Timelapse - Iron Horse Express

[sconosciuto]

Extra commentary here, bonus pic on the website.

C&C definitely appreciated here, thanks

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Well here is the first time-lapse production that I feel passes quality control. I've a few others in the vault but haven't bothered to do anything because:
a) the scenery is boring;
b) I hadn't quite figured out how it all works;
c) things died along the way; or
d) all the above.

You might be wondering why I only did it all the way to Ulan-Ude, but trust me on this one. Unless you enjoy watching trees passing by in hyper-fast motion.

A few other things I need to mention:
- This video has been watermarked by a dirty mark that just happens to be in the frame. I strategically placed the camera right there to save me the effort of watermarking it in post processing. Cleaning the windows from the inside wasn't going to achieve much, and nobody was on cleaning duty outside either.
- Reflections couldn't be avoided, unless I constructed some sort of contraption to effectively isolate the camera from the rest of the cabin. However, that would have complicated other technical tasks like replacing batteries.
- You might notice that the sky flashes in epileptic fashion. That's because I used shutter priority mode with evaluative exposure. Until they allow for selective spot metering so I can meter for the sky (rather than the centre point) then this will continue I'm afraid.
- Manual mode is not an option, otherwise I'd be exposing for the worst case scenario (midday sun) and there wouldn't be much more exposure range to get much more of the day in there.

I'll compile an addendum of the technical challenges I've come across in the next time-lapse that is published. Perhaps it will be of interest to enthusiasts out there.

So sit back, relax and enjoy the compressed train ride from the comfort of your home, or wherever else you may be while you're watching this.

[Squeezer]

Interesting. I like the bits where it stops at the station ( about 3 mins ) and you have the people running around.

How many exposures ?
what frequency between frames ?

I must say for such a long time lapse I'd be concerned about my gear given you need to get up to go to the dunny etc

[sconosciuto]

Originally Posted by Squeezer

Interesting. I like the bits where it stops at the station ( about 3 mins ) and you have the people running around.

How many exposures ?
what frequency between frames ?

I must say for such a long time lapse I'd be concerned about my gear given you need to get up to go to the dunny etc

I bought 3 spare batteries off ebay for $18AUD each, they lasted on average for 4 hours each. The remote control was set to take a picture every 3 seconds. Do the maths... I've lost count.

I did a battery change at each interval as quickly as possible to make sure the transitions were seamless.

The technical info is on vimeo, follow up the link.

I was in the cabin for most of the trip, if not my mate was there. All things considered, privacy was fairly well respected on the train anyway. Unless you were in third class, then it's basically a free-for-all on the carriage, no cabins at all. Just an open carriage, a mass communal dormitory on wheels!

[xhanatos]

i would have done it slightly different, like when it's just the same old (boring) scenery, you could have panned into the cabin.. into the train aisle, and shot some people, then back to the train window etc. wouldn't hurt if you covered the other carriages as well.

i feel there's too much of the same landscape, i got bored in the end til the sunset made is interesting again.

[Light Horseman]

Great idea for a time lapse. So good I may have to steal it when I take the California Zephyr from Denver to Salt lake City next month.

The dirty window is definitely a distraction but there's nothing you could do about that. Maybe a you could've added a little time lapse of you (or you're mate) boarding and exiting the train, going to you're seat etc, to give it a better start and end as well as making it a bit more personal.

[baar01]

Originally Posted by Light Horseman

to give it a better start and end as well as making it a bit more personal.

+1 to that. I do agree with xhantos as well, I did find it a bit repetitive.

Seems like you got the technical side down pat though

[sconosciuto]

Cheers for the feedback. I try to keep the personal side away from it, it's more about the journey.

Will see what else I can stick at the beginning and the end in the meantime, perhaps a few short timelapses of something something.

[levin]

quite cool.

mind sharing some info of the setup?

[sconosciuto]

Originally Posted by levin

quite cool.

mind sharing some info of the setup?

Technical information:
Camera: Canon G11 + Yuongnuo Remote Control
Exposure: Tv Priority @ 1/800 sec, ISO100, -2/3 EV, Manual Focus, 3 second intervals
Image: Cloudy WB, Vivid, 6MP resolution

Post production information:
Platform: 2nd Gen Macbook Air
Software: Quicktime 7 Pro, iMovie '09

[jonsey32]

When it started I thought I was watching Star Guitar.

Cool time lapse.

[levin]

how much space did you have on your camera to take all that photos?

that's like 1200 photos an hour and it looks like you took atleast 6hrs of photos on that :S

[El_DupA]

Cool idea, just found zooming in and out and side to side movement of the camera a little distracting. Top marks for patience.

[sconosciuto]

Originally Posted by levin

how much space did you have on your camera to take all that photos?

that's like 1200 photos an hour and it looks like you took atleast 6hrs of photos on that :S

If you check the settings, i was on medium size. So each picture ends up being something like 200kb or so. I had a 16gb card in the camera, so still plenty of room left.

Originally Posted by El_DupA

Cool idea, just found zooming in and out and side to side movement of the camera a little distracting. Top marks for patience.

huh? The camera was stationary the whole time, what you're probably thinking of was the actual train turning left and right giving the illusion of that...

[kombiman]

great tune to go with it too mate!