Categories: Gear, Travel, VideosTags: , ,

Last week I took a photography trip to Moab with my friend Dave (seen throughout this video … he’s the guy with the mohawk). My main goal (other than to have a relaxing time away from “the office”) was to get enough video and timelapse to put together a fancy video of my trip. I ended up with a ton of car-mounted footage with my new GoPro, along with some timelapse videos and a few nighttime star photographs. We had an awesome time, got lots of great photos/video, and I think that from now on whenever Dave hears John Mayer he’ll think of Moab (I had control of the music, hehe).

I’ve done my share of timelapse photography, but wanted to kick it up a notch and asked my friend Harley (our local MacGyver) if he knew of a way to create a “Timelapse Turntable” rig so that the timelapse footage would move as it was doing the intervals. He worked his magic, created something (that looked akin to a bomb) and showed me how it worked … and I got to test it out in Moab. The results are awesome!


Watch the Video


Here’s the gear used to create the above video:

  • GoPro Hero (car-mounted footage)
  • Canon 60D with Canon 14mm f/2.8L IS II lens (Timelapse footage)
  • LCD Timer Remote for the 60D (https://www.linkdelight.com)
  • Canon 7D with Canon 70-200 f/4L IS lens (Additional footage)
  • Harley’s Timelapse Turntable rig
  • Premiere Pro CS4 (editing)
  • Music © Tomasz Gierygowski, licensed from iStockphoto.com (link)

For more information on the timelapse turntable, take a look at Harley’s blog to see how it works and how he put it all together:


Last week I took a photography trip to Moab with my friend Dave (seen throughout this video … he’s the guy with the mohawk). My main goal (other than to have a relaxing time away from “the office”) was to get enough video and timelapse to put together a fancy video of my trip. I ended up with a ton of car-mounted footage with my new GoPro, along with some timelapse videos and a few nighttime star photographs. We had an awesome time, got lots of great photos/video, and I think that from now on whenever Dave hears John Mayer he’ll think of Moab (I had control of the music, hehe).

I’ve done my share of timelapse photography, but wanted to kick it up a notch and asked my friend Harley (our local MacGyver) if he knew of a way to create a “Timelapse Turntable” rig so that the timelapse footage would move as it was doing the intervals. He worked his magic, created something (that looked akin to a bomb) and showed me how it worked … and I got to test it out in Moab. The results are awesome!


Watch the Video


Here’s the gear used to create the above video:

  • GoPro Hero (car-mounted footage)
  • Canon 60D with Canon 14mm f/2.8L IS II lens (Timelapse footage)
  • LCD Timer Remote for the 60D (https://www.linkdelight.com)
  • Canon 7D with Canon 70-200 f/4L IS lens (Additional footage)
  • Harley’s Timelapse Turntable rig
  • Premiere Pro CS4 (editing)
  • Music © Tomasz Gierygowski, licensed from iStockphoto.com (link)

For more information on the timelapse turntable, take a look at Harley’s blog to see how it works and how he put it all together:


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Nicole is a photographer, published author, and educator specializing in Lightroom, Photoshop, and photography. She is best known for her books on food photography but is widely versed in various photographic genres, including landscape, nature, stock, travel, and experimental imagery.

27 Comments

  1. Jeremy Hall May 9, 2011 at 9:29 am - Reply

    Great video Nicole! Was fun following along your updates from the trip and to now see a finished product in this video.

  2. jjohnsen May 9, 2011 at 10:21 am - Reply

    Wow, I’m really excited to see more of that turntable, the shots from it look great. Fun video Nicole.

  3. Tim Buckner May 9, 2011 at 10:34 am - Reply

    Very cool video Nicole are you going to be able to use any of it for istock? My favorite was part was the starts I need to come up with some kind of car mount for my cannon.

  4. Howard J May 9, 2011 at 10:41 am - Reply

    Wow Nicole, that rocked!! looks like Arches was packed though. I really loved the driving sequences especially the rear bumper views, very “movie” like especially towards the end with the sun flare. I’d love to see details on the table as well it looked very smooth!

