The White Mountain on Vimeo

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4. Filming in progress

by charles

1 year ago

3. The White Mountain (extended)

by charles

1 year ago

2. The White Mountain

by charles

2 years ago

1. testing

by charles

2 years ago

*New* Extended version here: vimeo.com/10116116

Thanks for all the kind words!

Location: Mauna Kea, Hawai'i
Camera: 5D MK2
Lenses: Tokina ATX-116
Sigma 15mm f/2.8 Fisheye
EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L
EF 24-105mm f/4L
EF 17-40mm f/4L
Music: "That Is Why I Am On This Porch" from the movie
"The Village" composed by James Newton Howard

All night scenes were shot with ISO6400, 30 sec exposure, 15 sec interval and on f2.8 lenses (except from 0:34 to 0:43, which was shot with a f4 lens)

Credits

2,357 Likes

marlenawitek
13 hours ago
Kat N. Nerdvana
1 day ago
REVEL LIVING
2 weeks ago
Vicky Oakey
2 weeks ago
Hamadi
3 weeks ago
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3 weeks ago
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1 month ago
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1 month ago
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1 month ago
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Tags

Tom Lowe 2 years ago

You are off to a great start, charles!
charles 2 years ago

Thank you! Your work is truly inspirational!
KJHalvy 2 years ago

My jaw just hung the whole time... That was excellent.
MILapse 2 years ago

One of the best spots on the planet for astro! Great work!
charles 2 years ago

Thank you all! :-D
Dave Dugdale 2 years ago

Wow, that was cool. I am heading to Hawaii and I will have to try a few time lapses myself.
Federico S. 2 years ago

Amazing time lapse,congrats!!!!
I ' ll try my first soon...
charles 2 years ago

Thank you! It's quite time consuming, but I had fun doing it and very pleased by the result! Good luck on your video!
charles 2 years ago

Thanks Dave! If you are planning to stay on Mauna Kea after dark, depending on your luck, the rangers will probably not be very happy if you stay on the summit (where all the tourists are), some may even tell you you are not allowed to be on the mountain after dark. I ended up "hiding" near the SMA (the radio telescopes) before it gets dark and one of the rangers I talked to seemed ok with the idea since those are not optical telescopes and you won't interfere with their operations....besides, it's some what shielded there, unlike the summit which can get very windy at times. Hope you have a good time in Hawaii, remember to dress warm!
Dave Dugdale 2 years ago

I am heading to Maui next month, I was thinking of trying a time lapse at the top, but it sounds like I will run in to issue there too.
charles 2 years ago

I haven't been to Maui, but from what I've read, Haleakalā seems like their equivalent to Mauna Kea of the Big Island. Although I am not sure how accessible the summit is going to be, seems like you will have to do quit a bit of hiking to go up there unlike Mauna Kea, which you can basically drive to the top. Good luck for your trip! Looking forward to see your footage!
William Wiltshire III 2 years ago

My brother used to work for the national park service on Haleakalā. I stayed there in a yurt on a vacation and I must admit, it looks quite similar to Mauna Kea. Beautiful! There is an access road that can take you straight to the top, so you won't have to worry about hiking if you don't want to. As for staying on the top overnight, I'm not sure the rangers would be too pleased. Good luck and remember to bring a coat! It gets very cold up there.
doc lockwood 2 years ago

Haleakala has all those downhill bike tours and beaucoup crannies to hide in. But there's a wild 'scope/detector at the summit across from the gift shop, and lots of cameras and guards. Might wanna hook a ride up and do some rekky to getcher plan set. I think it may be a orbiting debris tracking 'scope. Big hush hush. Great stuff, Charles, and good luck!
Nathaniel 2 years ago

I must say that this video is one of only a few that has inspired me to start into this same field of photography. I am VERY happy to have been able to watch this. Any chance you can tell me what song you used in the background? Thanks much!
charles 2 years ago

Thank you! and great to see I am passing the "baton" as I was inspired by @timescapes!

