Matterhorn on a misty mountain afternoon

Matterhorn on a misty mountain afternoon, originally uploaded by Photomike07 / MDSimages.com.

"The only Zen you can find on the tops of mountains is the Zen you bring up there." -
Robert M. Pirsig

There is something very settling and familiar when exploring about an area like Zermatt. Seems like no matter where you are, one of the most majestic of all mountains called the Matterhorn always seems to be looming off in the distance - like an old friend there to comfort you, ya know. (my gosh, where in the world is all this going?!) Nowhere I guess.......now what?

Hmmm, how about a little about the image?

I had to do a bit of work on this one. The light was kinda flat and even, so I played with painting a bit of contrast in here in there to create more of a sense of depth and texture. There always, at least when I was there, seems to be a mess of clouds around the peak (like the time-lapse I took when I was there). I'll link to it on the blog if you want to check it out. In this case, the sense of mystery helps a bit (I think). Hope ya like :)

A break in the Swiss Alps (while the timelapse camera clicks away)

A break in the Swiss Alps (while the timelapse camera clicks away), originally uploaded by Photomike07.

I had a few ideas while on this little trek up in the Swiss Alps, and here is one of them. Before I left the States for my trip, I had tried, albeit unsuccessfully, to procure a room with a great view of this most majestic of mountains. My thought was that the camera could live, safely on the balcony, whilst clicking away all day for a time-lapse capture. Well, I started thinking, how about a nice little break during a hike to do the same thing? I must admit, after loading a little Pat Metheny into the ipod playlist, throwing the hood over my head, and just sitting down to enjoy the view and fresh air for a couple of hours, I was in heaven!

Market America Convention (and a Time-lapse Tuesday post)

Market America Convention (and a Time-lapse Tuesday post), originally uploaded by Photomike07.

Like all of our events, there is long planning process, hours and sometimes days of behind the scenes setup and prep, a burst of excitement during the show, and then a "flash in the pan" teardown and exit. For this weeks Timelapse Tuesday, here is a peak into that quick exit......sped up about 30,000 percent!

Crazy skys in Palm Beach - and a Timelapse Tuesday video

Crazy skys in Palm Beach - and a Timelapse Tuesday video, originally uploaded by Photomike07.

We indeed have some rather cool skys down in South Florida. It has recently come to my attention that if I ever cause an accident while driving around here, there is a good chance its because my head is in the clouds. Yeah I know, I guess I gotta watch out for that!

So anyway, check out this link. This was taken from the ole' patio again, a convenient place to setup a timelapse from!

By the way, I am totally open to any suggestions to improving this quality. I usually upload these as .mov files and youtube compresses these to the extreme......a night and day difference from my original. Any ideas???

Timelapse Tuesday - A quiet day in the harbor - Varenna, Italy

Timelapse Tuesday - A quiet day in the harbor - Varenna, Italy, originally uploaded by Photomike07.

Ah yes, time-lapse Tuesday.....that weekly post of mine dedicated to the art of time-lapse video. I have to be honest though, I am a little perplexed at this whole video quality thing when I upload to youtube. The loops look screaming crystal clear and bright on my computer but after the upload, the video gets severely compressed or something, cause, well, it looks how should I say.....like garbage! Dark, squirrely, and choppy....hmm, not making much sense her, I know....kinda frustrating. Any video gurus out there with a recommendation? I spent a little while researching this, but am getting nowhere. Anyway, heres the link .....let me know what ya think :)

By the way, the timelapse was taken from a window at FLOOR level (not really sure what that was all about) in Varenna on Lake Como, Italy. The still was taken from the same town but just to the South. Awesome place too. Enjoy!

Timelapse Tuesday - Aegis in Boston

Timelapse Tuesday - Aegis in Boston, originally uploaded by Photomike07.

About the only thing I learned when I worked on a layout for this collage tonight is that indeed I am NOT a graphic designer. Good grief, what's with that background I have going on! Hmmm, maybe I'm just a bit tired.