  5. Bryan May 9, 2011 at 10:44 am - Reply

    very nicely put together

  6. Nick May 9, 2011 at 11:11 am - Reply

    Great job Nicole!

  7. Chris Pugh May 9, 2011 at 12:11 pm - Reply

    Awesome job! Reminded me of the time I spent out in Moab (before i got into photography). Would love to see more of the timelapse turntable rig!

  8. Bret Edge May 9, 2011 at 12:30 pm - Reply

    Awesome video, Nicole! I especially dug the night time lapse stuff. Great to finally meet you and I hope it isn’t the last time we get to hang out with cameras in hand.

  9. Darron May 9, 2011 at 12:36 pm - Reply

    That was fantastic! You did a great job showing activity in the park.

  10. Ken May 9, 2011 at 1:17 pm - Reply

    Was gonna say it was cool or awesome, but I think badass sums it up better. Liked the editing and the scenery rocks!

  11. Janette Nelson May 9, 2011 at 1:47 pm - Reply

    Nicole-really like the shots.The editing is great- Looks like you got what you wanted as far as footage.
    See you soon

  12. Dave Miller May 9, 2011 at 4:18 pm - Reply

    Wonderful video Nicole. I makes me want to get out there today!! Thanks for posting.

  13. Jay May 9, 2011 at 4:46 pm - Reply

    KickASS!

  14. Nancy Fish May 9, 2011 at 5:34 pm - Reply

    Watching the video the time just sped by…. Very cool – enjoyed immensely!

  15. Rob Sylvan May 9, 2011 at 5:53 pm - Reply

    Great work Niki! The turntable was a cool effect and added a lot. Want to see more star shots!

    • Nicole May 9, 2011 at 6:07 pm - Reply

      Thanks Rob! I plan on doing more star timelapses, hopefully with the turntable. I’ll either do them locally or on a trip I’m taking late next month. They’re really fun and turn out great, but they take a long time to photograph. :) (It took just over 2 hrs for the star scene in this video.)

  16. Vartok May 9, 2011 at 6:21 pm - Reply

    Nicole, just a few steps away from Hollywood! It would have been so overpowering just to be there, but then to concentrate on the shoot!

  17. Ben Ludwig May 9, 2011 at 6:54 pm - Reply

    Great video of one of my favorite places to go in Utah. Thanks for the look back on a wonderful desolate area,(where life strives).

  18. Aaron Lee May 9, 2011 at 11:29 pm - Reply

    Love it. I did a few star time lapses while in Zion’s at the same time. I’ll post it – but only after I can make a sweet movie like the one you created!

    BTW – John Mayer rocks.

  19. tolga May 10, 2011 at 2:40 am - Reply

    awesome job Nicole,

    it feels like we were all there with you guys..

    congrats..

  20. VisitMoabUtah May 10, 2011 at 12:33 pm - Reply

    Love the jogger.

  21. Luca Diana May 16, 2011 at 2:23 pm - Reply

    Great video Nicole!
    Let me know if you’re up in Jackson Hole.

  22. Wally May 17, 2011 at 1:53 am - Reply

    Wow! I will try this myself, just bought a timer remote for my 60D. Hopefully I can get at least half as good as yours.

  23. Trent May 19, 2011 at 6:20 am - Reply

    Wow Nicole, that was awesome! Love the time lapse panning.

  24. Debbi smirnoff July 12, 2011 at 7:06 pm - Reply

    Just found your blog. I was so impressed with your setups and shoot descriptions that I pre ordered your new book for Aug 2011.
    Will stock take any footage made by the Gropro video? The music fits the video perfectly!
    Debbi

    • Nicole July 12, 2011 at 7:49 pm - Reply

      Thanks, Debbi! I’m not really sure about iStock accepting GoPro footage … I focus all of my energy on still photos with them so you might just have to upload and see if it is up to their quality standards.

  25. Paul Abrahams December 30, 2011 at 3:15 am - Reply

    Love it Nicole, especially the pans with the sun flares and the night shots with the car lights flickering. Its so surreal with all those photographers buzzing around. The music is sexy too. Pan with time lapse …mmm I like

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