where there’s smoke there’s forum fire
Hi everyone,
I shot this time lapse on my D2h last Tuesday at the Dignified Transfer of six Americans killed in Afghanistan.
<object width="400" height="300"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="
Hi everyone,
I shot this time lapse on my D2h last Tuesday at the Dignified Transfer of six Americans killed in Afghanistan.
Let me know what you think!
Cheers.
Interesting Bill. I'll be honest and say that I don't think the stop motion works well in this case. I would of preferred a closer perspective, but that's not to say your "video" doesn't get me thinking...
What was your set up and camera settings etc?
*Please people lets stay off any political comments and let's just talk about the photographic technique used instead*
Thanks for posting Bill
IMHO - the stop motion technique doesn't work on this shot - too big time gap between this shots
@Niko @adamz - I shot it with a D2h and a 17-35 set at 17. The tripod was set up at 18 inches. This is a continuation of time lapse phase Ive been in lately.
Anyway. I originally set up for one shot/second then changed it at the last second for one shot/10 seconds. Next one (and there undoubtedly will be more of those events) I will do one shot/five seconds. A friend of mine commented that the speed is just right. Anymore and it would look like a Benny Hill sequence, he said. He might be right but one shot/five seconds will give me more options during post.
Benny Hill, that's right. That's why I don't think it goes well in this case, it does remind me of Benny Hill even at that rate. I feel the honor guard shouldn't be portrayed in a "stuttered" manner. I'd showcase single frames from the shoot or just shoot the whole ceremony in video. I personally wouldn't want to "experiment" at an event like this.
I've heard the media isn't interested in covering this subject as they once were when it was "taboo". I read Steve Ruark with the AP was the only photog covering the transfers at Dove?
How about showing us some other subjects you've shot in stop motion, Bill? I'm interested in seeing how you've applied this technique on other subjects.
Thanks for the reply Bill and keep posting 'em :^)
Doesn't work for me either, the shots are too far apart to get a flickering or even a fluid motion effect. For me it was like the Monty Python's Ministry of Sillywalks sketch, so I'd also urge you to choose a subject matter where ridicule is welcome.
Thanks for the critique, everyone. I will continue to shoot time lapse at this event in the future. To me it does better at capturing the emotion of the ceremony. How do I figure that? From the emails families have sent me since posting. You can say "oh that's the family saying that during an emotional time." They are indeed telling me they appreciate the "vid" during an emotional time. But in the end, as a photojournalist, that's who my "customer" is, right?
@Niko - actually the "taboo" was one of the reasons the media pushed for the ban's end. What's driving the lack of coverage now is expense getting out to Dover. I live just outside D.C. and it ran me $50 in gas to drive out (I have a SUV). Unless I get an assignment, I pay for my trips out. But that's a whole different discussion. I am editing more now. Mostly landscape/seascape stuff. Will post them in the future.
As for technique, I was doing one shot/second at first. My D2h clattering at that rate was extremely distracting. One shot/10 seconds or one shot/five seconds will seem about right in the future.
Yeah it's a shame the "story" is now how there's no media covering the transfers. Your capturing some real history out there at Dover Bill.
I'd be interested in seeing the other frame rates just to compare. What are the slight changes in exposure due to? Exposure not locked in?
I did 1 shot/1 second for the first minute or so then changed to 1 shot/10 seconds. So there's really not much new to put in. The jumpy cloud is definitely fixable. Thanks for the heads up.
Hey Bill, I just came across another "well know" photographer who "filmed" a Dignified Transfer with this exact same technique. His time lapse is also dated Oct 6,2009 and shows 6 soldiers returning home. The video even shows the same cloud that monty11 references above.
Are you aware of this? Were you assisting him perhaps?
You must log in to post.
