Timelapse test shots

Often what looks easy…isn’t. Take timelapse video – and then add a tilt-shift lens and see what happens.

Here’s an experimental clip I made the other day at Aberdeen harbour. (I know there’s lots wrong with it…I did it without any planning.)

I’m shooting one of those timelapse films with the miniature effect for a client next week, and although I can do it quite easily, it takes a whole bunch of trial and error tests to get it right.

And what’s right for one scene isn’t necessarily right for another.

The key variables include:

• The speed of the action in the scene being ‘filmed’
• The brightness of the light
• The ISO
• The f-stop
• The shutter speed
• The number of seconds/frame to shoot
• The number of frames/second at which to play back

There are other variables which need to be decided upon, including:

• The focal length of the lens
• The location (more important for the tilt-shift)
• The image quality (RAW, JPEG etc)
• White balance
• Auto-exposure
• Focus

All these variables contribute to the finished product. If you don’t get these right then the film could appear jumpy, people can appear moving too quickly, changes in light can spoil the final movie etc.

But you know, working out what works best is part of the fun. I’m learning more about this camera (Canon 5D mkii) because I’m trying to find out how to do new techniques.

Give it a try.