Epcot Artists and Artisans

My favorite Walt Disney World park is Epcot with World Showcase ranking above Future World. I look for something new to experience with each visit. One overall aspect of World Showcase that can easily be missed are the artisans and artists. You are welcome to photograph these fine folks as they work but take into consideration that you don’t want to distract them. This is after all, their livelihood.

Here are some simple tips for getting great photos.

1. Some people work at their craft indoors to avoid outdoor elements like wind. Ask if he/she minds if you use a flash to take a picture. In this case, the woman told me not to use a flash. Thankfully there was a good amount of window light in Germany.

Canon PowerShot SX100 IS f4.3, 1/80, ISO 200, Macro

2. Pencil and charcoal sketch artists in France sit outdoors under umbrellas to help shade their work space. It is easy to photograph them from a short distance of 4 to 8 feet away and use fill flash to compensate for shadows. Cameras record shady areas with blue tint. A flash will eliminate the hue.

Canon PowerShot SX100 IS f4, 1/500, ISO 400, Program

3. While many of the people you’ll encounter work at a slow to moderate pace, Myuki in Japan is super fast. You’ll want to make sure your camera settings can keep up with her as she creates colorful animals out of soft rice candy before it hardens. Set your camera to Action or Shutterspeed Priority at 1/125 or quicker and keep your finger on the shutter release button so the camera constantly refocuses.

Canon PowerShot SX30 IS, f4.5, 1/400, ISO 400, flash, Shutterspeed Priority

4. Try photographing from a different angle. Now, I don’t mean you should climb walls and dangle from a wire but if the opportunity presents itself and you ask nicely, you might just get a super cool shot. In this case, I was part of the medium for this henna tatooo artist in Morocco.

Canon PowerShot SX30 IS, f4, 1/60, ISO 400, flash, Program

More creative minds can be found in these pavilions:

Mexico – Hand-carved wooden animals & fantasy creatures. Watch as they are painted in fine detail.

China – You might luck out and see someone purchase (or buy it yourself) an item that is personalized.

African Outpost – Watch as a gentleman hand carves wildlife from wood.

Did I miss something? Write in and share with your fellow Disney addicts.

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