When Night Falls - A Brief Introduction to the math of time lapse

Time lapse was once a cumbersome process requiring a timing device attached to the camera. Many digital cameras now come equipped with the timing device built-in. Termed an intervalometer, settings for the time interval, how many images to take, and whether to start at a specified time or immediately can all be set in-camera. The equipment for timelapse photography is now no more complicated that what equipment is required for the subject matter, though a good sturdy tripod is a must.

Setting the time interval (T in seconds) and the number of frames (F) to shoot is a matter of knowing
1) the length of the assembled video (L in seconds)
2) the compression factor (CF)
3) the video image rate (R in frames per second)

For example, if you show your video using an image rate of 20 frames/second (R = 20 fps) and want to speed things by a factor of 40, then you will be shooting one frame every 2 seconds. In equation form, T =CF/R.

If your finished video will be one minute in length (= 60 s), then you will need 20 fps X 60 s = 1200 frames, or
F = RxL

Alternately,
F = LxCF/T = (60 s)x(40)/(2 s/frame) = 1200 frames


When Night Falls was shot with a 6s interval between images and used 550 frames. The video image rate is 10 fps. So R = 10 fps, T = 6s, and F = 550 frames. Using the equations, the compression factor, CF = RT = 10x6 = 60 and L = F/R = 550/10 = 55 seconds in length.

In the finished video, watch for events you may not normally notice in either straight video or single images.

The Hunt for Blossoms and Thorns

In the City of Richmond (CA) is a place time has passed when farms and fishing were a way of life. Managed by three Japanese-American families the domestic flower industry has fallen on hard times unable to compete with the cheaper imports. Today the greenhouses stand as shadows of the past while the roses are surreally viable even bursting through the broken panes on the greenhouse roofs.

HDR Basics - Using Photomatix and Removing Ghosts

HDR Basics Using Photomatix -

Playland at the Beach Lives On

Playland at the Beach Lives On, a set on Flickr.

Remember San Francisco's Playland at the Beach? You don't? Oh well, you're probably a lot younger than I and can be forgiven.

While Playland no longer exists, having gone seedy and even scary in the 60's and then got itself replaced with condos and a supermarket when no one thought it worth the face lift, some of it lives on. Like at the Musee Mechanique at San Francisco's Pier 43.5 and Playland Not at the Beach in El Cerrito on the east side of the bay.

Both are worth a visit. The Musee Mechanique is free and fun though you might just drop a few quarters into a machine or two to see how they work and take you to a yesterday when fun was a much simpler and cheaper endeavor.

Miraflores Revitalization Kickoff

Miraflores Revitalization Kickoff, a set on Flickr.

I've made several visits to the former rose and carnation greenhouses of the Sakai, Oishi, and Endo families in Richmond (CA). Roses still grow there even though unattended for some years.

Soon these greenhouses will be replaced with homes and townhouses. Some of the history will be saved and restored as a reminder of Richmond's past.

For more information on the Miraflores development see http://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/index.aspx?nid=1847

Richmondocks-152 (photo by Dale Mead)

Richmondocks-152
Originally uploaded by dfmead

On Jan 21 together with fellow photographer Dale Mead, I returned to Richmond Shipyard Number 3 (Richmond, CA) for more photos from the decks of the Whirley Crane. The crane rises about 60 feet above ground, but I decided not to climb the last set of ladders despite having climbing gear for the ascent.

I used climbing gear as a safety precaution while shooting. It let me pay attention to my shooting and not worry about stepping off the deck. The last three photos in this series are from my photo-archives of Richmond's Shipyard Number 3.

While I took shots from the deck of the crane, Dale shot a series from the ground.


For photos by Dale Mead, photo-documentarian, see http://www.flickr.com/photos/damead/sets/72157625753800053/with/5377627350/

Shipyard Number 3 and the Whirley Crane

World War II brought many changes to Richmond, CA. Agriculture and whaling were replaced with ship building. Some remnants of that time remain, such as a couple of Navy tugs, the Red Oak Victory Ship, and one last example of a Whirley Crane.

The Whirley Crane takes its name from its ability to 'whirl' the turret 360 degrees. It was used sometimes more than one at a time to lift ship parts so that welders could get access more readily. Nearly 500 ships were built in the Richmond shipyards for the war.

Sakai Rose Company Nursery Site

Soon to be developed in new residences for the City of Richmond, the greenhouses of the former rose and carnation nurseries remain for now. Once these greenhouses were some of the most productive on the West Coast, given the mild climate and extended growing season. Changes in tax law made imports cheaper and eventually led to the closure of these and other greenhouses in California and the U.S. Today this site in Richmond is one of the last remaining as a reminder of the past. Some of the structural reminders of that past will be allowed to remain as a link to our past and heritage.

4734_5_6_7_8_Fog Shrouded Hills Of Wildcat Canyon

4734_5_6_7_8_Fog Shrouded Hills Of Wildcat Canyon
Originally uploaded by misterken

A break in the rain was an opportunity to capture that brief interlude when the morning mists roll over the hills. This view is from the San Pablo Ridge at the Richmond end looking south east. The site of the former Belgum Sanatorium is just visible at the lower right.