 blog for a great article on what it takes to move a parade more than 2,000 miles.

Back to old Buzz though… the trick to getting a photo like this during any of the parades is to think about the lighting. Start by scoping out your location in advance. Make sure you aren’t looking into the sun. If the sun is directly behind your subject you will have a hard time seeing them because of the backlighting. They will show up as a silhouette or, in the very least, be dark and hard to see.

The best spot will have the sun a little to the side of you, on the same side that the parade is coming from. This way, the cast members won’t be looking into the sun when they look at you, which means you’ll get more face shots.

Second, make sure your subject won’t fall under the shadow of a large building or tree. Even dappled shade isn’t that great. It will cast shadows on your subject that could make the difference between a really great photo and just an ok shot. Now unfortunately, this means that you will probably also have to stay out of the shade – but as my mother always said, “we have to suffer for beauty”! I don’t think she was talking about photography, but it fits.

Finally, and I know this seems silly but, use your flash. Even on a bright, sunny day a flash will help to fill in any stray shadows that may occur – like the shadow from a big costumed hand waving at the crowd.

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.