Bilby_AUS

Well I think you are almost there! Try shooting in RAW format next time and tweaking the colouring, contrast etc, It all adds extra richness, creativity and character to the Image. And try cropping/zooming right in on the riders faces to make it even more of a focus! I don't know many pro photographers that don't do post processing. Most DSLR cameras will come with processing software and Nikon have a good one that is a free download from their website.

It is definitely a thing to have these days. In Australia, you see so many people with their entry level DSLR's (nothing wrong with owning an entry level DSLR by the way) walking around just doing happy snaps and then getting frustrated with having to carry them around, and getting even more frustrated when they look at the photos and see that they could have gotten better shots on a point and shoot... It definitely takes a strong commitment to image making get to a point where you can use a DSLR to it's full potential easily, and most people are not prepared for that... I was definitely one of those people in the beginning. I had my D60 walking around and at most, using aperture priority mode would take shots and then load them on my computer and that was it. But what changed the whole thing for me was when I started shooting in RAW, got a better understanding of histograms, and was bracketing everything... On top of the fundamentals, when I got my head around that, there was no looking back! I am heading to the US this Autumn and will be hitting several parks and cannot wait to get some great shots with my new Nikon D7100 and new Nikkor f2.8 and f1.8 glass. I wont be without my point and shoot though (still in RAW format for PP) as I wont have my DSLR with me for the full day... perfect for candids and happy snaps, because lets face it, no matter how many beautifully executed images we get of Coasters and parks, people back home will always want to see some nice smiley shots of you and the other people you are with...

My real name is Bill and when I went to the states to work at a summer camp, the kids just started calling me Bilby. They thought it was cool to call an aussie named Bill after an Australian native desert dwelling marsupial with a similar name... Anyway it has stuck and most of my friends will call me bilby now

Hi Everyone! My name is Bill and I am from Australia. Home park was Australia's Wonderland (modelled of Paramount parks beast themed woodie, Hanna-Barbera themes kids area and all). Unfortunately It has closed now By trade I am an Architect/Interior designer, who also does competitive latin american dancing on the side. I'm into hiking, rowing... Architecture, Design, photography... dancing I'm going back to university next year to do a research masters, which I am really looking forward to, but not before I do a little more travel this year including the US this sep-oct peace!

Oh boy!! I hope El Toro is up again when I am there in October

OHHHH!! That would be awesome!!!

I am really glad to see so many gay coaster enthusiasts like me!!! BTW.. I will be coming over to the US from Australia and will be at CP on the 5th & 6th Oct (with my sis), SFGAdv on the 12th Oct (alone) and SFMM on Columbus day (alone).... If anyone wants to join me, some company at SFMM, SFGAdv or CP would awesome!!!

Columbus Day is always extremely dead! It's a really great day to go! Just watch out for all the one train operations. SWEEEEEET!! I may not need to fork out for a flash pass now!

Hi everyone... again.. SFMM on Columbus day? good, bad, busy, dead? I have had to tweak my itinerary and will be hitting the park on the 14th oct instead of the last week of September

Thanks for all the advice guys! So many options!

G'day Smallish! Thanks for the detailed plan! You really have hit a soft spot there for me because I love a good plan, and that is a great one! But I think at this stage I wont have my own car which means going off site for lunch probably isn't really much of an option... that said, is the SFMM food really that bad? In Australia part of the experience of going to a park is the bad, unhealthy yet shamefully delicious amusement park food, so I'm kinda expecting a $15-20 dollar one way ticket to a coronary washed down with a gallon of coke . I will definitely be walking into the park with a loose plan of attack, but given that this will be probably the only opportunity I will have to come here for another 4-5 years I certainly don't want to be rushing between things and waiting excessive amounts of time in line, but rather give myself the time to take everything in, take some photos (I am a bit of an enthusiast) and ride the rides as much as I like. Yes I want to ride all of them and there will be energy in my approach, but I don't want to be stressing about it and if a flash pass even at $80-100 bucks will make things more enjoyable I think it will be worth it. Totally cant wait though! Hopefully there wont be too many closures... the Saturday that I can go will be the last weekend of September. Will that be the last weekend before the Halloween stuff? will it mean that some rides are more likely to be closed in prep for it? I totally agree, definitely don't want to be stressing out about this one I was going to pre-order the flash pass but I will wait until I am there just in case the weather is bad and it is a ghost town. I'll be getting a season pass as I will be going to SFGAdv too, I cant believe how cheap they are!

Hi there Downunder! Cheers for the advice! I am definitely considering going to Knotts on the friday I arrive. I have seen a few pics and videos of past years and it looks like a riot! I hear your point with the local hotel, however if my focus whilst being in LA was solely on going to SFMM, it would be a no brainer, but as an architect I want to be going to some notable LA buildings too and other areas to take photos, and other touristy stuff. Perhaps all I need to do is spend a night before and after my visit to SFMM at a local hotel and shuttle back into town to stay somewhere more convenient... It may be likely that I will be getting a hire car but only if it doesn't blow out the budget! Good call!

Definitely wait until you arrive. The park is not likely to sell out of Flash Passes, especially in the off-season. Besides, you might not even need one. I've visited on off-season Saturdays and gotten on every coaster without a problem (though re-rides were limited, but that could be because I left the park and had lunch at a sit-down restaurant). If you do get one, I'd recommend sticking with Gold unless you plan to use the YOLOcoaster upcharge as Platinum is very expensive for what it offers. Thanks for the advice rcdude!

If you stay off property, just ask the hotel that you'll need late check-in, and they'll be happy to hold a room for you. I would recommend that you stay in the same place on both nights, because it's a pain in the butt to switch hotels while at an amusement park. It's just more hassle than what it's worth. Cedar Point Halloweekend Saturdays are some of the busiest days of the year. You must buy Fast Lane Plus for these days, especially if you are traveling half way across the world. Sundays are much less crowded, but still could be busy. It depends how the parking lot looks when you arrive. If you can arrive on Friday, the crowds are lighter (possibly due to High School Football?) and the haunted houses open only 2 hours after the park opens. Raptor, thanks for the advice much appreciated! I am really looking forward to this trip!!

Hi everyone!! I will be coming to the USA (from Australia) from last weekend of september till the 17th October. I will be in LA for 2 days and I am wanting to spend a day at SFMM on the saturday 28th. (open 1030-1800) I will be at the park the whole time and I will probably get flash pass (gold or Platinum, not sure). Would it be worth getting it before I arrive (no risk of them having ran out)? or will it be OK to wait to get it when I arrive to suss out crowds, weather, ride closures and so on?