by Grryo Community | Sep 12, 2014 | Stories
Creating Time-lapse Videos with Instagrams New App Hyperlapse by Matt Coch
Hyperlapse is a brand new time-lapse app from the makers of Instagram. There are plenty of other apps already available to shoot time-lapses, some much better than others. I currently rotate and use three different apps myself for various features and situations.
Typically when I shoot a time-lapse, I find my subject matter, set my frame rate within the app, lock my phone onto a mini tripod, press record, and wait. My time-lapses on average usually run about 30 seconds of video which can take up to an hour of actual recording time to achieve, depending on my camera settings. What makes Hyperlapse different from other time-lapse apps is its simplicity and ease of use.
Open the app and it opens straight to the record screen. No options, no settings to change, just a record button.
While in record mode, their are two small timers running at the bottom of he screen. On the left, the timer tells you how long you have been recording in real time. The timer on the right tells you the run time of your time lapse footage. That’s a really nice feature that I’m surprised other time lapse apps don’t have. Most only tell you how much footage has been shot.
But here there’s no second guessing. After your done recording and press stop, you are prompted with the only option you’re given to control and edit your time-lapse. Pick the speed you want it played back at. You can select 1x, 2x, 4x, 6x, 8x, 10x, and 12x speeds. You are allowed to preview your footage at the different speeds. But choose your selected speed wisely, because once you do, there is no going back.
The footage is then processed, saved to your camera roll and you are asked if you’d like to share your footage or start a new time lapse.
For whatever reason, if you choose not to decide what speed you’d like to save your footage at you do have the option of clicking the red ‘x’ in the top left corner after shooting your video. You’ll be asked if you’d like to edit later or delete the footage completely.
That’s all there is to it.
But how does handle? I took Hyperlapse for a spin on a recent trip to Coney Island in Brooklyn and put it to the test. Where the app truly excels is with its built in automatic digital image stabilization. What does that mean? It enables you to handhold your phone while taking your time lapse. No more tripods! With this stabilization technology the app almost begs you to move while recording your video to some pretty amazing and exciting results. In my test videos all scenes were taken while hand-holding, something I would never even think about attempting with other time lapse apps. I’ve edited my sample videos together below using iMovie.
All in all, Hyperlapse is an amazing simple and easy tool to use to capture time lapse video. Although it has limited, almost no options or settings to fine tune your video it makes up for lack of features with its digital stabilization, opening the doors for new types of time lapses. Although I prefer to have as much control as possible on my final images and videos, the freedom to just shoot and focus on the subject matter and not worry about settings here is welcome. Hyperlapse may not be good for all time lapses because of its lack of features, but it’s a welcome new app to add to my tool bag when I’m out and about shooting. Have you played with Hyperlapse yet? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below. I’d love to know what you think.
by Grryo Community | Aug 5, 2014 | Stories
Street Photography and the Cinemagraph by Matt Coch
A Cinemagraph is a still photo that contains a subtle element of video motion. The movement within the image continuously loops similar to the motion of a GIF. A really effective Cinemagraph will play with the viewers perceptions. Is it video? Is it a photograph? It’s both really.
I recently had the opportunity to play with the Cinemagraph app on the Nokia Lumia 1020 and had some interesting results. To shoot one you simply hold the camera still for a few seconds after you depress the shutter. The results can be quite fun. You can also tweak the images by masking areas you would like to see move or by erasing areas within the frame that contain motion you want to freeze. It’s that simple.
While shooting I found that certain scenes lend themselves better to the Cinemagraph than others.
Neon
In this scene the crowd under the neon sign are obviously moving as some are captured mid-step. Although they are frozen in time the neon sign continues to flash, strongly enhancing the strange illusion. Neon signs are good subject matter because the looping motion of the cinemagraph allows for less error.
Remember the loop or have a happy accident.
My first cinemagraph was of this street scene in Time Square. I took the picture without any thought of how the end result would look. I wasn’t thinking about the looping motion. It starts, ends, then repeats. So the result was the “Dissapearing Man” who vanishes just before crossing the street. Not exactly a good cinemagraph, but a fun little accident all the same.
Wind
Windy days are good for playing with cinemagraphs. You can shoot a frame that has lots of motion and then select the items you would like to freeze.
