Time-lapse


Since I have been shooting time-lapse photography, I have gained a much deeper appreciation of the world around me. Time-lapse is a great medium for really accentuating otherwise imperceptible changes in the environment, the subtle movements of the clouds, water and stars, the constantly changing light and motion. I think I have developed an addiction, I see time-lapses everywhere. It is also a great technique for really rooting a building or structure in its surroundings and for providing a powerful sense of place to any location.

Early in 2021 I was invited along by Chimu Adventures on the first special charter flight out of Melbourne down over the Southern Ocean to view the Southern Lights, such an incredible experience viewing the aurora from above the clouds.

I have been fortunate to have won several awards for my night-sky time-lapse work, including the Animated Aesthetic category in Australia's premier astrophotography awards, the David Malin Awards in both 2016 and 2018.

AWARD WINNER: This time lapse movie was judged Best Animated Aesthetic Sequence at the 2018 David Malin Awards, Australia's premier astrophotography awards. I was fortunate to be able to spend 6 weeks as a volunteer caretaker at Cape Bruny Lightstation, courtesy of the Tasmania Parks & Wildlife Service in July 2017. This entitled me to access to the disused convict-built lighthouse tower after dark, which I was able to illuminate with candles on the stairs, and a lamp inside the lens. Having such unrestricted access at all times of the night was incredible. This short is a collection of many many solo hours out under the night-sky. Nikon D750 + 14-24mm f/2.8 / 50mm f/1.8 / 80-400 f/4.5-5.6 Canon 6D + 50mm f/1.8 Canon 7D + Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 Radian motion control Soundtrack: 'Lighthouse' The Waifs

2018 David Malin Award winning time-lapse compilation "Cape Bruny Nights".

AWARD WINNER: This time lapse movie was judged Best Animated Aesthetic Sequence at the 2016 David Malin Awards, Australia's premier astrophotography awards. A time-lapse compilation of the best display of the Aurora Australis from 2015. The G3 geomagnetic storm that hit Earth overnight from October 7 - October 8 2015, from sunspot region 2427, coincided with clear skies in southern Tasmania resulting in a beautiful display of the Southern Lights that kept my friends and I enthralled the whole night through, as we danced the night away under the lights. Bioluminescence was also present on this night, the phytoplankton Noctiluca scintillans (aka Sea Sparkle) turning the breaking waves a neon cobalt blue. Dr David Malin comments; "There's an appealing kind of whimsy about this footage that lends it charm, with figures romantically and randomly appearing in the sea-shore foreground, as the dramatic aurorae and subtle bioluminescence create an ever-changing backdrop throughout the night." Time-lapse sequences captured on: 1. Nikon D750, Nikkor 14-24mm f/2.8G ED lens, each exposure 8sec @f3.2, ISO 2500. 2. Canon 7D, Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 lens, each exposure 15sec @f3.2, ISO 2500. Edited in Adobe Lightroom, and rendered with LRTimelapse. Soundtrack: 'Lights in the Sky', George Winston.

2016 David Malin Award winning time-lapse "Under Southern Skies".

More of my time-lapse work can be seen on Vimeo by clicking the 'V' icon at the bottom of the page.

Below is an interview I did with Luke Tscharke on the Talking Landscape Photography channel about everything Aurora Photography.