Short-term filming from multiple viewpoints
This footage highlights cinematographer Graeme Beck's approach to following the action closely when the client wanted to film the detailed process of the tower cranes being dismantled.
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This footage highlights cinematographer Graeme Beck's approach to following the action closely when the client wanted to film the detailed process of the tower cranes being dismantled.
Using multiple portable time-lapse cameras, Graeme documented the intricate dismantling of a high-rise tower crane in Liverpool, Sydney. During the first night's dismantling, a time-lapse camera was fixed to a street pole across the road to capture a wide shot. Graeme then followed the action with a video camera, while deploying several portable time-lapse cameras to capture different angles of the process.
For the second crane being dismantled, a camera was attached to the roof of a nearby building to film a wide shot of the whole process as it went from the afternoon until late at night. He again followed the action with a video camera and several portable time-lapse units.
Graeme brings the same attention to detail to a film intended for one person as he does to one intended for millions.
The monthly fee includes camera hire, daily remote surveillance, a progress video, and a site visit each month to check the equipment and clean the lens and solar panel. Regular maintenance is important on dusty construction sites. Site photographs are available anytime.
Time-lapse camera service includes daily remote surveillance and, on long-term cameras, monthly site visits to clean the lens and solar panel and inspect the equipment. Camera positions are reviewed as construction progresses, with relocations discussed with the site manager when a better view becomes available on the Sydney site.
Yes. Remote access can be provided so project managers can view images from their Sydney or regional construction site on a mobile device. Images are uploaded daily directly to secure Electric Films servers. Project managers should discuss their access needs when planning the camera installation. Photographs are available anytime.
The interval is tailored to the pace of the work. Long-term construction projects use ten-minute intervals. As construction nears completion, this is adjusted to five minutes to capture stunning day-to-night transitions, showcasing your finished building at its absolute best. For shorter projects lasting a day or two, intervals can be as brief as 30 seconds.
No. Our outdoor setups utilise custom-built solar systems, while battery-powered cameras are used for interior filming. This means camera positions never need to be tethered to a power outlet.
For long-term projects, you will receive monthly progress videos that are a good length for team reviews and sharing. Aerial footage is always included with our drone services.
HDR stands for High Dynamic Range. At each time-lapse interval, the camera takes three exposures: one normal, one darker, and one brighter. These are combined into a single frame using intensive processing power to retain maximum detail in bright areas and deep shadows.
Yes. In addition to time-lapse, Electric Films provides a complete video production service.
Construction cameras can be mounted on rooftops, scaffolding, cranes, street
poles or our custom poles. Street poles provide very useful viewpoints and
allow installation within a day or two; negotiations with building managers
can take longer. Camera positions are carefully selected by our multi-award-winning
cinematographer.
To save your team time, Electric Films arranges all necessary installation
permissions with local councils, power companies, and building management.
Minor camera movement is corrected by stabilising the footage in Adobe After Effects. More significant shifts require realigning the images using a corner pin filter, or physically repositioning the camera. The time-lapse filming guide explains these methods in more detail.
Where repositioning is required, changing the viewing angle by 45 degrees or framing a different subject avoids a jump cut.
Yes. A time-lapse camera stays fixed while recording each sequence, but can be repositioned as the project develops. Moving it at key stages lets us capture the best angles that are more engaging to watch.
Camera relocations allow us to track the progression of your site from the best possible angles. While a static setup works for some sites, even small projects look better with changing viewpoints, and larger developments benefit from additional positions. We recommend budgeting for at least two moves. Contact Graeme to tailor the perfect approach for your site.
On construction sites, scaffolding and cranes can provide excellent viewpoints, but they naturally move. Videos are stabilised in Adobe After Effects. See an example here.
Yes. A number of portable time-lapse cameras can record a specific operation overnight or over a weekend, often alongside long-term cameras documenting the same project. The M2 Freeway Bridge project demonstrates this approach. Project managers can share their work schedules with Graeme so coverage is planned precisely around key stages.