Slow Motion Photography

Here's an eye-popping video showcasing some amazing technology -- images shot at 1000 frames per second. Compare that to a digital SLR's roughly 8 frames per second, or standard video's 24 or 30 frames per second, and you'll see why this looks familiar, but different.

The movie was created by David Coiffier, mostly at a rugby match, and Coiffier identifies the camera as a SprintCam v3


I-Movix SprintCam v3 NAB 2009 showreel from David Coiffier on Vimeo.

Senegal Guide Published

Hot off the presses: Insight Guide to Gambia and Senegal. I'm happy to say it includes a handful of images the publisher licensed from me. Most of those were images I created in Podor, Senegal.

Quite the multi-continent transaction. I'm located in North America, I created the images in Africa, the publisher is in Asia, and the publisher's representative (who contacted me) is in Europe.

Beachside Photoshoot

It's true for everyone, I'm sure: Just looking at a photo can bring back a wave of memories. One of the more convenient things about being a photographer is that, just by doing my job, I have pretty good documentation for large chunks of my life, so I don't have to work too hard to rattle around my brain for details. The pictures are there for me.

Memories came flooding back, then, as I happened to check on the website of a band I had photographed a couple of years ago. To my delight, they're still using the photos from the two photoshoots we did together.

The band is called Tambours Africains Sans Frontiers. Check 'em out, and hear the sweet stylings of Moise, Tinte, and Akira.

I remember it was maybe 100 degrees, and we hit the beach around noon. Not the ideal time for a photoshoot, but I had to leave to catch a plane in an hour, so it was our only option.

Moise -- the singer -- also teaches music to children, and maybe 30 of them had gathered around. The heat kept everyone else away.

I had made plenty of portraits during an earlier session, so for this one we figured we'd get some shots of the band performing. Essentially, then, the band gave me and these 30 kids a private concert on the beach while I photographed.

For that wonderful hour I forgot that I hadn't packed or showered yet. Time stood still. When I look at the images today I can hear the music.



Monday 2/26 Moise's Drumming Group - Images by Shelley Cryan

Coney Island Images

This weekend marks the opening of the 2009 season for the fabled Coney Island. Its future is in limbo, what with the differing ideas of developers, municipal leaders, and locals.

But it's still the only place I know where you can attend Sideshow School, ride a roller coaster, and participate in the Mermaid Parade.

I'm hoping to go back soon, but until then, here's a slideshow of some of my Coney Island images from the off-season. Feel free to embed it wherever you'd like.