FYI, the time-lapse for this is being uploaded right now. I'll post a link when its finished.

Check back next week for the world famous (yeeeeaaaa) Time-Lapse Tuesday.....and with any luck, it will be from somewhere else in the world ;)

Timelapse Tuesday - An afternoon in HDR (and a link to the youtube timelapse video)

Timelapse Tuesday - An afternoon in HDR (and a link to the youtube timelapse video), originally uploaded by Photomike07.

Hey, its Tuesday.....and time for another addition of Time-Lapse Tuesday! As I patiently await the upload to youtube of the clip, I'll tell ya a little bit about it. First off, my balcony here is beautiful South Florida seems to be the easiest and most convenient location for the rig. For the most part, I can set up and go about the day without any worry......and actually find the camera there when I return! As I have posted before, the clouds are always a great subject for timelapse. This clip, however, has a little more going on a wee bit into it as I go about the afternoon having lunch, talking on the phone, and reading......all at hyper speed. I know, kinda silly....but hey, it is me ya know.

Timelapse Tuesday - A view from the balcony at Turnberry

This time-lapse Tuesday (or woops........Wednesday now), has me posting a little view from the balcony from my last event down at Turnberry in Miami. I have a few more I am working on, just not finished yet...so keep checking back :)

Timelapse Tuesday - A peak at the setup

Timelapse Tuesday - A peak at the setup, originally uploaded by Photomike07.

Just a peak into the world I will live in this week. As we continue the setup on this event, I must report that we are right on schedule....if fact, maybe a bit ahead of schedule. Thanks to the great crew of course, we had lighting focus done before midnight....a first time on this show!

I have been capturing 1000's of stills to create a huge timelapse. Of course, my vision for the end video it quite elaborate, and is gonna take some time to put together. Well, another day for that one cause its WAY late. Here is a peak at one of the clips from today until that gets done someday.

Oh yeah, one more thing. I'm tweeting now. I know, sounds stupid, and well, so far from me, it has been......anyway...
I have uploaded a few to my twitpic site if you are interested in grainy, low quality Iphone photos of the setup. Wow, bet ya can't wait now!

Check it out: http://twitpic.com/photos/MDSimages

Timelapse Tuesday - Just before doors

Timelapse Tuesday - Just before doors, originally uploaded by Photomike07.

So, in my tireless quest to bring the art of the time-lapse capture video clip creation to you, I present this. A slice of time in the special events industry! In this specific case, after a business meeting for a client of ours in the beauty industry, the room was then turned around in a few hours for the evening event, and then struck in about 2 and a half hours.

I do feel it necessary to shout a bit from the soap box about this however. The recent events coupled with the ignorant press that seems to blindly report on our industry have somewhat painted a negative picture on the meetings and incentives industry for some reason. What the hell is going on.....has every one gone freak'in mad!!!!!! The travel and tourism industry accounts for about 1 in every 8 jobs in the US. These events are responsible for feeding the mouths of family members working in hotels, airlines, meeting supplier vendors, as well as hundreds of other related businesses throughout the country. MEETINGS ARE A GOOD THING!!! And its about time the country gets educated in this fact. CNN, FOX, MSNBC, ..... all of them......stop it..... enough of this whimsical entertainment for the masses, lets get the facts straight and focus on consumer confidence. Meetings mean revenue, lots of revenue, for lots of people.......and thats a GOOD thing for the economy! And of course, revenue means jobs, housing, food, clothing, and shelter.....where is the confusion here?

Anyway, this is a shot of the room just before doors that I was proud to be a part of. Click below for the time-lapse of the room transformation.......

Time-lapse Tuesday - Banyon on the bike path in Palm Beach

Time-lapse Tuesday - Banyon on the bike path in Palm Beach, originally uploaded by Photomike07.

Indeed, the time-lapse upload is a bit dark, but only on youtube. Still trying to figure out why. The still was one of the ones taken while the time-lapse camera was "doin its thing". Coulda been longer actually. Next time, maybe I'll place the camera and hire a security guard for the day. (Ok, this is getting outta control!)

