HVX Test and Timelapse footage

Justyn

Justyn

Veteran
Just put the 4 minute HVX test edit on the server. The compression is a lot better but still only 300kbs. ON a shorter piece I'll increase the bitrate. It requires quicktime 7. Please download it as a source. Right click and save as on the PC, control click on the Mac. I'll have more uploads next week. thanks for viewing.


http://www.electriccowtheater.com/video/hvxdemo.mov
 
I really liked the timelapse footage and even the whole Tony Scott editing thing. But IMO in needs to be calmed down just a little. The sunsets with the clouds were really nice and even the tree with the clouds moving behind it. But it would be nice to see some other timalpse footage.

The skating stuff was really sick and that bowl looks like it would be fun to cruise around in. The other footage of the singers and dancers wasn't really doing it for me. I think because it just wasn't as exciting as the other footage. Plus the lighting in those areas didn't look that great. I know it was just the lights they had there...or were they.

Still, all in all good footage.
 
Thanks drew. I tend to be more frenetic with the editing and less conventional as time goes on -- and those timelapses were done for a specific music video. I'll put up some others but regretably I lost the majority of timelapse.. and skating footage on a HD crash. I had some great stuff from the coast and a bunch of big air skating footage coming out of that bowl.

A lot of the demo was with available light and just exposure managment... but mostly a getting use to the camera and the controls/settings. I have a few more "managed" shoots going on so I'll put that up.

Thanks for the comments.
 
Sonic... I shot all of that footage at 30p. The 24p is cool and all, but I like 30p for more natural and uncontrolled shooting environments.... maybe it's the flicker in the LCD or something, or maybe I'm just not used to having it as an option...

I'm assuming you have the HVX, right.. or going to get one? IF so, then there's a couple of things that I've figured out through some trial and error... and some camera stuff too.

1. Before you do a a timelapse.. or during your first ones.. observe the path of the sun/moon/clouds or whatever and anticipate that motion and compose your shots accordingly. Give ample lead in and lead out time for moving objects....

2. Set your exposure manually and then lock it in. Figure for a sunrise and sunset accordingly and estimate the best possible exposure for the duration of the timelapse. Don't adjust the exposure or you'll ruin the shot... even the slightest adjustment is very noticable...

3. Figure out mathematically how long you want to do the timelapse for.. and then how long you want the run time to be.. and that is what you'll set the interval to be. I prefer the 1 frame every 5 seconds.. but in doing that you have to do a longer durational timelapse. 1 frame every second is great for when you only have a short period of time.. or if you know you are getting "the money" and you want more of it... and then you can always speed it up in post. So, experiment around with the intervals to see what you like.

4. Be sure to lock down the tripod... A few early timelapse were messed up by me bumping the camera.. stupid me!

5. When doing sunset timelapses realize that you will have some noise to deal with and make your settings for low-noise.. especially with the blacks. Post CC works a great deal...

6. Sunrises are a pain. I've done 2 and both were great for everything except composition. Hard to set a frame when it's pitch black outside.... So, on my 3rd sunset timelapse I got smart... I pushed the gain, opened up, put it on a slow shutter just to see what kind of a shot I was getting.. Then I stopped it down, put on a high shutter and I was still able to start with a black opening frammed timelapse...

7. I have mostly done the timelapses in 1080 as they don't take up a lot of card space. Even the longest timelapse I've done was only 2 minutes on the card in 1080.. so live a little and splurge..


If I didn't answer anything specifically send me a PM. Timelapses are a lot of fun with the HVX and instant gratification... without a lot of hassel. My upcoming timelapses are going to be more more technical as I plan to do some panning timelapses and when this music video shoot comes around I will be doing some dolly moves during the timelapses.... especially on the skater dolly that I'll be building next week.


Thanks and hope that was of some help.... Drew has got the digital still timelapses dialed in really well so check out his thread and website for major inspiration. I've done some with my digital rebel and it's cool to be able to do two timelapses of the same location but composed differently... So- more to come!
 
Mike... that sounds awesome! I'm kind of doing the same thing with my Rebel... but more of shooting two different angles of the same scene... Works really well because sometimes ya don't know how tight to go and what will really be the best compromise so this way we can do both.

I've shot a lot of footage with the Rebel for my HD shoots.... especially timelapse and stop frame stuff. WIth the HVX along with a high rez cam it's money! Can't also wait to get a 35mm adapter as I have a coulple of grand in still lenses to throw on front of the HVX.
 
Justyn-

Thanks for the reply and the advice.

Actually, I've got a DVX. Not HD, but I dig it.

I think most of what you said still applies.
 
Mike,

It certainly does. Post some stuff when you get around to it. I bet you have some beautiful locations there and that's 90 percent of the battle. I personally can't wait to go to the castle in the clouds in NH to do a timelapse at one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. NH doesn't have much going on... except for the scenery.... Another place that screams for timelapse is Utah. Both in the south and the North... absolutely breathtaking views... ahhh.


Good luck brother and let us oggle at what you come up with...
 
Is that in UT? I'd love to go back. I was there for the filmmaker's lab at Sundance. Working for free... but paid in beautiful scenery...
 
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