Hi Caleb

I'm not sure which bit of the process you want but I'll try and lay it out. - Technically its pretty simple really.

Connect your SLR up to a laptop/timer software or timer unit. Set your camera to manual and fix appropriate exposure and focus. Think not only of whats in the scene now but what will be in the scene during the time to be lapsed ! ( This is key to good results)

Decide on a frame rate. So 1 frame per min or whatever is appropriate for the event you are filming. (This was 7min frames) - You can't really shoot too many but you can wear out your camera shooting so I usually shoot about 25% more than I need.

Once finished import into your NLE as a frame sequence@ 25/30 fps or whatever is appropriate for your production. You wil need to resize/scale the shots as they will likely be 4:3 and high res (I use medium res (3k wide) jpg sequence) - You can then export as a normal video clip.

I hope this helps.
Mat

Thanks Mat, that is very helpful info!

Love the clip- I have done some timelapse of flowers. 2 problems occured: small insects moving around - maybe because of the lamp heating. second problem was that the tungsten lamps did not produce a stabil light source. Got 3 coollights now - I'll try with them on a carbattery beeing charged.

Beautiful clip Mat. Have done something simular to this, but another mushroom, camera and setup. I like it!

Mat,
how do you pan, tilt, or zoom in a time lapse?

Well you'd have to have power driven tripod movement with gearing that moves your entire pan/dolly etc over your given time period. These sort of movements combined with this sort of time lapse is spectacular but adds another layer of complexity to the rigging of course!

Mat,

Great stuff!!!


How does ther slr record to the lap top?? I can do that with fire wire to computer, scenealyzer and a cam corder, but how with the slr???

I have been using my Canon 40D connected to my laptop with a USB cable and the Canon utilities disc that came with my camera.

I am not sure if this has been posted before or not but this BBC behind the scenes video shows just how complex timelapse can be

YouTube - BBC Life Series: "Plants" Part 6/6

i try it
 

My first time-lapse try, i have to work. Mat the mushroom are very nice i have to find a family.





see it in large screen please.

Very interesting Gilles, thank you.

What shutter speed did you video with?

Hi everybody Hi Brendan

Shutter speed is 20 seconds, f 5.6, FL 31 mm (17-40 Canon) ISO 100 with an EOS 7D one shot every 40 sec. After crop i do the clip with Quick Time pro. 20 sec is near the maximum exposure time for night sky without stars following, with longer time you have elliptical patterns than circular stars, but all is FL dependent you can do longer exposure with shorter FL (astrophotography web site are very good to explain that)

And your bird trek in Spain ?

Food for thought Gilles, thank you.

No video, only photos from Spain in recent times. Found some bee-eaters with help of Jesus Laborda