How BBC Earth Brought Plants to Life for ‘The Green Planet’ Documentary

#culture #news #technology #bbc #bbcearth #biolapse #davidattenborough #documentary #how #howitwasshot #plants #thegreenplanet #timelapse

Timelapses for a Netflix Mushroom Documentary Took 15 Years to Create

Filmmaker Louie Schwartzberg has been creating timelapses of different fungi over the course of the last 15 years as part of his film Fantastic Fungi. In a video with Wired , he explains how he creates these epic sequences.

Fantastic Fungi is a 2019 film directed by Louie Schwartzberg that has been recently added to Netflix. Schwartzberg describes it as "a consciousness-shifting film" that takes viewers on an immersive journey through time and scale into the wild world of fungus that lives underground and is connected in a network that some argue can heal and save the planet. In it, Schwartzberg shows the vast variety of fungus, from those that are edible to those that kill, and from mushrooms that can clear oil spills to those that help trees communicate.

Through the eyes of renowned scientists and mycologists like Paul Stamets, best-selling authors like Michael Pollan, Eugenia Bone, Andrew Weil and others, we become aware of the beauty, intelligence and solutions that fungi kingdom offers in response to some of our most pressing medical, therapeutic, and environmental challenges.

In an interview with Wired, Schwartzberg reveals that he doesn't create the sequences in his timelapses in ways that most people expect.

"I think the biggest surprise for people watching the film is that they think it's all filmed outdoors," he says. "There are a lot of reasons why you can't film timelapses of plants and fungi outdoors. Number one: there is wind, which would make the object shake and rattle and look like a Charlie Chaplain movie. Number two: there are bugs and other elements that would interfere with filming."

Schwartzberg says that in order to make his dreamy sequences, the light has to be constant. Outdoors -- even during the day -- the light fluctuates. In order to fully control his shots, he built a studio on top of his garage. Even in a controlled environment, getting his shots is complex and time-consuming.

"I am shooting one frame every 15 minutes, that means I'm shooting four frames an hour, times 24, is 96 frames. 96 frames is four seconds of film," he explains.

Schwartzberg has a custom intervalometer that not only triggers his camera but also his grow lights as well as his photo lights, which he uses to create his scenes. He is able to program the lights to mimic different times of day. The reason he needs to have his grow lights connected to the intervalometer is that he needs to simulate a real environment. If the lights are on all the time, for example, the mushrooms will die.

Because the mushrooms are always expanding during their growth, Schwartzberg has to imagine his composition and framing before they rise out of the ground, which complicates the process further.

"I would say roughly the ratio of success to failure is about one out of six, maybe one out of ten," he says. "It's extremeluy difficult to do."

For more from Louie Schwartzberg and the film, make sure to visit the Fantastic Fungi website or stream the movie on Netflix.

#educational #inspiration #biolapse #fungi #louieschwartzberg #mushrooms #mycology #netflix #timelapse #timelapses

Long-Term Timelapse Photographer Shares Tips on Mastering the Craft

Although timelapse -- and especially long-term timelapse -- might appear intimidating to beginners, photographer and filmmaker Casper Rolsted has shared simple tips that anyone can follow to get started even with basic equipment.

Rolsted, based in Denmark, has spent several years perfecting his timelapse technique, which has resulted in numerous short films, such as his "Seasons of Denmark" series, that use this method to showcase the beauty of nature and the changes that occur in the landscape over time.

He tells PetaPixel that he does not use what he would consider very expensive equipment and his cameras of choice are two mirrorless APS-C cameras -- two Sony Alpha 6300 and one Sony Alpha 6000. The RAW photos shot with these cameras offer plenty of resolution and quality for timelapses, while at the same time the camera bodies are small in size and easy to carry on long hikes, which is helpful.

For optics, Rolsted mainly uses manual focus lenses from Samyang, such as the 12mm, 21mm, 50mm, and 100mm. Most timelapse photographers don't use autofocus anyway because it can result in inconsistent focus through a shot. To add movement in his projects, he uses a motorized slider from Edelkrone -- SliderPlus Medium with Action and Target Module, while for aerial timelapse shots he works with a DJI Phantom 4 Pro drone.

However, looking back to his own start into timelapse work, Rolsted points out that he shot his first timelapse with a smartphone, and recommends others -- who might not have access to a suitable camera -- to do the same.

"I think it's more important to focus on finding some interesting landscapes and building experience than buying expensive equipment," says Rolsted. "If you become more interested, then you can always buy a camera, but there is no need to invest in an expensive full-frame camera. An inexpensive APS-C camera would be just fine for timelapse."

Similarly, camera sliders and pan and tilt heads can add another dimension to the footage but it is not a necessary piece of equipment and it can be expensive and heavy to carry around. First and foremost, a timelapse photographer has to ensure that the camera is stable to avoid shaky footage, which means it's more practical to invest in a good sturdy tripod instead. A neutral density filter is another useful piece of equipment, Rolsted says.

It helps limit the light that passes through the lens to the image sensor and makes it possible to use a longer shutter speed to create motion blur on fast-moving objects.

"For the best result the shutter speed should be half of the shooting interval, for example, if an interval of two seconds is selected, then the shutter speed should be one second," he adds.

