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Join me on a journey through the world of photography. My blog covers a range of topics including camera gear reviews, behind-the-scenes of commissioned projects, workshop recaps, and general thoughts on a variety of photography subjects. Follow along as I share my passion for the art and craft of photography.

XPOSURE INTERNATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY FESTIVAL 2023 in Sharjah is here!

Photography exhibitions. Legendary, world-renowned photographers. Industry experts. Presentations. Film screenings. Workshops. Book signings. Focus groups. Competitions. Latest camera gear & Trade show. Xposure International Photography Festival in Sharjah, UAE is unlike any other and if you care about photography even a tiny bit, you can’t afford to miss it.

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Countdown to the New Year: Capturing Dubai's Magic in Time-Lapse

one camera, one balcony

New Year’s eve at THE WALK at JBR in Dubai in 90 seconds

for someone like me…

…nothing compares to the thrill of making a time-lapse video. It is genuinely magical and a trick that never fails to impress is the ability to condense hours or even days of action into a few brief seconds.

I got the chance to capture a time-lapse video on New Year's Eve from the balcony of a private flat at the Jumeirah Beach Residence in Dubai. The location was ideal, offering a breathtaking view of "The Walk" at JBR, "Ain Dubai" — the largest ferris wheel in the world — on Bluewaters Island, Dubai Harbour Cruise Terminal, and the always spectacular The Palm, with the two Atlantis hotels in the distance. At night, the whole scene looks like a giant, shiny treasure trove full of gold!

To capture a variety of focal lengths and viewpoints, I decided to take the Fujifilm GFX50s camera along with the GF 20-35, GF 32-64, and GF 45-100 lenses. The RRS's Multi-Clamp was used to secure the camera to the balcony's balustrade (amazing piece of gear btw). The RRS Modular L-Plate was attached to the camera, and it was mounted on top of the lightweight yet sturdy RRS BH-30 ballhead. I wanted a quick and simple procedure with little editing, so I decided to shoot in JPEG mode with the GFX’s built-in "Provia" film simulation. I simply wasn't in the mood to fiddle around with RAW files.

The actual shoot lasted for almost 2.5 hours, with the camera set to take a picture every 2 to 5 seconds. Because of this, I was able to record a variety of motion and activity as the evening progressed towards the midnight, and the masses of people below celebrated the beginning of the new year. Fireworks were great, but it was the drone show that I found particularly engaging.

I spent a day editing the finished time-lapse video after the shoot. As usual, I edited the film in Adobe Premiere. I changed the flow and speed of certain shots to produce the mood I was looking for.

Overall, the process of filming and producing this time-lapse video was enjoyable and painless. Provia film simulation produced warm, rich tones that enhanced the luxurious skyline of Dubai's golden cityscape. Seeing the finished product and knowing that I was able to record such a cool moment in time always gives me a rush. And that was my New Year's Eve time-lapse movie-making experience at the Jumeirah Beach Residence.


Hope you liked this blog, and the time-lapse film. To keep updated with my work and new blogs, please subscribe to my mailing list below. Wishing you a happy and healthy New Year 2023!

GEAR REVIEW: THE NEW FUJINON GF 45-100 f/4 TESTED AT THE JAMEEL ARTS CENTRE IN DUBAI

The new Fujinon GF 45-100mm f/4 lens closes the missing gap in the middle range of the focal lengths. Fujifilm GFX customers can now finally enjoy any focal length starting from 23mm, all the way up to 250mm. Not bad for a medium format system!!

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The magic of "Blue Hour"

"Blue Hour" shots tend to convey emotion and drama in a way daytime or night-time photos can't.

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