A little harder to achieve was this woman’s blowing hair and jacket. Trying to isolate all the people milling about while only masking what I wanted to move, took a little bit of work but I’m happy with the result.
Reflections
All kinds of reflections work well with cinemagraphs from windows and mirrors to puddles. This was probably the easiest one to achieve because the puddle had nothing else moving around it and could be masked quickly.
Subtlety
Some of the best cinemagraphs are so subtle you barely notice them for what they are. In this image of Rockafeller Center I kept the motion of the flags blowing and the water fountain flowing but froze the ice skaters, one captured mid-stumble.
Have Fun
There is a little bit of a learning curve with cinemagraphs. But as with anything a little practice and patience goes a long way. It helps to have a little foresight before taking the picture, imagine what the end result will be and then work towards achieving it. The most important thing to remember is to just have fun with it!
by Grryo Community | Jul 30, 2014 | Stories
The Abandoned Kingdom of Camelot by Andy Butler
I was inspired by the subject of abandoned photography by Anna Cox‘s interview with Mike Hill in Mobiography magazine back in August last year. Mike talked about the theme of the abandoned and showcased a selection of his amazing imagery from several locations including the famous Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia and the Six Flags amusement park in New Orleans. The stories behind these atmospheric locations got me thinking about searching for old and abandoned locations that I could explore for myself.
It is the history and stories that lay behind a building or location and the idea that nature reclaims them that fascinates me. Inspired by this idea, I set out to find my own abandoned project. My quest led me to ‘The Magical Kingdom of Camelot’.
The Towers of Camelot
Camelot, a local theme park, was once a bustling tourist attraction. It was based on the legend of King Arthur and opened its gates in 1983. It grew in size and popularity before finally closing in 2012, due to a downturn in visitor numbers. This downturn was blamed on a combination of the UK’s economic recession and several seasons of bad summer weather. Personally I feel the extortionate entrance fees played a major role in the parks demise.
During the summer of 1991 I worked at the park so in a small way I have a fond connection to the place or at least some fun memories of doing hand brake turns in milk floats as we stocked up the various food outlets at the end of the day.
My interest in Camelot as the subject of an abandoned photographic project was ignited following a story in the local press about local opposition to the land being developed into a large housing estate. My appetite was further fueled following the discovery of a series of photographs of Camelot on the Abandoned Playgrounds website.
I had to get inside the walls of Camelot and check it out for myself before it was gone forever.
My opportunity came one spring morning which saw the day breaking to clear, sunny blue skies. My dawn raid on King Arthur’s Camelot saw me enter the park through a large hole on the fence at the back of the complex. After a short walk across a field I entered the animal centre. This was the same farm I visited with my son only four years before. Once full of life with all sorts of inhabitants roaming free, I now found it to be a desolate and empty place. An eery ghost town.
King Arthur’s Animal Centre
Leaving the animal centre, ahead of me stood the towering framework of Knightmare. Once the jewel in the crown and centre piece attraction of Camelot, this landmark was visible for miles around but now it’s steel framework stood proud and rusting.
Photographically Knightmare presented thousands of photo opportunities everywhere you looked but there was an air of sadness to see it in such a state. Four years previously it had been full of screaming and had a buzzing atmosphere but now it was quiet and bleak with its only customers being the birds and rabbits.
Your Worst Knightmare
As I headed deeper into the kingdom of Camelot I came across the Dungeons of Doom. The dungeons was a small ghost ride of sheer terror which as I remember wasn’t actually a very scary experience. However, in its now abandoned and derelict state it presented a much more eery atmosphere with plenty of photographic opportunities to be had.
Dungeon of Doom
Onwards my quest led me to the jousting arena which in its day played host to daily displays of jousting and swordsmanship before a baying crowd of onlookers. King Arthur would sit on his thrown, observing the battles between the red and black knights. Again, four years previously I was part of that crowd. I have fond memories sat with my son as the court jester entertained the crowds.
King Arthur’s Jousting Arena
As the sun broke over the trees I began to make my way back through a small village once ladened with souvenir shops but again an air of sadness engulfed the place as the memories of a vibrant atmosphere long faded into the distance of time.
Camelot Village
The thing that struck me about shooting an abandoned location is the unique atmosphere it presents. It has memories embedded into the fabric its being. There is a contrast between something that was once proud and majestic against something that is now decaying and neglected as the passage of time and nature takes over.
