WOT Timelapse (simple) technical question

Duncan H wrote on 9/8/2014, 8:58 PM

Hi. Recently travelled to Central Aus & managed to take a most respectable timelapse sequence using GH4 firing off an image every 10 secs during sunset.Set manual exposure (ISO/shutter/aperture) at first image, correctly exposed & simply let camera snap away until dark. Imported into SVP 12, works a treat, now got a great looking 8 secs of sunset over Kata Tjuta rock formation.

My question (& I'm thinking it must be a pretty simple one), is how does one manage quality image sequences for a sunrise. How does one set (the correct manual settings that will be correct for teh final frame of sequence), when it is still dark?? If I leave camera on "auto" or leave it to make exposure adjustments, it will continue seeking to deliver "correct" exposures and will not result in a quality timelapse. Hope that makes sense and someone can help me with my lack of photographic experience., Thanks in anticipation

Duncan

Comments

johnmeyer wrote on 9/8/2014, 9:18 PM

In the old days, when we still only shot on film, the insert that Kodak included with film usually had some f-stop/shutter speed combinations that you could use for sunrises, sunsets, fireworks, indoor sporting events, etc. While these were supposed to be used as guidelines, they often worked pretty well.

So, if you can find something like this in the manual for your camera, or online, that should work.

The second idea is simply to search through footage you've already taken. Most cameras include the f-stop and shutter speed settings inside the metadata that is included with each frame. If you enable the display of this metadata, you can simply look at other footage you have shot in the early morning, after sunrise, and then manually dial in those values.

videoITguy wrote on 9/8/2014, 9:21 PM

IMO you cannot shoot any timelapse scene without rehearsal. I own some of the most sophisticated timelapse controls ever made for cameras and the issue becomes one of the scene changing overtime with large variables. Be it sunset or sunrise - you have to know from your vantage point the exposure at begin, middle, and end - and certainly this can be extrapolated even into further minute increments.
Review the site, set up rehearsal tests, document your findings, and then return for the final shoot.

Duncan H wrote on 9/8/2014, 10:15 PM

Thanks John & VideoITguy for your really prompt and useful responses. I thought I must be missing some simple set up. Your answers help a great deal and I shall endeavour to follow John's advice (to get into the approximate ballpark) followed by VideoITguy's advice to fine tune.

Terrific.

Duncan

videoITguy wrote on 9/8/2014, 11:31 PM

I should make it clear that the way I shoot timelapse is to shoot bracketed bursts at intervals. Lets say your timing interval is 1 hour. So on the hour I burst with 3 brackets.
Exposure bracket 1 is 1/2 f/stop over and under of a full f/stop under normal - exposure bracket 2 is 1/2 f/stop over and under of a normal read, and exposure bracket 3 is 1/2 f/stop over and under of one full f/stop greater than normal. - So every hour that is nine frames of shooting with some overlap to compensate for any random issues and plenty of frames to choose a final exposure to use as that hour's frame.

You get the idea...

Duncan H wrote on 9/9/2014, 2:00 AM

Thanks, really helpful. I absolutely get the idea of bracketed shots & appreciate your help. Maybe not such a silly question as I really thought that I was missing something simple, but completing a sunrise sequence on the correct exposure is obviously alot harder than starting a sunset sequence on the right exposure. Much appreciated.

Chienworks wrote on 9/9/2014, 9:32 AM

Record a sunset and then play it backwards. ;)

Rich Parry wrote on 9/9/2014, 10:11 AM

What you are asking for is called "The Holy Grail" of time-lapse (day to night or night to day).

Here is how to do it right, it is far more complex than you might think involving hardware, special software, and special post processing. This will get you started, good luck.

https://vimeo.com/71496530