I’ve been back from Peru for a couple of weeks now and all the photo and video files are downloaded to my desktop computer and backed up onsite and offsite. As I did for Galapagos and South Africa, here is a review of the photo, video, and timelapse workflow for Peru. With a couple of exceptions, I brought along the same gear for Peru that I used in South Africa:
For the Peru trip I brought along two 64 GB Lexar Professional SDXC Class 10 cards and two 32 GB Lexar Professional SDHC Class 10 cards.
Nikon D750 with SD cards
Each 64 GB card holds about 1,500 12-bit NEF files. (See 14-bit vs 12-bit RAW – Can You Tell The Difference at Photography Life.) I used a 64 GB card in slot 1 of the D750 to store raw photo files. In slot 2 I used a 32 GB card with the D750 set to store Large size JPEG normal quality backups at about 6.7 MB per image.
About halfway into the trip, I swapped out the initial set of cards for the second set. At the end of the trip I ended up with 753 picture files. That’s a shooting rate of 75 per day – less than my average of 100 photos per day on international trips, and a direct reflection of my focus on shooting more efficiently. In addition to JPEG backups, I used the slot 2 card for movie files and ended up with 350 files totaling 1 hour and 21 minutes, about the same as the 1 hour and 28 minutes I recorded in the South Africa. The picture and movie file count also includes iPhone 6S picture and movies files for must-have Machu Picchu selfies and some additional timelapse sequences.
For the daily trip blog updates I used the D750’s built-in Wi-Fi to connect via the Nikon Wireless Mobile Utility installed on my phone. Once connected it was easy to select pictures to transfer to the phone, and then incorporate those photos in the daily trip blog updates using the WordPress Mobile App.
Machu Picchu photos in Lightroom
My standard workflow for photos and video remains the same. I’m still working with Adobe Photoshop Lightroom for photo management and editing – using the Creative Cloud Photography plan. The simplified version of the workflow is:
Machu Picchu video clips in Final Cut Pro X
Video files are digitized using Apple Final Cut Pro X to events named by date and location. After import files are renamed by date and time. All movie clips on this trip were shot at 1080p 60.
Before going to Peru I saw some timelapse sequences at Machu Picchu and I knew I wanted to capture some timelapse while I was there. On our first day at Machu Picchu I used the Ricoh GR Digital II to shoot a sequence of about 240 images. On our second day at Machu Picchu I captured 2 sequences each of similar length with the D750 and the Ricoh. Back home I used LRTimelapse and Lightroom to process the sequences into video clips for importing into FCPX and editing into the short video above.
With all trip photo and video files transferred I confirm onsite and offsite backups are complete (using CrashPlan to manage both backups) and then reformat the SDXC cards for use on the next project. Now it’s time to get to work on the photo gallery, book, and the trip video!
A quick edit of some timelapse sequences shot during our second day in Machu Picchu. Shot with the Nikon D750 and the Ricoh GR Digital II.
From home.
Another great trip with Dr. Craven and the travelers from Milford HS. Our re-entry to the US goes like this – a bus ride from Puno to Juliaca, then we fly from to Juliaca to Cuzco, and Cuzco to Lima. Overnight we return to Miami and pass through customs. Everyone else is returning via Boston, so I say my goodbyes and board my flight to DC. A subway ride and a taxi trip and I am home by 11:30 AM. About a 26 hour return trip and plenty of time left in the weekend for laundry and groceries before returning to the office tomorrow.
Now that I am home, some final thoughts and these three things about Peru:
Stray dogs at Machu Picchu
Tour guides, drivers, and boat pilots are our connection to a new place, and Peru featured some of the best: Daniel for our entire trip, Jesus at the Cathedral of Lima, Pepe in Cuzco, Manuel in Puno, and many others.
