Time lapse video of the rock quarry visible from the Washington Vally Park Hawk Watch platform. This high spot is in direct line of sight with the first Watchung Pass to the north.To the west, though, is a 400 acre stone quarry.
Turkey Vultures, Hawks and other raptors, including the occasional Bald Eagles can be seen circling overhead, while during quarry operation hours, the air is filled with the nearby sounds of heavy-duty machinery. Depending on which way the wind is blowing, the air can smell sweet and fresh from the forested park, or smell and taste gritty mixed with diesel, or, if the wind is wafting just right from the south, the air is filled with garlic, herbs, and tomatoes from the Chimney Rock Inn, a few hundred yards south and a few hundred feet below the overlook.
Most days, this platform is riddled with birders in Tilley Hats and cargo pants, sitting on geodesically compressing camp chairs sporting binoculars, scopes, and the occasional telephoto lens pointed skyward at the winged critters.
But I had the platform all to myself for an hour the other afternoon, and pointed three cameras: Canon EOS 5D, Canon EOS 20D and Canon EOS Rebel XTi with a trio of Sigma Lenses: the Sigma 70-200mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM, Sigma 50-150mm F2.8 EX DC APO HSM II, and the Sigma 8-16mm F4.5-5.6 DC HSM into the quarry.
All sequences were captured as full-resolution JPEGs, at 1 second interval. Source images ingested and toned in either Lightroom 3 or Bridge CS5 and Adobe Camera Raw.
Sequenced frames were animated and rendered in Adobe After Effects CS5. Audio track created in Garage Band '09 from various loops and sound effects. Final rendering, editing, and audio track added in iMovie '08.
This is the most complex multi-camera time lapse project I've tackled yet, and I am very happy with the results thus far, but there's still some things that I think I need to work on for the next project.
There's a couple of big "learnings" to be gleaned from this project, too! Namely: a clean sensor is a good thing! Realizing this after the fact: not so much!
After Effects Render Queue is the greatest thing ever, once you get the hang of it, and before going to a shoot location where the air will smell like a pizzeria, it's a good idea to have a snack!
Would appreciate any/all feedback on this piece.
