On picture taking...

I know there are a lot of folks on these boards that have taken breath-taking photos of the rides at the park and what I would really like to know is where are some of the best vantage points you have found. There are so many typical ones but what I'm looking for really is a shot that is "out of norm". I know Dan and Jeff are pretty big shutterbugs so if you all and anybody else who has great photos would care to divulge their secret spot I'd be greatful.

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This ain't no book you you can close, when the big light hits your eyes. Cropduster-Riot Act-Pearl Jam

I've never actually taken pictures at the park, but I always thought you could get a good picture of MF if you either went on perimeter road or even better if you rode the train and got a picture looking up at MF's train coming nearly straight down the first hill. I always like to watch MF come down and zoom by while riding the train back to frontier town.

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CP 2K3: 8

I noticed one good spot to get one of the lift and/or first overbank on Millennium Force is over by the petting farm zoo, just go all the way back by the back of the barn.

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2003 Statistics
Top Thrill Dragster: 4
Millennium Force: 14
Trips to the point: 10

I got some good photos on the giant wheel, you see the Raptor loop perfect, you're above a lot of things, and WT is right next to you.

The best pictures of magnum can be taken in the Soak City parking lot and on the beach trail back to the sandcastle suites

I can vouch for fat chris - the petting farm zoo area offers some unique angles. Just work your way back as close to MF as you're allowed.

http://www.coasterimage.com/cp/cp010.htm

Wow! Those are amazing pictures there Lord Gonchar! I liked the little captions for each picture, too.

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120 mph in 4 seconds, 420 feet high, 20 seconds of pure thrill and terror--OH YEAH!

The little picnic area past the marina by MF is a pretty nice place. You can get some good shots of MF, Mantis, Power Tower, and Dragster all from there.

Camp Snoopy is also a good place for Millennium Force. That's where I took this one and this one.

Another tip - overall, Cedar Point is very much a "morning" park for photography ... you'll get the best light before noon. Granted, this is a general rule for a lot of outdoor photography.

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Walt Schmidt - Virtual Midway
"Da da ba ma. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!" - Cameron Schmidt

Walt is right - 100%. Sadly it's taken me two "photo taking" trips to CP to figure this out. Once the sun moves across that penninsula, the good pics get fewer and farther between. It doesn't help that so many of their coasters as so big, I always end up with less than stellar results when looking high at CP. I think the morning advice is very good advice.

The space spiral can be another good place for pics if you have a large zoom lens.

Thanks, CPteen - glad you liked them.

Since were talking Cedar Point and photos. I thought I'd take a minute to let you all know to look out for one of my digital "composite" images in use at the Point. Watch the Raptor montiors for someone flipping off the camera or something. When they replace the "offensive" image with a default - you'll be seeing my work.

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www.coasterimage.com

Taking pictures from the station or other ride's stations is often a good idea. For example, from Cedar Creek Mine Ride's station, you can take pictures of the entire layout. Look at my album below to see what I mean.

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"I can see Canadaaaaaaaaahhhh!" - Me atop of Magnum.
HTTP://community.webshots.com/user/glbubba

After going to the park for so many seasons I know where to go, and what kind of angles to get. I wish I could post everything i have. The CP pics I have now on my site are garbage, I want to play with my D100 more in the park before I post anything else.

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'03 Magnum Crew * magnum count: 2318 * '03 count: 83 * www.dannyjphoto.com

Garbage Dan? If those are garbage then My God, what will the new ones be like? Those pictures are outstanding! I have told you many times and I still feel that you are the best photographer of coasters.

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Eric Morrison (Coast)
Drag Races: 6
Point Hype
http://www.pointhype.com