The song in the background is called " "That Is Why I Am On This Porch" from the movie "The Village" composed by James Newton Howard. I actually had this song in my mind the entire time before I went to shoot this, so I basically shot this movie around the song...kind of the reverse way of process I suppose...
Jesus Marin 2 years ago

Ufff, impressions !!!
Momentum Media Designs 2 years ago

Nice first outing! Keep it up.
charles 2 years ago

Thank you! This actually came out much better than I expected, cause I had no experience with video or time lapse at all...
Michael Bolognesi 2 years ago

Stunning work!!!
charles 2 years ago

Thank you!!
Chris Mierzwinski 2 years ago

Fantastic piece Charles!! Looking forward to see more of your work. I'm hoping to visting and shoot in the white mountains on my next visit to California.
charles 2 years ago

Thank you! The "white mountain" that I am referring to here is Mauna Kea, which in the Hawaiian language means "white mountain" but I would really love to shoot in the deserts in the southwest too, so many beautiful scenery there!
Reinder Bolt 2 years ago

great place, great time lapse!
charles 2 years ago

Thank you! Mauna Kea is a magical place!
Patryk Kizny 2 years ago

Hey, Very well done as for the first shot. Congratz!
I've just got myself Meade #497 w/ DS80 mount. REally want to try panning, but the issue is that it is -20°C outside. Not that funny.
charles 2 years ago

Thank you! I am tempted to use an old motorized telescope mount I have laying around, but it has a stripped gear on one of the motors, so it probably won't work out too well....
Breezy Granzow 2 years ago

oh wow, that was incredible! very beautiful
charles 2 years ago

Thanks you!!
Shutter Ninja 2 years ago

Brilliant! Absolutely spectacular!
charles 2 years ago

Thank you!
Make Some Tea 2 years ago

Wow! Could there be a better location for making a timelapse?
charles 2 years ago

Muana Kea is magical.
Although I have to say I can't believe I spent practically my entire vacation up there freezing my ass off while all the other tourist enjoyed their time at the warm beaches enjoying the tiki bars and bikini girls...oh well, I like mountains better anyway :-)
Make Some Tea 2 years ago

You sound very passionate about this. That's fantastic. I'm looking forward to seeing more, Charles. And yes, your choice was correct. Thanks for sharing. Pete
Paul Hamilton 2 years ago

Very nice time lapse Charles. The Milky Way never looked better - congrats! Paul
charles 2 years ago

Thank you! I wish I got the center bulge of the Milky Way, that would look a lot more impressive...
Sunchaser Pictures 2 years ago

Incredible Stuff
charles 2 years ago

Thank you!
Lain McGregor 2 years ago

Unmistakably the most beautiful thing I've ever seen on a screen. Too bad there's no download link...
Daniel Hayek 2 years ago

First video? Amazing work!
charles 2 years ago

Thank you! Yep...first video, I had no idea what I was doing 1/2 the time lol
Omi Dreamer 2 years ago

Great job! You did better than I would've. Its nice that you've displayed your work!
charles 2 years ago

Thank you! I wasn't expecting much to begin with...
Claire&Max 2 years ago

Excellent, bravo! CLAP CLAP CLAP!
charles 2 years ago

Thank you!!
Klaus Stern 2 years ago

Well done! I like it!
charles 2 years ago

Thank you!
Romain World Tour 2 years ago

Amazing
Walter Fischer 2 years ago

Where will end the story, when this is "only" the beginning?
charles 2 years ago

Thanks for the kind words!
Harald R. Brörken 2 years ago

I love stars, and I never saw so much. Thank you.
charles 2 years ago

It's one of the most astonishing sight I've ever seen. The moment I stepped out of the car, my jaw hit the ground instantly.
Harald R. Brörken 2 years ago

Hi, it´s not a wonder, that you made such a impressive video, I saw your aesthetic photographs on your website. Awesome!
Johanes Duarte 2 years ago

Very beautiful, great work!
-stevie- 2 years ago

Great work , i wish it was a bit longer !
charles 2 years ago

Oh I kind of feel the same way, I actually got some more footage, but I really like this piece of music and really wanted to use it for this project....so this little project basically evolves around it...
Syl Renaud 2 years ago

I dont think this is beginners luck...there is an artist in there !
Excellent first video Charles.
charles 2 years ago

oh thank you! I really didn't know what I was doing at least 1/2 the time! lol
Jonathan Entwistle 2 years ago

I usually hate this sort of stuff, but for some reason this had a great feeling. The framing of the expanses is breathtaking. As a whole piece it really does have a very immense feel! Thanks.
charles 2 years ago

glad I changed your mind about it! :-p
Jahaan London 2 years ago

Awesome view
Saunders 2 years ago

Beautiful timelapse. Do you remember what settings you were using? ISO? Shutter Speed? Intervals?
charles 2 years ago

Thank you! The night shots were all ISO6400, 30 sec exposure, 15 sec intervals on f2.8 lenses.
Saunders 2 years ago

How do you have an interval that is shorter than the exposure time?
charles 2 years ago

Well...on the remote, you can set them separately and have it as little as 1 sec I believe. So the sequence is like this: take 30 sec exposure, wait 15 sec, take 30 sec exposure....
Saunders 2 years ago

Thanks!
Pedro Newbranch 2 years ago

Great work! How many images (roughly) were needed for the whole film?
charles 2 years ago

