Disney's Boardwalk Resort / June 26, 2016 by Matt Pham

Star Wars Weekends 2015 / June 13, 2015 by Matt Pham

Some of my favorite photos from this year's Star Wars Weekends!

Photographing Disney: Animal Kingdom / June 27, 2014 by Matt Pham

The reason I started with Animal Kingdom is because it requires the most patience. Having to deal with animals, you have to go on their terms. They aren't on a certain schedule to make an appearance at a set location on a set time. Like they say on the Kilimanjaro Safari, "no safari is ever the same". So getting an ideal image will take some time and patience, but the results will be worth it. With that being said, let's get packed for this safari and head on an adventure!

You'll hear it time and time again, hit the Kilimanjaro Safari early especially in the warmer months. Plus the animals will be getting their breakfast and in prime locations. The "colder" months, I find the animals active regardless of the time of day. With the animals being off in the distance, you'll need a lens with some reach like the 55-200mm,70-300mm, and 70-200mm. Prices for these lenses vary, so find one in your budget. If buying a lens isn't an option at the time, look places that offer lens rental.

Shutter speed is important, the ride is bumpy and they tend to move quickly. You'll want to freeze the action with a quick shutter speed like 1/200th of a second or faster. Any slower and you risk getting some motion blur.

The walking trails are a bit easier since you can take your time. The settings shouldn't change much here except for ISO. Once you enter the area with the birds, the trees block out light. So you may have to crank up the ISO level to get your image. There are so many things to see on both trails. Take your time and take it all in, too many people rush and miss out on the details.

To recap everything, you'll need a long focal length and fast shutter speeds. A tripod isn't needed here unless you plan on taking some long exposures. Fothe shows, I recommend having the camera on Auto ISO and having a lens with a constant aperture. It gets too dark and flash is prohibited, so it might not be worthwhile to photograph.

Bonus: If you want to experience the animals at a slower pace. I highly recommend signing up for the Wild Africa Trek. It's something worth the money and the food is amazing. It is something I look forward to doing again in the future. It was worth every penny!

Photographing Disney: The Essentials / June 6, 2014 by Matt Pham

Going to Disney World and don't know what to bring? I'm going to break down the items I feel is needed to photograph Disney World. It's going to be pretty general things, I'll do another post breaking down what to bring to each of the parks.

Camera Bag: You'll want to have a nice sturdy bag to carry your things. I'm a fan of Lowepro bags, most of their bags come with a built in rain cover. Remember it's Florida, it's going to rain. You'll want to protect your gear from the elements.
Lenses: This is where things can get tricky since there are different type of lenses out there. For now, I just want to focus on the focal length of lenses. A lens like the 18-200mm will give you the versatility needed to cover your trip. Renting is also an option since not everyone can afford to spend that much on a lens.
Memory Cards and Batteries: You'll want to have spares of both on hand. After a day at the park, you'll want to back up your photos. Don't risk putting your eggs all into one basket.
Tripod: If you plan on getting photos of the fireworks or sunrise/sets, a tripod is needed. Something sturdy and compact would be ideal. It can be a hassle to bring but can be worth it.
Other Accessories: A remote to trigger you camera, filters for your lenses and a portable battery phone charger.The phone charger is worth every penny, especially if you are trying to maximize your time in the parks.
Optional: Waterproof point and shoot or gopro, if you plan on heading to any of the water parks. That way you can still take pictures and not worry about getting it soaked.

That is my short check list of things to bring along. The posts of the parks will be more in depth with photos and tips.

May the 4th be with you! / May 4, 2014 by Matt Pham

It won't be much longer until it's Star Wars Weekends over at Hollywood Studios! Can't wait to make a visit. As a fan of the series, it is something worth going to see.