Hyperlapse Video Shoot

I mentioned a couple of posts ago, that I made it a new years resolution to try new photo techniques.  I’ve been interested in drone photography for a while now, and I’ve marveled at the hyperlapse movies I’ve seen, shot from drones.  My current drone doesn’t have the capability of shooting hyperlapes, but my new mirrorless still/video camera does.

I had some free time this morning, so I went up to Pittsburgh’s West End overlook and tried my hand shooting a hyperlapse.  The day was far from ideal.  It was hazy out and the distance from my camera to the Pittsburgh skyline made the haze was evident.  I doctored the files in Photoshop to look a little better, and that worked out a little better.  After all, this was just meant to be an experiment.

From watching youtube videos on the subject, I use the setting of 1/2 second exposures, every three seconds.  If I shoot about 300 photos and play them back at 24 frames a second, that makes for a 12.5-second video.  My new camera has this feature built-in, so all I needed to do was figure out the exposure and the settings, compose, and hit the start button.

What I learned about shooting hyperlapse movies

While I was pleased with the results, I learned a few things.  First, make sure that your camera’s sensor is perfectly clean/.  If it isn’t, then you’ll have a bunch of little spots on your movie.

I learned how to assemble and edit the still photos in Final Cup pro, in order to make a movie.  You can learn anything on youtube.

I learned that if you stack too many filters on a camera, you end up vignetting the image.  I need some different ND filters.

I learned that the settings worked out really well.  I’m happy with them, but I still might experiment a little more in the future.

Last but not least, I learned that it’s important to have movement in the subject, and the less haze the better the image. I thought the train make the video.  Without it, all you really saw moving was the steam from the building and the merging of the two rivers.

I’m hoping to get out again soon and play some more.  I’ll post any future hyperlapse videos in additional posts.