First Time-Lapse



First Time-Lapse, originally uploaded by Amar Raavi.

This is my first try towards taking a Time-Lapse video. I think i did a mistake with the intervalometer setting. Haven’t had enough time to do it all over again. I will try it again sometime in the future.

Geek Stuff : 302 frames at f/8 with an interval of 5 sec. 24 frames/sec video.

If you are interested to try it at home, here are some instructions:
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1. You need a tripod, intervelometer and camera of course.

2. Leave the setup unattended, if you are one of those rich guys.

3. Decide what you want to capture. If you want to capture just a plain time lapse with non varying lighting conditions then you can leave it unattended. Refer to step 2 before doing so.

4. Calculate overall capture time based on final length of the video and frames/sec.
e.g. If you want your final video to last 30 Sec at 30 frames/sec then the total number of shots you need are 900. Say if you add an interval of 5 sec between the shots then shooting time = 900 X 5 = 4500+ Sec = 75+ minutes (considering additional time for the actual capture). Enough. You need to have some math knowledge. Use that.

5. Set the camera to aperture priority mode/manual mode, ISO based on your noise tolerance level and White Balance to Manual. Do not leave anything on Auto.

6. User Mirror lockup feature to make the camera less sweaty.

7. Better to choose JPEG as the format with lowest possible resolution so that your memory card can accommodate your nnn number of images.

8. Program the time, interval, exposure and number of shots using the intervalometer. Start the intervalometer and watch a movie.

9. Use QuickTime Pro or equivalent program to open the image sequence and save as a video. Use the export feature to reduce the size.

10. Upload it to wherever you want and clean your hands.

My problem:
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Canon TC80N3 allows only 99 shots. Once 99 are done then i have hit the start button again. So i made the count to 0 and simply started the sequence. It started and took shots beyond 99. But i am facing a problem with Av mode. The exposure is not updating automatically when the lighting conditions change. As you see in this video the whole scene got darker as the sun went down. Still figuring out whether whatever i did was right or wrong. But if you are just shooting with same lighting conditions, then you are good to go with Av mode.

Any time lapse experts ready to offer help ?

Boston Fireworks



Boston Fireworks, originally uploaded by Amar Raavi.

This is what i have learned out of my second try at shooting fireworks.

1. Choose the Right spot. Find out beforehand the right spot for a better composition. Go early and be ready for the moment.
2. Always have some reference. Don’t just shoot in the Air. There are exceptions for this. If you are going to get a great firework pattern then Yes, go for it.
3. Look at the Wind direction. If the wind is blowing towards you then choose some other spot.
4. Do some practice with the exposure. Take sample shots of the scene before the fireworks start. Try again once the fireworks start. Lighting conditions may change rapidly depending on the intensity and frequency of the fireworks.
5. Remote Remote Remote. Buy a remote. It is very helpful not only to shoot fireworks. It will help you in enjoying the spectacle rather than sticking your head into the view finder.

More photos from the event here

Things we don’t like to discuss

Yes right. There are few things we Indians don’t like to discuss. But today it took a different turn with all the Indian media reporting the Delhi High Court decision decriminalizing the gay sex. It became a headline in all new papers in no time. May be due to the controversy surrounding the subject.

In brief, the High Court ruled that the Indian Penal Code (IPC) section 377 violates fundamental rights to personal liberty (Article 21 of the Constitution) and equality (Article 14) and prohibition of discrimination (Article 15). There are some arguments and counter arguments over the verdict in all major news papers and blogs in the form of comments. It was interesting to see how people respond on controversial subjects like this. I feel that i was wrong all these days about my opinion on Indians. Indians do discuss controversial subjects (only when there is a fire). I too, want to add some fuel to it.

