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This is a visual experiment based on water timelapsing.

The basic idea and challenge was to timelapse water stream, which is a really difficult matter with this particular technique, and still get something interesting.

So here is the result...
Nothing spectacular happens, compared to classic timelapses, but it's simply beautiful, and that should be enough for you to take a look ;)

Pictures were shot in french Alps region named Queyras, in summer 2007.
Soundtrack has also been composed at that time, by Silvano Mercado, in one single afternoon...

Enjoy and feel free to leave any comment.

D.

Credits

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  • GT 3 years ago
    This is really cool. I love the feel and the imagery. Great angles, movement and soundtrack. Makes me want to go outside and just chill. What camera did you use?
  • David Coiffier plus 3 years ago
    Glad you liked it!

    Cameras were a Canon EOS 400D and a 30D, both with standard zoom lens.
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  • Stewart Johnstone 3 years ago
    I like that effect on normal still photographs.
    But- That was great.
    I take it that the movement effect was a Pan and Zoom?
    Thanks.
    Stewart
  • David Coiffier plus 3 years ago
    Thx a lot!

    You are right, all movements are done in post.
    I used Shake for it, as it is by far the most precise render engine I've ever used. Colortiming was also done with Shake.
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  • ziad chatila 3 years ago
    I like it. It has a serene character to it. Very dreamy!
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  • Mark Williams plus 3 years ago
    Great work. Very soothing. I have tried to do this before but unsuccessfully. Have any tips?

    Thanks,
    Mark
  • David Coiffier plus 3 years ago
    Thx for your comment!

    The thing is to avoid water scattering. You can choose to have long exposure (1-2s), but it dissolves about anything in movement. Another way is to have a shorter exposure time, and blend adjacent frames together in a video software, to get rid of the scatter.
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  • Mark Williams plus 3 years ago
    Thanks for the advice. I will give it a try.
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  • Jorge Larroya plus 3 years ago
    Wonderful ;)
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  • robertanderson plus 3 years ago
    it has a very strange moving painting effect to it, love it. Definently inspiring to do something with in the future!
  • David Coiffier plus 3 years ago
    Please prefer the download version, as the online one is definitely recompressed...
    The moving painting effect you describe may be sky/clouds reflections on the wet stone. Not anticipated at all, but quite noticeable and interesting for sure.
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  • Makoto Muroizumi 3 years ago
    I have seen this kind of image in still photographes but this is the first time to see it in motion picuture.

    C'est en effet très beau et impressionnant.
  • David Coiffier plus 3 years ago
    Thank you very much. Glad you liked it :)
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  • John Adams 3 years ago
    beautifully done. painterly and hypnotic. cheers for sharing it...and the download!
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  • 4Moorhens2 plus 3 years ago
    superb!
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  • Scott Duchardt 3 years ago
    Beautiful work! What do you mean nothing awesome happens. Awesome, beautiful things are happening in every frame.
  • David Coiffier plus 3 years ago
    I prolly meant nothing spectacular, as it's only water streaming in between stones...

    Thanx for your comments and really glad you got it ;)
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  • Very nice! The last stone looks like a fossilized frog... maybe it's a prince... ;-))
  • David Coiffier plus 3 years ago
    I'd prefer a princess...
    I promise, next time I'm in front of it, I kiss it and tell you what it really was ;)
  • *ROFL* - Please let me know, if it was a princess, then I will come across... searching for the next one... ;-))
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  • shay sowden 3 years ago
    simply beautiful :)
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  • Laurent Renard 3 years ago
    Awesome dude !
    BUT you better use a good Nikon D300 ! ;)
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  • Steven Brown 3 years ago
    Hi! Was the zooming done in camera or in post? So smooth! Such amazing beauty can be found in the seemingly simplest things....
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  • Sam McCready 3 years ago
    Siply Beautiful!!
    /maybe its stupid question, but how you doing that zooming in or out in timelapse scenes hmm very cool job!/
    thank you fro sharing
    Hi Sam
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  • David Coiffier plus 3 years ago
    Thx for your comments!

    Zooms & pans are of course done in post.
    I take benefit of extra rez I get by shooting with DSLR.
    In full HD format, you can have a nearly x2 zoom available in post, without going deeper than pixel nominal size...
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  • Israel 3 years ago
    very nicely done !
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  • EDcase 3 years ago
    It shows that you love timelapse so much.
    Very patient guy ;)
    Great to watch. Would be nice as a screen saver.
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  • Scottinva 3 years ago
    Very different and creative. Bravo - sparks some ideas and testing concepts.

