My first timelapse, Miami...

SilverPenguin · 30 Dec 2009 at 21:18

Ok so this is my first attempt at doing timelapse (time-lapse, time lapse, seen it spelt all three ways online!) and I'm pleased with how it came out as an experiment in what does and does not work. It's certainly not as easy as I thought it might be, with how to set the camera, looking out for dust spots, working out how the light might change during the fixed exposures and of course the sheer amount of time you have to put in to it. Still, here we go...link is to my blog by the way as I couldn't get a YouTube video to embed on here?! Plus there is more info about shooting the video and a little 'behind the scenes' vid I did for fun.

Miami timelapse video.

Hope you enjoy

ichabod crane · 30 Dec 2009 at 21:32

I really liked that, and from reading your blog a lot of work went into it for a first attempt superb!

olv · 30 Dec 2009 at 21:38

I love that, very impressed. The sky has such a surreal quality in the sunrise sequence.

robertgilbert86 · 30 Dec 2009 at 21:39

Wow, very pretty. Good trick using the 10 stop to blur the cars etc in the daytime. The zoom+pan works really well too (I'm assuming you didn't actually pan the camera for those).

Derek W · 30 Dec 2009 at 22:13

I liked that

sorn21 · 30 Dec 2009 at 22:39

Very nice

Cosimo · 30 Dec 2009 at 22:43

That is good, I’m very impressed.

famas · 30 Dec 2009 at 23:41

thats amazing mate, great song choice as well.

SilverPenguin · 30 Dec 2009 at 23:57

Thanks all, I'm pleased with it. Really looking forward to doing more. Maybe next time around London seeing as thats my 'home ground' so should be able to get some good stuff there.

robertgilbert86 said:
Wow, very pretty. Good trick using the 10 stop to blur the cars etc in the daytime. The zoom+pan works really well too (I'm assuming you didn't actually pan the camera for those).

All zooms and pans done in post, correct

I think the music goes erally well too, a few others have said it's a good choice as well so pleased about that as music can make or break with things like this I think!!

BloodyL · 31 Dec 2009 at 00:06

Stunning...simply stunning. congrats!

[edit]It just reminded me of Ron Fricke's Chronos...kudos for that.[/edit]

The_Abyss · 31 Dec 2009 at 00:36

I think it looks really great - very good in fact.

But I'm wondering, was the finished product good enough to justify nearly 2,500 shutters on your SLR?

SilverPenguin · 31 Dec 2009 at 00:55

BloodyL said:
Stunning...simply stunning. congrats!
[edit]It just reminded me of Ron Fricke's Chronos...kudos for that.[/edit]

Many thanks

The_Abyss said:
I think it looks really great - very good in fact.

But I'm wondering, was the finished product good enough to justify nearly 2,500 shutters on your SLR?

It comes with the territory with TL unfortunately. I'll be taking a lot more shots than that in the future I can tell you

The way I see it...I don't see any need to worry about using my camera for any purpose as at the end of the day, I paid for it to use it and that's what I intend to do. I'm not scared to wear out the shutter as it's a tool and gets used, if not there would be no point buying it. When the shutter eventually goes, I'll get it fixed it, job done

russ0r · 31 Dec 2009 at 01:04

I think that is excellent. Nice job.
How long between each exposure? 10 seconds or so?

SilverPenguin · 31 Dec 2009 at 01:21

russ0r said:
I think that is excellent. Nice job.
How long between each exposure? 10 seconds or so?

Cheers

It varied, some shots where 5 second exposures with 8 seconds between shots and others were at 1/60 with only a second between shots...and a few variations between that too.

jr1104 · 31 Dec 2009 at 09:30

Great timelapse, and great write up as well. Was interesting to read a bit more about how it's done, and using the 10 stop ND was a nice idea.

Phate · 31 Dec 2009 at 12:36

Love it dude, excellent

Messiah Khan · 31 Dec 2009 at 13:36

Really nice work Richard. Have to say your blog is really coming on nicely as well. Love the work on Timescapes. The Panning set-up is awesome, and makes me want to do something similar.

benneh · 31 Dec 2009 at 16:52

I've done a little timelapse, it's quite rewarding. I've only ever shot static though, how did you go about the shots where the camera is moving/panning/pulling out?. Very interesting

.

Messiah Khan · 31 Dec 2009 at 23:36

benneh said:
I've done a little timelapse, it's quite rewarding. I've only ever shot static though, how did you go about the shots where the camera is moving/panning/pulling out?. Very interesting .

On the Timescapes website, watch one of the videos, then once that video is over it links to 3 others, one of them showing how he made a motor controlled track for the camera.

edit;
http://vimeo.com/3101098
There you go

SilverPenguin · 31 Dec 2009 at 23:55

Many thanks all (and happy new year)

benneh said:
I've done a little timelapse, it's quite rewarding. I've only ever shot static though, how did you go about the shots where the camera is moving/panning/pulling out?. Very interesting .

I can see myself getting carried away with this TL stuff...but in the meantime before I start even thinking about crazy rigs with motors etc, I'm still happy to fake my pans and zooms in After Effects