Invertalon Posted May 11, 2014 Share Posted May 11, 2014 (edited) I am going to just add to this thread instead of making a new topic each time since I go so often... This original post is the original Photo TR from opening day 2014. Links will be posted directly below to each update: 5/20/2014 - Click! 6/2/2014 - Click! - First Luminosity performance! 6/6/2014 - Click! - Coastermania! 6/30/2014 - Click! - Small update with some long exposure stuff. 9/12/2014 - Click! - Opening night of HalloWeekends 2014! 9/17/2014 - Click! - HalloWeekends Part 2... Mantis, Hotel Breakers, Midway Decor! 6/12/2015 - Click! - Start of 2015 Season 11/2/2015 - Click! - Valravn Construction! 11/10/2015 - Click! - Closing Day 2015 --------- Opening Day TR: We arrived at CP at around 5pm to perfect weather, fairly light crowds (I thought) and another incredible season to look forward to. Spent a few hours taking photos before putting the gear away in the car around 8:30pm and heading in for some riding. Stopped by Gatekeeper first and waited just over 10mins for the front left seat. Running really well this year! Headed right over to Raptor afterward, walking right on. Still one of my favorite rides of all time. Headed to Gatekeeper (again) for another front seat ride on the right side, waiting about 15 mins this time around. At this point, it was about 4min until 10pm and we wanted to get to Dragster before closing. Did a bit of a speedwalk and arrived at the entrance to Dragster at about 4mins after. Got in and waited about 3 trains. Amazing ride! All in all, it was a picture perfect day. So happy coaster season is back! Here are some photos from the day.... 100+ photos can be seen at my Flickr page: Enjoy! 5D3_9456.jpg by invertalon, on Flickr 5D3_9458.jpg by invertalon, on Flickr 5D3_9462.jpg by invertalon, on Flickr 5D3_9467.jpg by invertalon, on Flickr 5D3_9495.jpg by invertalon, on Flickr 5D3_9510.jpg by invertalon, on Flickr 5D3_9524.jpg by invertalon, on Flickr 5D3_9526.jpg by invertalon, on Flickr 5D3_9481.jpg by invertalon, on Flickr 5D3_9549.jpg by invertalon, on Flickr 5D3_9568.jpg by invertalon, on Flickr 5D3_9572.jpg by invertalon, on Flickr 5D3_9579.jpg by invertalon, on Flickr 5D3_9586.jpg by invertalon, on Flickr 5D3_9589.jpg by invertalon, on Flickr 5D3_9598.jpg by invertalon, on Flickr 5D3_9601.jpg by invertalon, on Flickr 5D3_9617.jpg by invertalon, on Flickr 5D3_9619.jpg by invertalon, on Flickr 5D3_9621.jpg by invertalon, on Flickr 5D3_9627.jpg by invertalon, on Flickr 5D3_9641.jpg by invertalon, on Flickr 5D3_9648.jpg by invertalon, on Flickr 5D3_9649.jpg by invertalon, on Flickr 5D3_9651.jpg by invertalon, on Flickr 5D3_9665.jpg by invertalon, on Flickr 5D3_9666.jpg by invertalon, on Flickr 5D3_9670.jpg by invertalon, on Flickr 5D3_9672.jpg by invertalon, on Flickr 5D3_9682.jpg by invertalon, on Flickr 5D3_9688.jpg by invertalon, on Flickr 5D3_9693.jpg by invertalon, on Flickr 5D3_9715.jpg by invertalon, on Flickr 5D3_9724.jpg by invertalon, on Flickr 5D3_9733.jpg by invertalon, on Flickr 5D3_9738.jpg by invertalon, on Flickr 5D3_9740.jpg by invertalon, on Flickr 5D3_9702.jpg by invertalon, on Flickr 5D3_9746.jpg by invertalon, on Flickr 5D3_9760.jpg by invertalon, on Flickr 5D3_9774.jpg by invertalon, on Flickr 5D3_9777.jpg by invertalon, on Flickr 5D3_9785.jpg by invertalon, on Flickr 5D3_9799.jpg by invertalon, on Flickr 5D3_9812.jpg by invertalon, on Flickr 5D3_9816.jpg by invertalon, on Flickr 5D3_9823.jpg by invertalon, on Flickr 5D3_9829.jpg by invertalon, on Flickr 5D3_9831.jpg by invertalon, on Flickr 5D3_9837.jpg by invertalon, on Flickr 5D3_9852.jpg by invertalon, on Flickr 5D3_9855.jpg by invertalon, on Flickr 5D3_9861.jpg by invertalon, on Flickr 5D3_9882.jpg by invertalon, on Flickr 5D3_9886.jpg by invertalon, on Flickr 5D3_9900.jpg by invertalon, on Flickr 5D3_9906.jpg by invertalon, on Flickr 5D3_9912.jpg by invertalon, on Flickr 5D3_9921.jpg by invertalon, on Flickr 5D3_9923.jpg by invertalon, on Flickr 5D3_9938.jpg by invertalon, on Flickr 5D3_9941.jpg by invertalon, on Flickr 5D3_9946.jpg by invertalon, on Flickr 5D3_9948.jpg by invertalon, on Flickr 5D3_9964.jpg by invertalon, on Flickr 5D3_9965.jpg by invertalon, on Flickr 5D3_9969.jpg by invertalon, on Flickr 5D3_9975.jpg by invertalon, on Flickr 5D3_9983.jpg by invertalon, on Flickr 5D3_9985.jpg by invertalon, on Flickr 5D3_9990.jpg by invertalon, on Flickr 5D3_9998.jpg by invertalon, on Flickr 5D3_0005.jpg by invertalon, on Flickr 5D3_0012.jpg by invertalon, on Flickr 5D3_0020.jpg by invertalon, on Flickr 5D3_0044.jpg by invertalon, on Flickr Edited November 10, 2015 by Invertalon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KarlaKoaster Posted May 11, 2014 Share Posted May 11, 2014 Those photos are just incredible! Great work! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LogBur Posted May 11, 2014 Share Posted May 11, 2014 Holy hell, awesome photos! It sounds like you rode Gatekeeper last year - is it riding the same-ish or better? I enjoyed it overall last year but thought it kind of ran out of steam after the keyhole. Is the rattle still present on the outside seats? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Invertalon Posted May 11, 2014 Author Share Posted May 11, 2014 (edited) If you only rode Gatekeeper prior to about late June, it really changed since then. It went from just "OK" media day and the start of last year to being my top ride at the park afterward. I never thought it got too bad rattle wise last year, even at the end of the season. Only if you got a bad seat, but it was isolated. I ride in the outside seats most of the time. Last year, I would estimate I rode it a solid 30 times or more throughout the season. Yesterday it was very smooth with minimal rattle. It also has much better pacing than it did when it first opened. Once they got the wheel combos worked out it really helped the ride. Edited May 11, 2014 by Invertalon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diggerg56 Posted May 11, 2014 Share Posted May 11, 2014 Excellent photos! Can I ask what you're using for a camera? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_koppen Posted May 11, 2014 Share Posted May 11, 2014 Those are some great photos, and i mean really great! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rcjp Posted May 11, 2014 Share Posted May 11, 2014 Stunning pictures! Really really good! Nice job! It's funny how they use three different colours for the running, side friction and upstop wheels. This is just too funny! Also, notice how the running wheels aren't touching the track (as you would expect from an arrow) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JRice92 Posted May 12, 2014 Share Posted May 12, 2014 WOW these photos are great, that first one made Magnum look so beautiful! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbalvey Posted May 12, 2014 Share Posted May 12, 2014 (edited) Question - are you using some sort of "sharpen" filter? I notice things get a little grainy around the edges of people, coaster track, foliage, hair, hands, etc.... And I don't think I've noticed it in your photos before, but for some reason with this set it really sticks out and makes things look a little "un-natural." Sorry, don't mean to complain, but just more wondering if you've changed your processing methods or maybe I've never quite noticed it before. And if you are using a sharpen filter, I'd love to see a side by side with and without it. Edited May 12, 2014 by robbalvey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B&MIntaminGCI Posted May 12, 2014 Share Posted May 12, 2014 Question - are you using some sort of "sharpen" filter? I notice things get a little grainy around the edges of people, coaster track, foliage, hair, hands, etc.... And I don't think I've noticed it in your photos before, but for some reason with this set it really sticks out and makes things look a little "un-natural." Sorry, don't mean to complain, but just more wondering if you've changed your processing methods or maybe I've never quite noticed it before. And if you are using a sharpen filter, I'd love to see a side by side with and without it. Kind of looks like a high pass filter, it's what I use to sharpen stuff up sometimes. http://www.photoshopessentials.com/photo-editing/sharpen-high-pass/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Invertalon Posted May 12, 2014 Author Share Posted May 12, 2014 Nope, no filter. That image required quite a high shadow push in post, which brings out noise and artifacts. If you only see it on that image (or a few others like it), that is why! But my sharpening process has been the same for a long long time. It could also be because the lens I was using this day is also one of the highest resolving lenses Canon makes currently (300mm f/2.8L II IS), and my default sharpening process is now over-sharpening them. I may re-export them tomorrow with a lower export sharpening level and it should improve. It is once Flickr adds additional sharpening that artifacts do appear, so I will have to dial my end down a bit to balance it out. They look fine at full resolution on my end, it is once they are exported and resized, and flickr adds additional sharpening when uploaded (usually OK, but not in all cases). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tropical7 Posted May 12, 2014 Share Posted May 12, 2014 Excellent PTR! I loved the photos, I never noticed just how photogenic Cedar Point is! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leakeddd Posted May 12, 2014 Share Posted May 12, 2014 Raptor needs a paint job, but from a distance while seeing going up the hill of other rides it looks really nice oddly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbalvey Posted May 12, 2014 Share Posted May 12, 2014 ^^ Thanks for that. Was just curious. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
linearinduction Posted May 12, 2014 Share Posted May 12, 2014 Stunning pictures! Really really good! Nice job!It's actually pretty common place now days for Wheel Manufacturers to use different colors depending on the hardness/softness. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LogBur Posted May 12, 2014 Share Posted May 12, 2014 If you only rode Gatekeeper prior to about late June, it really changed since then. It went from just "OK" media day and the start of last year to being my top ride at the park afterward. I never thought it got too bad rattle wise last year, even at the end of the season. Only if you got a bad seat, but it was isolated. I ride in the outside seats most of the time. Last year, I would estimate I rode it a solid 30 times or more throughout the season. Yesterday it was very smooth with minimal rattle. It also has much better pacing than it did when it first opened. Once they got the wheel combos worked out it really helped the ride. Thanks for the update... The majority of my experience with the ride was during its media day. Took around 10 laps that day and they ran the gamut from very good to quite rattly and mediocre depending on seat position. I didn't get back to the park until HalloWeekends but I did notice things were a bit better then. I'll be visiting on Thursday and look forward to giving it another spin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Invertalon Posted May 12, 2014 Author Share Posted May 12, 2014 ^^ Thanks for that. Was just curious. No problem! It was good it was pointed out to me as they looked fine in Lightroom prior to upload on Flickr, and I really did not pay close attention once they were uploaded. But I do see now that my default pre-sets no longer work with this specific lens. I re-uploaded my entire set on Flickr with reduced sharpening at export (usually at "normal" but now "low"). I also reduced my sharpening in Lightroom to account for the lens, which again, is new for me this season and I suppose I have to adjust my workflow a bit for its insane sharpness/resolution (good problem to have, I suppose!). I did not notice any artifacts or anything prior to upload before, but Flickr does add additional sharpening on upload which pushed it over the top. They should be a bit better now. I replaced all the images and also added more to the collection on here. Appreciate the compliments everyone. I will likely have more next weekend which I will add to this post instead of making another post. More wide/ambient shots and probably way too many of the petting farm that was updated... Speaking of which, they did awesome with that! No longer is it just goats on a cement slab, but individual stations with many more animals! Alpacas, goats, llama, bunnies, chickens, ducks, turkeys, cows and others. They did a really great job with it! They added a feed station where you can buy food for $1 and everyone was loving it. Sunday was amazing for riding. We heard it was dead so made sure to get to the park. Arrived at 5pm (closed at 8pm) and the park was DEAD! Ended up with 1x gatekeeper ride, 2x Dragster (4 train wait front seat, walkon everywhere else), 1x Maverick, 1x Mantis (I never had such a bad ride on this) and around 8x MF rides with exit-gate cut through... Basically had ERT from 7:15 to 8pm. Was running INCREDIBLE last night. Maverick was as well, I don't remember it running so smooth since opening year. Mantis was the only oddball for the night, being unbearable with rattle/shuffle and anything else it could throw at you. I generally enjoy a few rides a season on it, but I think I will avoid it this year! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Invertalon Posted May 12, 2014 Author Share Posted May 12, 2014 Excellent photos! Can I ask what you're using for a camera? Canon 5D Mark III with a variety of lenses. For this visit, 90% of all the shots were with my 300mm f/2.8 II IS lens (along with 1.4x and 2.0x extenders for 420mm and 600mm when desired) and a few wider ones with my 24-70 II. I also have a 17-40 f/4 and 70-200 f/2.8 II IS, but those did not come in the bag this visit. Next weekend I will likely be using my 17-40 a majority of the time to get more ambient photos. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duff Posted May 12, 2014 Share Posted May 12, 2014 Magnum's trains look fantastic. They must have been refurbished during the off-season because they look brand new. Those Arrow hypercoaster trains have so much character. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Invertalon Posted May 12, 2014 Author Share Posted May 12, 2014 Yeah, they did look great. They don't feel great, though! Too bad the mayflies and other critters will ruin the clean trains in a few short weeks. There was already clouds of insects during our dusk MF rides. Had a nice bug collection on my arms/face afterward. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philrad71 Posted May 12, 2014 Share Posted May 12, 2014 Great photos as always & interesting to hear about Gatekeeper. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arby Posted May 12, 2014 Share Posted May 12, 2014 Those certainly are great photos as others have mentioned. I enjoyed browsing through them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swede Posted May 12, 2014 Share Posted May 12, 2014 As someone who doesn't just like coasters but also photography I have to complement you on the pictures. The Mark III is a geat house. I have yet to move up to full frame. I'm using an old 5D but have some pretty good glass on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boldikus Posted May 12, 2014 Share Posted May 12, 2014 absolutely fantastic photos! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Invertalon Posted May 13, 2014 Author Share Posted May 13, 2014 As someone who doesn't just like coasters but also photography I have to complement you on the pictures. The Mark III is a geat house. I have yet to move up to full frame. I'm using an old 5D but have some pretty good glass on it. 5D? If so, you are using full-frame. All of the 5D series bodies were full-frame sensors. The 1D series have been mixed, depending on model between full frame and 1.3x "crop" sensors. Thanks everyone! Glad you are all enjoying the photos. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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