This was my first experience of shooting an abandoned project and the first of many I hope. I have since returned to Camelot on several occasions and intend to a few more times before it is gone forever.
The path to the Arena
by Grryo Community | Jul 28, 2014 | Stories
Harness the Spark
How It’s Done, An Interview with Brandon Kidwell by Mike Hill
M – Introduce yourself!
B – Hmmm… I guess I would describe myself as a normal guy with an abnormally overactive imagination. I’m from Jacksonville, Florida, US but I’ve lived all over the states including Maryland, California, Missouri, and the Chicago area as well as many friends couches off and on for a few years in my late teens, early 20’s. I’m a happily married guy with three incredible kids, a mini farm and I work in Financial Reporting for a large company. I daydream often and my wife would say I’m still a child at heart (or in everyday actions).
To Find Truth Sometimes You Have To Reach Into The Darkness
M – Right? Nothing wrong with being a big kid, guilty! But your artwork is that of a seasoned veteran. I’ve seen both straight photography to very edited from you, both done with precision. Do you prefer one over the other? And do you have a photography background?
B – Oh man, thanks, that really means a lot. I don’t have a photography background which I think is why I enjoy all styles of photography. I feel like I’m still green so I want to be a sponge and absorb all that I can learn about photography while leaving myself outside the confines of labeling or styles. This is really just a way to fulfill a creative need and express myself while hopefully learning more about myself and the world around me through photography. I don’t want to close any avenues and explore all roads because you never know, some of the photos I tried that felt completely foreign or unnatural at first, later became some of my favorites and pushed me into areas I was once uncomfortable with. I think that over time I’ll find my vision and my photos will become more consistent.
Morning Battles
M – Nice, that’s a good attitude, and I always say that photography is better approached as a hobby. On Instagram, your part of a group called Silhouette Creative, what can you tell us about it?
B – Silhouette Creative is a great Instagram community that consists of some incredible and inspiring friends. Jonny @jonnylove8js, Elaine @sunflowerof21, Marko @mmmarac, Jeff @postaljeff and Jess @jess1fer are all my talented teammates. The group started with a conversation with Jeff after he saw a few images I started tagging #silhouette_creative from my old Instagram feed (now gone). I was using the tag because the only time I had to shoot was on the way to work or on the weekends before my wife and kids woke up. Living in Florida I naturally compiled a ton of silhouettes and started getting very creative with them and wanted to organize them. From there Jeff tagged a few of his photos and shared the tag. I had a conversation with Jonny who also shared my knack for getting creative with silhouettes and @silhouette_creative (SC) was born in mid 2013. Jonny and I featured Elaine then naturally asked her to join. SC wouldn’t be the same without Elaine, she keeps us organized and focused, I’d say if we were a company she’d be our COO. We added Marko shortly after, he is a true artist and has an incredible eye for aesthetics. Jeff was later added and brought his creative genius to the team. Jess was the latest addition who’s talented and uplifting attitude was a perfect fit. We never wanted SC to be anything other than what it is, a community that likes silhouettes of all kinds. We don’t use tags or promote, we just like to celebrate and help share artists that inspire us and hopefully help others make some connections.
Driftwood Sunrise
M – Speaking of Instagram, you deleted your profile a few months ago, then after a while started a new one. Why? You and I pretty much agree on what Instagram has become, but what made you decide to come back?
B – I love the connections I made through Instagram, it’s where I found photography because I didn’t have the time or the money before my iPhone to enjoy and learn to capture and create in such a convenient way, it made it all accessible. On the other hand I got caught up in the “Instagram” of it all. The influence of what’s popular on Instagram started bleeding into me and I didn’t see it until I had to take a break for Thanksgiving last year. I noticed that I wouldn’t post a picture because it didn’t look right on my feed or was reluctant to post something I didn’t think was popular. In a sense, I took a step back and felt I lost my way. I had no purpose and no end game for photography or Instagram, it was merely a way to record scenes I thought were interesting, capture my corner of the world how I see it or create an image that conveys an emotion or a story I want to tell. I stopped doing that and started just taking what I thought were just pretty pictures that had no significant meaning to me. After I deleted my feed I started up on Flickr and iPhoneArt, and got much more involved in AMPt and started my own website to organize my photography (I’m very inconsistent and open to any style that fits the emotion or image). Through these communities I found my way back to why I was interested in photography in the first place and fell in love all over again. When I rejoined Instagram it was with the intentions of following all of the people that inspired me from my prior feed and occasionally posting to advertise for WeAreJuxt (now GRRYO) or AMPt and help support the communities I enjoy, but I found myself posting more and more over time but using Instagram just as a tool to share and connect, a means, not an end.