If Rolsted was starting today, based on his current experience, he would pick the following as his timelapse kit: Sony a6400 combined with Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8. He'd also add a Manfrotto MT190 XPRO4 190 aluminum tripod with Manfrotto 496 Compact ball head and a selection of ND filters, like Haida Slim ND filter set: ND8x, ND64x, and ND1000x.

The process of shooting timelapses is not a difficult task, he says, but the editing can be challenging. The workflow is very different from editing photos or videos and can definitely be a time-consuming process. For those who are new to timelapses, Rolsted recommends choosing a specific topic first and to apply the same composition considerations as one would taking a regular photograph. After that, the photographer has to consider changes over time because "a timelapse where nothing changes is not very interesting."

For example, in the short film from Scottish Highlands, Rolsted has captured moving clouds, that are also reflected on the surface of the water, the wind shaking trees, people hiking in the mountain trails, waterfall creating soft movement, and more. All of these differently composed motions add interest to the footage and showcase a location or a theme from diverse angles.

A few simple guidelines to try timelapses for the first time include using a sturdy tripod to avoid shaky footage, turning off autofocus on the camera, selecting a manual program to ensure uniform lighting, and choosing a fixed white balance which further helps make the footage consistent.

Rolsted then recommends shooting the photos in JPEG format -- even though RAW files offer a number of benefits, it makes the overall process more complicated and time-consuming -- and setting the interval to start the shoot.

The chosen interval will depend on the situation and the shooter's personal taste. For example, for people-based work, one second is suitable, two to four seconds for shooting with clouds, and 10 to 30 seconds for shooting the night sky. In Rolsted's short film, "Seasons of Denmark: Spring", where he captured blooming spring flowers, he selected 40 minutes between each photo.

"Seasons of Denmark: Spring"

For those whose cameras do not have a built-in timelapse function, an intervalometer can be purchased and connected to the camera to then set the desired time interval. Finally, once all photos have been taken, they need to be put together into a timelapse either using the camera's own timelapse function or external editing programs, such as Adobe Lightroom or LRTimelapse.

More of Rolsted’s timelapses can be found on his YouTube and Vimeo page, while his portfolio can be seen on his website and Instagram.

Image credits: All images by Casper Rolsted and used with permission.

#educational #equipment #tips #biolapse #casperrolsted #changingseasons #denmark #landscape #landscapetimelapse #longtermtimelapse #seasons #timelapse #timelapsefilm #timelapsephotography #timelapseproject

Timelapse Reveals Unseen Changes Brought by the Coming of Spring

A Denmark-based photographer has released his final short film from the series "Seasons of Denmark," which chronicles his home country's changing seasons through cinematic timelapses that show the beauty of nature as it comes alive in spring.

A self-described timelapse photographer, aerial filmmaker, and visual effects artist, Casper Rolsted grew up in a picturesque area in Denmark, surrounded by rivers, lakes, forests, and wide-open spaces. As someone who has always found nature a source of regeneration and inspiration, Rolsted added photography to the mix -- first with film photography and later with digital photography and filmmaking when he first acquired a Sony Alpha 6300 and a drone.

"Very fast I fell in love with the challenge of making timelapses and aerial filmmaking," says Rolsted. "In summer 2016 I drove from my home in Denmark to the North Cape in Northern Norway with the purpose of shooting footage for a few short films about nature in Norway. It became five successful short films and the beginning of a new career."

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The timelapse technique, such as the one featured in his short film, is something that Rolsted particularly enjoys because he says that it makes it possible in a few seconds to follow the evolution of an event or object over time, which is normally invisible to the eye. In the last two years, Rolsted has explored another area within this genre -- long-term timelapse.

This allows him to shoot timelapses of growing plants, blooming flowers, and mushrooms breaking through the forest floor. Although challenging, Rolsted tells PetaPixel that he has spent a lot of time developing new techniques to get the best possible result.

As with many creatives this and last year, due to travel restrictions Rolsted turned his sight towards what's directly in his vicinity, which is how his short film originated. He notes that Denmark does not have much wild nature, however with some research, it is still possible to find beautiful places. This has been made easier now due to the growing interest in rewilding Denmark -- a term that describes how many areas return to a wild state every year.

The goal of the "Seasons of Denmark" project is to share the wonders of nature with the audience and help viewers fall back in love with it.

"It is only when we fall in love with something, we truly want to protect it," says Rolsted. "I focus on presenting nature at its most natural. To fully capture the authentic atmosphere of the places I have combined the visuals with detailed soundscapes. I use songs from nature’s own sound library and supplement these with gentle background music to create a captivating atmosphere."

The spring season appeals to Rolsted because nature is blooming and it is an inspiring time that "reminds us to embrace joy and love." In the short film, Rolsted explores Skjoldungernes Land National Park, Ise Fjord, and West Zealand, Denmark.

More of Rolsted's timelapses, including the other films from his "Seasons of Denmark" project can be found on his YouTube and Vimeo page, while his portfolio can be seen on his website and Instagram.

#features #inspiration #biolapse #casperrolsted #changingseasons #denmark #landscape #landscapetimelapse #longtermtimelapse #seasons #timelapse #timelapsefilm #timelapsephotography #timelapseproject