Oh, one more thing.....actually 2....

If you look close, you can see me running about capturing the evening with the other camera. Not sure if thats earth shattering info, but its kinda funny to me! Secondly, I have a camera at this moment in the ceiling at the event I am on capturing the turnover of the room from general session to the party that is going on now, and with any luck, the tear-down. Should be kinda cool.......unless of course it's totally lame!

Timelapse Tuesday - HDR timelapse - Looking South in West Palm Beach

Timelapse Tuesday - HDR timelapse - Looking South in West Palm Beach, originally uploaded by Photomike07.

As I have kinda set myself up for a weekly post of a time-lapse image, I have also realized that I have to get a few other locations happening. Its a bit easier from my balcony, I must note, as the camera can be set up with the remote while I head out and leave the rig for hours on end. Not exactly a good idea when shooting at say, the beach or downtown. But rest assured, more locations, concepts, and subjects to follow soon!

Not sure which video source works better for these, so I am posting both.

By the way, this did indeed start out as a Tuesday post, but videos take a while to upload! Hope you like :)

Timelapse Tuesday - View from the new balcony

Timelapse Tuesday - View from the new balcony, originally uploaded by Photomike07.

So, I had a crazy idea........

Before my move a couple of weeks ago, I had a vision of a little movie to put together. It was for-seen as an art-piece or kind of a docudrama with time-lapse sections and narration from yours truly about the move. Of course, if done how I envisioned it, was gonna take 4 camera bodies (2 at the old place and 2 at the new one) capturing thousands of images that I would eventually have to chop into a viewable piece. Well, hope you like the concept, because that all the further it got. Once I started packing a few things up, the momentum kicked in and the project was quickly aborted. So, anyway.....

Tonight's "Time-Lapse Tuesday" is from the balcony of the new pad. I have always wanted to have a safe and somewhat weather resistant place to setup the tripod and experiment with this art-form. I am sure that this is not the first one I will be doing from here. Here is a still HDR from the set. For the flickr folks, the link is below while the blog has the youtube video embedded. Let me know what you think. Its an HDR time-lapse prepared with about 7000 or so images!

Before I actually moved in, I did take a few shots of the raw space. I love the openness of the floor plan. Perhaps some "after" images will find there way to the blog soon. Hope you like the time-lapse. I really like the new diversion and challenge! I have a few ideas brewing so see you next "Time-Lapse Tuesday!"

Phillips Point before the start of the day - West Palm Beach (and the first post of a weekly subject - Time-Lapse Tuesday!)

I've been thinking a little bit lately about a new direction for my blog (not that it's earth shattering news or anything) but......

I need a little direction and focus. For the last year and a few months, its been random regurgitations of somewhat useless information, and although I am sure that will continue to be the driving force of this sillyness, I have decided to give it a bit of structure. So, that being said, today will be the first post of a regular installment for Tuesdays called.......ready drumroll.......Time-Lapse Tuesdays!.............(cricket, cricket, cricket...........)

I have a few more ideas as well, but lets just see how well this goes first (hehehe)

About 2 blocks from where I fall out of bed in the mornings is the seawall of West Palm Beach. There is a lot of great change happening down here. City boat docks, safe and secure waterfront paths, and a new park by the old library. This early morning walk and location seemed like the ideal place to practice my new time-lapse techniques.

So, here is the rig. A Nikon D300 with a 10mm fisheye lense set up on a Gitzo Traveler tripod with a Really Right Stuff ballhead and L bracket. I set the internal interval timer to give a 5 exposure burst every 10 seconds. I then batch processed them in Photomatix, brought them into Lightroom for noise and dust removal before creating a time-lapse in Quicktime Pro.

I think it looks a bit dark...even on my monitor, so I am sure that it might be a bit dark for a lot of you out there. Anyway, my first HDR time-lapse! Stop by next Tuesday for my weekly video!