I feel that everybody has a choice to live their life. If somebody is not causing a harm to others then we should respect their individual rights. Well, there might be arguments that this verdict will harm the Indian society and the culture etc etc. In my personal opinion, we, the people created these cultures and societies. Not vice versa. Cultures did evolve. We are not the same as we were in 5000 BC. There are lot of social, technological and cultural developments happened since then. Speaking of nature, we all became unnatural centuries ago. We are acting against the nature every day in our life. I don’t think we can call it unnatural either. And it is their private life anyway. How many of us really care about what our neighbor does in his bedroom ? So i think it’s time to live and let live.

Some of you may not like my opinion on this. But as always, you are welcome to express your own opinion.

Back Bay



Back Bay, originally uploaded by Amar Raavi.

I was waiting for a while to photograph something like this. I have photographed Back Bay in the recent past, but definitely not like this. A calm evening, near perfect reflection, minimal processing and a touch of sail boats make this one of my favorites.

Speed



Speed, originally uploaded by Amar Raavi.

I was all set to photograph the reflection and suddenly this speed boat came from middle of nowhere. For a moment i thought it is going to spoil the whole setup, but it turned out to be a nice capture. Sometimes bad is good.

Longfellow Bridge



Longfellow Bridge, originally uploaded by Amar Raavi.

Photographed is the Longfellow bridge with Long Exposure (200 Sec @ f/18). I wanted to try long exposure for a very long time and Sunday evening clouds helped me in doing so.

Boston turned into photographer’s paradise last sunday with interesting orange clouds moved over the city right after the sunset. It was pitch dark and i couldn’t see those bushes to my right through the view finder. They are not so visible anyway. I think this was the best i could get that day.

Longfellow Bridge carries Route 3 along with MBTA’s Red Line connecting Boston and Cambridge. Also known as the New Cambridge Bridge, this bridge was opened to traffic in the year 1906.

John F. Kennedy Federal Building



John F. Kennedy Federal Building, originally uploaded by Amar Raavi.

Sometimes the wonders of weather and wide angle are amazing. Here is what you get if you combine both of them.

Photographed is the JFK Federal Building at Government Center, Boston. This 26-story building containing twin towers was opened in the year 1966 and is dedicated to former President John F. Kennedy as gesture to honor him in his home city.

I thought HDR will make real justification to the scene. The colors of sky and reflections on the window panes of the building are real. Even though the composition is less attractive, i just want to simply dump it here :)

Update: Added a black border at the bottom just to make more space in front of the building and make it bit interesting. It also complements the top floors of the building. I am not a big fan of borders but i think it works here. Let me know what you feel.

Boston City Hall



Boston City Hall, originally uploaded by Amar Raavi.

I saw those apocolyptic clouds from my balcony and headed towards the Charles River to take some photographs and suddenly a thought came to my mind – “why don’t i visit the ugliest building in the world ?”

There it is, Boston City Hall, opened in the year 1969, it is voted as the ugliest building on the planet as reported by Virtualtourist.com

I don’t think the building is that ugly, but the space around it is poorly designed and underutilized and nobody really likes to sit there (i was the only one sitting there and photographing it).

Please help City Hall in retaining it’s crown and vote it down :)

Any tips to correct those flag thingys? I hate those flags. They are uneven and most difficult things to process.

Pier 1



Pier 1, originally uploaded by Amar Raavi.

Photographed is the Boston’s Financial District as seen from East Boston during Sunset.

I am glad that i chose this pier instead of other well maintained piers nearby. It was completely isolated and that gave me chance to step outside the barrier and go close to water. The help the things out the tide was low and the green algae added some contrast to the scene.

Landmarks



Landmarks, originally uploaded by Amar Raavi.

Photographed are the John Hancock Tower and the Copley Plaza, landmarks of Boston located in Back Bay.

Completed in the year 1976, John Hancock tower is a 60-story, 790 foot tall building and is the tallest in the city as well as in New England.

On the right is the Copley Plaza Hotel, one of the oldest hotels of Boston.The hotel’s architect was Henry Janeway Hardenbergh, the same architect of famous Plaza Hotel of New York. Opened in the year 1912, it is currently owned by Fairmount Hotels & Resorts.