I shot about 2500 frames, but I think I only used around 1600 or so in the final movie.
Rick Macomber 2 years ago

great first attempt... much more than an "attempt." how long did it take to shoot?
charles 2 years ago

I spent a week on the Big Island, and I practically spent every afternoon and evening on the mountain. I only got to see the beaches an other tourist stuff once.....so this may not be a "normal" person's idea of a vacation lol
Rick Macomber 2 years ago

it's a photographer's vacation!
charles 2 years ago

I guess that may work if you are traveling alone. While I had fun and enjoy the results of it, I did: eat take-out for the entire week; have had "lunch" at 3pm, "dinner" at 10pm; covered with dust every night after I went back to my hotel sometimes at 2 in the morning; froze my ass off with 20mph wind at freezing temperatures; read 3 books while waiting for all the shots; got amazed by the number of island music channels on the radio; and of course, spent a good amount of time looking up and in total awe by the free spectacle that nature provides. I don't think this kind of vacation is too girlfriend/wife/kids/pets friendly! :-p
Rick Macomber 2 years ago

perhaps next trip should be planned with other photogs... NOT with a spouse, gf or bf. NEVER when you will be spending that much time shooting!
Martin Whipp 2 years ago

Excellent work - I love it. Makes me pine for the dark skies again...
charles 2 years ago

Thank you! I wish more cities would adopt better light restrictions and more careful planning in developments. I grew up in places that the only thing I could see in the sky was either the moon or the sun.
Matthew DeAngelis 2 years ago

What great effects!!
Lee 2 years ago

real nice
Bao Vo Creative 2 years ago

Holy cow, these are brilliant shots! Inspiring. :D
charles 2 years ago

Thank you! Glad you like it!
Un Stung 2 years ago

The starry sky is unbelievable!
salman 2 years ago

Charles , tell me your are kidding
you are experienced campaigner in video

if you look at shots individually the are fine but you could have create a story out of it
charles 2 years ago

Honestly, I haven't done any video work at all. To tell you how green I am at this. I tried to use Final Cut Express which confused the hell out of me, so I ended up going back to iMovie....yeah, I am that much of a newbie.

If there's anything, I will credit the awesome sound track that James Newton Howard has composed. I listened to it almost non stop while shooting and that's what gave me the ideas of the story.
Alex Onfire 2 years ago

Nice video and great photos!
charles 2 years ago

Thank you!
601 Producciones Audiovisuales 2 years ago

Great shoots and, excellent views and exposures of stars.
I'm looking forward your second timelapse! ;-)
charles 2 years ago

Thank you! Now I have to figure out what to do next...oh the pressure :-p
Albert Sparks 2 years ago

Impressive! Well done!
Henk Duursma 2 years ago

I must say, Impressive at least. Especially the night/stars footage. Awesome and magic universe. This short piece of work reminds me of how small we are and at the same time how far we have come (technically). THNX
charles 2 years ago

Thank you! That's the amazing thing about observatories I think. Every time I see one, I have images of the opening scenes of 2001: Space Odyssey in my head. We have advanced so far, but yet are so tiny!
Miro 2 years ago

look forward to the next ones! it is a perfect movie miniature - usually the most difficult to make
charles 2 years ago

Thank you! Glad you like it!
Ahsan Arshad 2 years ago

I just registered to comment on this one :D

Excellent Charles! I remember I saw these pictures on dpreview, I guess you posted there.

Nicely done! Looking forward for more :)
charles 2 years ago

Thank you! and hey Vimeo, where's my referral commission? ;-)

As for dpreview...nope, I only post to flickr (and sometimes photobucket), so that's probably someone else.
HappyDayz 2 years ago

My only complaint would be that it wasn't long enough! We are stardust!
charles 2 years ago

Thank you! It's shorter than I wanted too, I wanted it to be around 1:30, but this piece of music that I really like which gave me the directions and ideas is only 1:05....so I had to squeeze things around it. I've already found music for my next piece and it will be around 2:30, now I just need to put my ideas together.... 2:30, now I just need to put my ideas together....
Codda 2 years ago

I love when someone says.."First video...don't know what's going on..." Then they hit it out of the park... I hope to someday make even one video of that quality....
charles 2 years ago

LOL...thanks for the kind words. I wouldn't call it a homer, but may be a double the most.....and in minor league.....
fedotov_92 2 years ago

wow!
Michaela 2 years ago

YAY! That was fantastic - sorry, can't stay. Gotta go watch it again! :)
charles 2 years ago

Hahaha....Thank you and glad you like it!
Dominik Liegl / Andreas Münzing 2 years ago

great!