Devan
M – My introduction to your photos started with your double exposure work, this was back before everyone was doing it, now it’s EVERYWHERE. There’s a lot of ‘follow the leader’ in photography, and specifically in the Instagram circles. What inspires you to stay creatively forward thinking, and not getting mixed up in the latest artistic trend?
B – I try to make it a point to step out of my comfort zone and try something new or let myself be open to try new things, sometimes they turn out better than you could have imagined and open you up to new realms of creativity. Honestly, the double exposure interest has always been there but it was at the time that I deleted my Instagram feed that I took the time to play around with some photos and ran across a tutorial for a double exposure setting within the Canon Mark III, and I thought I could mimic that within Filterstorm, and was hooked. I wouldn’t have found that if I didn’t take a step back to clear my expectations and open myself up. I think no matter what is trending if you are creating something that’s meaningful to you it will show in your work and it will be original. I think it’s a great idea if you feel you’re in a rut to clear every photo from your camera or your phone and just go for a walk or a drive, rediscover the world with a blank slate and clear eyes.
Where Is My Mind?!?
M – I agree, and do the exact same thing where I clear all photos and start over. It helps to reboot. You recently had a new addition to the family, the birth of your new boy. Congrats again! With the birth of Brayden, has that changed your creative flow?
B – I can say he’s been the greatest distraction from my creative process I could ask for. He’s definitely inspired me to create but I don’t want to miss anything so I’ve kept the phone and my cameras on charge more and left the exploring and photo adventures for another day. I look forward to seeing everything fresh through his eyes in the coming years. Our two oldest and myself are a bunch of kids at heart. My wife is great and enjoys the fun with us but she’s our ground control, keeps us on earth from time to time, she’s incredible. I’m sure my photos will be filled with cute and silly stuff with lots of family for a while. In the meantime I keep busy with random photos when convenient, I’m always shooting something.
Lil Dragon
M – You and I have spoken many times about the significance and future of mobile photography, specifically the term “mobile photography”. Do you think it will last as a separate thing, or will it all eventually merge into just photography?
B – I’m not really sure where my photography will go but my interest in photographing people is growing. I’m not sure what that really means but there is something about a well done portrait that is starting to speak to me more and more as I grow with my photography. I think that we will see compromises on both sides until it merges eventually into one field. Right now the mobile cameras cannot compare to professional cameras but they have the advantage of being portable and more versatile in situations that you wouldn’t have a professional camera. I know there is a lot of discussion about this right now but that happens anywhere there is change. I’m sure DSLR’s were frowned upon for die hard film lovers when they hit the market and mobile is just the latest evolution. I think the term mobile will eventually lose its distinction and we’ll all be equipped with devices that any photographer or digital artist can use anywhere. I think it’s empowering and limiting at the same time depending upon what school you come from. There is an indubitable art to shooting with film like there is a DJ still spinning vinyl. I think how we do something becomes a different kind of appreciation for the artistic process but at the end of the day it’s all about the finished product, the story and how well it’s captured and translated through your art either for yourself or to an audience.
Uncovered Truth
M – Man you sound just like me, haha that’s a scary thought huh? I’ve said pretty much the same thing. It’s good to know someone thinks the same way and isn’t afraid to admit it. Thanks, dude, for taking the time to shoot the shit with me once again. In closing, is there anything else you wanna say?
B – You know what they say, great minds and all that haha. Thank you, Mike, for letting me share a bit about myself. I don’t think of myself as overly interesting but I hope if you’re reading this you walk away with something new. I’ll take a note from the gentleman Ben Staleys book and leave you with a quote.
“The proof that the little prince existed is that he was charming, that he laughed, and that he was looking for a sheep. If anybody wants a sheep, that is proof that he exists”. ~ Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Dragon Boat Racing Along The St. Johns River
Thanks for reading. You can find more of Brandon’s amazing work these places:
Website // AMPt // EyeEm // Instagram // Grryo
