Matanza (Cuba)

On our way to La Habana, we drove through Matanza. Matanza is situated mid way between Varadero and La Habana. It's quite a large city. Matanza's most important features are its port and university. Matanza is situated around a bay feeding the Atlantic. The bay is about 3 km wide but 600 meters deep.

Here's a Black and White shot depicting a typical Matanza Street
D70
Nikkor 28-70




The university of Matanza is located on a beautiful site. It is just too bad the buildings are lacking maintenance since the 1990 economic crisis



Next stop is "La cité perdu", La Habana.

back in town!

I just got back from Cuba. It was crazy, very nice weather and sea.
Photowise, I've got a lot to do this week, I have a couple shootings from before my vacations to edit + I have a shit load of pictures from La Habana, Matanza and Varadero to edit.
Keep visiting for further and more regular updates in the days to come.

Skate Sesh

Mtl --> T.O. transplant Frank C. back in Mtl.
D70
SB - 600
Nikon 50mm F.18
Tamron 11-18mm
BW Polarizer
Olie

Backside flip

Crazy Surf Sesh at Habitat

Amazing weather, inspired surfer, eager photographer: good session.
Pictures were taken with a Nikkor 80-200mm AF F2.8 two ring, D70 and BW Polarizing Filter.

If you want to get shot at Habitat 67 leave a comment with your e-mail address and I'll get back to you. French or english.

Click on the thumbnail to access larger photos.

Leave me a comment!

Time lapse photography

Jul Lauzon (http://shredbuddiesproductions.blogspot.com) sent me this link.
http://599productions.com/599/Timelapse%20480p.html
This really got me hooked to time lapse photography. I'm currently debating wheter I should buy an electronic shutter release / intervalometer. This device act as an automated shutter release. Coupled with the intervalometer, it can release the shutter at every given time.
How is it possible to make video with a DSLR?
It is very simple, a Cam Corder is able to record 24 or 30 frames per second (FPS) a DSLR is able to record from 2.5 fps to 8 fps at its fastest burst settings. Time lapse photography consist in stiching all those photos taken in burst in a video format.
Why is it that time lapse photography is like fast fowarding?
Well it's pretty basic. If you record 1800 frames at 3 fps you did record 600 seconds of "real" time. Now, you want to merge those 1800 frames together to get a video. The legit fps rate in video is 30 fps. Therefor those 1800frames at 30 fps will result in a 60 seconds video (1800/30).
How do I transform the pictures into a video motion?
You need quicktime pro and you simply have to "import a new photo sequence". That's it.

Time lapse using DSLR will result in a high resolution video, far beyond that what our conventionnal HDTV capabilities. Hence, I recommand using the smallest resolution on your DSLR. On most camera it'll result in a video with just a tad more resolution than 1080p.

Time lapse photography is probably the most damaging use of a DSLR. The shutter on the prosumer DSLR (D40, D40x, D70, D80, 300/350/400d and their Pentax, Olympus, Sony counterpart) has an estimated life of 50 000 frames. Make the calculations, that is about 27,78 minutes of video (50 000/1800), but also 166,67 hours of shooting at 3fps.

I don't think it's a good idea to use semi-pro and pro bodies to do time lapse photo. I'd even call it stupid, you don't need all the extra goodies and extra resolution these bodies offers. Just grab a used prosumer that got upgraded because its previous owner wanted the extra features on the latest body available. It is quite unusual to see prosumer bodies used to up to 50 000 frames. D70, D50, 350d and 300d can be bought for about 400-500$ used.