    Grats
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  • Gama Astivia 3 years ago
    buen video!!!! i like to learn how you do it, and how can i download it???
  • David Coiffier plus 3 years ago
    Download will be easier than doing this movie yourself ;)
    just make sure you're on the regular Guil page (vimeo.com/1519617) then locate the download link on the right side, below the stats.

    edit : you need a Vimeo account to get the download link, but I guess you've already got it...
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  • Peter Naylor 3 years ago
    wow i have to try this out for sure!!! thank you!!!
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  • Jake Read 3 years ago
    great timelapse. love the effect a slow shutter speed has on running water
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  • wayne little 3 years ago
    Is there a PC equivelent version of shake? to do similar pans and zooms, that you know of ??

    Love your work...
  • David Coiffier plus 3 years ago
    Thx Wayne!

    About equivalent, I know there's an old 2.5 Shake version that runs on windows, but I guess on an old windows version also...

    Unfortunately, as I've never used a PC of my entire life, I have strictly no experience or knowledge about PC software.

    You may try Shake forums on various websites, like creativecow for example. You'll probably get some valuable feedback.

    never thought about getting a mac ? ;)

    good luck!
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  • wayne little 3 years ago
    Merci,

    I'll look into that, thanks for the info.

    Lucky you on the PC avoidance!! I used to use workbench alot on the old Amiga's... so much better than PC's and Microsoft... I am toying with the idea of getting a Mac now....

    Love your work, your inspiring alot of people...

    Wayne
  • David Coiffier plus 3 years ago
    Thx again Wayne. Inspiring is probably one the best compliment I can dream of :)

    I forgot to mention that of course After Effects can do what you need, and runs on PC.
    So AE may be a good choice, even if not as fine & sharp as Shake is. You can still make beautiful things with it, and has the advantage of being pretty easy to use...

    And if you need any advice to choose a mac or a configuration, just ask me, I'll be glad to help.

    Have a nice sunday

    D.
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  • Dvid Preece 3 years ago
    excellent Dave
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  • Norbert Meier 3 years ago
    incredible!
    how much did that camera cost? :)
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  • Joan pro 3 years ago
    magic ...

    Thank you !

    Joan
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  • Geoff A Charters plus 2 years ago
    That's excellent work mate. Geez I feel like I've ripped off your idea. :) But we definitely have a similar eye.
    Well done...
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  • Silvano Mercado 2 years ago
    Great movie !!
    I did the music... i did the music... : )
    And i'm proud to be part of if.
    He he !
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  • Ilse 2 years ago
    Bellísimo Trabajo audiovisual.
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  • Nouman Zakir 1 year ago
    so beautiful.. awesome work.
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  • Kurtis Hough plus 1 year ago
    beautiful, that is a powerful technique. hope to see more.
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  • Emma Clark plus 1 year ago
    this is an outdated comment clearly but interval and exposure time did you use? i am filming in the french alps at the moment and really want to have a go at this
  • David Coiffier plus 1 year ago
    Emma, as far as I remember, it was between 1/5 and 1/10s exposure. Interval doesn't really matter as soon as there's no continuity between 2 adjacent shots. I mean 2s or 5s just gives same result. There is also a post effect that is frame blending, and this is the main part of the visual 'signature'.
    PM me if you need more specific info, and enjoy french alps, it is probably the best moment to spend time where you are :)
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  • Noam Armonn plus 1 year ago
    Beautiful and inspiring work. Thanks for sharing. I love your timelapse showreel as well.
    Can you please recommend a software solution now that Apple doesn't support Shake anymore?
  • David Coiffier plus 1 year ago
    Thx for your nice comment Noam!
    Shake is not supported anymore, but it still runs on the latest machines & OS, so you can still work with it!

    Typical workflow is raw shooting, lightroom to 'develop' to 16bit RGB, then the rest is for Shake.

    I had a quick look to your HDR timelapses, and you have typical HDR to LDR flicker. The only way to use photomatix is to avoid tone mapping based on picture content, unless you don't mind flicker ;)

    My approach is to use lightroom extensively, with grades and brush to correct exposure where needed before unrawing, then color timing within shake.
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  • Studio1947 plus 5 months ago
    Nice work
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