As we traveled through Peru it became apparent that there is more than one way to spell place names. Not surprising in a country with several languages. Over the course of the blog for this trip you may have noticed several variations in spellings. Cuzco or Cusco. Titkaka or Titicaca. As far as I know they are all correct.
Name dropping: Seeing new destinations and learning how people all around the world live their lives makes these trips a real adventure, but it’s the fellow travelers that really make the trip. Like my other overseas trips, Peru featured old friends and new – Brad, Craig, Sue, Dennis, Ron, Mickey, Donna, Marguerite, Carol, Gina, Sue, Bernie, Jessica, Meg, Dan, Shannon, Peter, Barbara, Mike, Greg, Michelle, Greg, Kaydee, Neil, Mike, Marie, Maggie, Cathy, and Chris.
The travelers of Craven – Peru 2016
I look forward to our next adventure together and thank you for your photographic inspiration as you always found great views of the places we saw and the people we met …
Wedding photos at the Park of Love
Roasting chickens at Pardos
On the way to dinner in Cuzco
A chinchilla watching the tour at Machu Picchu
The Machu Picchu fast group
Mountain glaciers of Bolivia
Taquile Island
Now that I am home the process of copying and backing up RAW picture and MOV video files begins. Then I will set to work on the video, photo galleries, and photo book. Note that for last year’s South African Safari I have only just finished the video, so as the Peruvian tour guides say, I should have this trip video ready in about 10 minutes! But before that, one last look at Machu Picchu …
Shooting timelapse and taking in the view
From Lima International Airport.
Today begins the weekend trip home.
Before the bus leaves for the airport there is time for more shopping near Puno’s town square. I pick up a couple of last minute items, but still no luck finding a Peruvian-themed picture frame. It’s pay day in Peru so hundreds of residents are lined up around the blocks that surround the banks. Some lines stretch for several city blocks. Similar lines are outside the offices of the water and electric utilities. After you pick up your pay you need to get in the utilty lines. And that’s how residents of Puno spend a Saturday!
Puno residents
Puno electric power infrastructure
Successful shoppers!
Our flight back to Lima departs from Juliaca International Airport, and stops in Cuzco on the way to Lima. Of note about Juliaca – this city is like the Wild West. A minimal number of traffic lights, so intersections are a free-for-all. Some major roads aren’t paved at all – always fun in a bus. And, as I understand it, this commercial city is a smuggling center for goods traveling between Peru and Bolivia. Also, although the name suggests so, there are no international flights from the airport, so we head back to Lima.
Juliaca roads and traffic
After the hour long bus drive from Puno to Juliaca we check in for our 1 PM flight and arrive in Lima around 4 PM. Our overnight flight to Miami departs at 10 PM, so we’ve got plenty of time to settle in at Lima International for some dinner, walk the terminal to get some steps in, and a chance to share travel stories before we head our separate ways tomorrow morning until the next adventure!
On board the Nampary on Lake Titikaka.
Day 2 in Puno. At 12,500 feet you definitely feel the high altitude. For as much as I am enjoying the trip I will appreciate the return the lower altitudes.
Today we explore Lake Titikaka – the highest navigable lake in the world. Lake Titkaka translates to grey puma in the Quechua language.
We start early with a boat ride to the floating islands of Uros. We meet the inhabitants on one of the 90 floating islands and learn how they use reeds to construct the island, for food, and to burn for cooking.
A floating island in Uros
Reeds that make up the base of a floating island in Uros
Next a two hour boat ride to Taquile Island offering a view of Bolivian glaciers on the way. On Taquile we hike up to the town square for souvenirs, have a delicious trout lunch at a local resturant, and hike back down the meet the Nampary for the two and a half hour ride back to Puno.
Looking across Lake Titikaka to Bolivia
Farmhouses on Taquile Island
Sheep on Taquile Island
Terrace farming on Taquile Island
Tonight is dinner in Puno and some time to explore the town. Tomorrow we begin the weekend journey home.
View from the balcony ...
Michael S. Liberman