Filming Sunset with A1 at DVinfo.net
DV Info Net

Go Back   DV Info Net > Canon EOS / MXF / AVCHD / HDV / DV Camera Systems > Canon HDV and DV Camera Systems > Canon XH Series HDV Camcorders
Register FAQ Today's Posts Buyer's Guides

Canon XH Series HDV Camcorders
Canon XH G1S / G1 (with SDI), Canon XH A1S / A1 (without SDI).

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old August 1st, 2008, 07:39 AM   #1
Major Player
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Warwick, Rhode Island
Posts: 740
Filming Sunset with A1

I want to timelapse the sunset and reverse it to make it a sunrise but am worried about pointing my camera at the sun for an hour. Is there a safe way to do it? Also what settings should I use so the lighting stays beautiful?
__________________
Cinematography Site
Nathan Quattrini is offline   Reply With Quote
Old August 1st, 2008, 08:02 AM   #2
Inner Circle
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Efland NC, USA
Posts: 2,322
I've done this many times. My camera overexposes badly when doing these kind of shots so I control it manually.

I shoot with a V1 and I change the knee to compress the highlights. This helps the sun from being blown out. I then crush the blacks due to the CMOS noise that I get with my camera as the scene gets darker.

From there I watch the histogram and at the right time I'll drop the ND filters. This does create a "bump" in the brightness but its a rapid and easy to find change in post that I cut out and grade so the sections go together seemelessly.

You can see an example of a sunset I shot here (comments welcome):
http://dieseladdict.blip.tv/file/247206/

Download the HDV WMV version and watch it. It looks a lot better than the flash version they create. The HD WMV version also displays as the correct aspect ratio.
__________________
http://www.LandYachtMedia.com
Chris Medico is offline   Reply With Quote
Old August 2nd, 2008, 03:20 PM   #3
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Chuluota, Florida
Posts: 35
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nathan Quattrini View Post
I want to timelapse the sunset and reverse it to make it a sunrise but am worried about pointing my camera at the sun for an hour. Is there a safe way to do it? Also what settings should I use so the lighting stays beautiful?
Just a thought...

In addition to reversing the time (to make sun set into sun rise), you might consider a horizontal flip as well - depending upon the geographic setting for your film.

When filming a sun rise in the northern hemisphere, the horizontal motion of the sun against the horizon is from left to right. The horizontal motion of the sun setting in the northern hemisphere is also left to right. There is more horizontal motion during (local) winter months and the closer to the Earth's poles that your setting is...

If you film a sun set in the northern hemisphere and simply reverse time on the film to get a sun rise, the horizontal motion of the sun against the horizon is from right to left. This would be correct for a sun rise in the southern hemisphere, but not for the northern hemisphere. So to get the correct horizontal motion of the sun rise from a film of the sun set, you need to flip the image horizontally as well as reverse the time.
Lee Small is offline   Reply With Quote
Old August 2nd, 2008, 03:22 PM   #4
Major Player
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Zanesville OH
Posts: 205
Lee, the wether man anchor. I'm playing. That's some good info, though. Thanks!
__________________
"Warriors... Come out to play..."
www.importexporthd.com
Douglas Joseph is offline   Reply With Quote
Old August 3rd, 2008, 12:11 AM   #5
Tourist
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Rifle, Colorado
Posts: 3
I have done a few of these and have had no ill effects on the camera. I think that the longest I have let the camera roll is probably around 50 minutes however.

I prefer to lock the ND filters and exposure in (using zebras) on the sky for the duration of the shot. This causes anything in the foreground to silhouette, but I think that it looks great if there are mountains or other features with sharp lines in the foreground. I like the effect of the light draining out of the image as the sun descends.

I think that adjusting the exposure over time looks great too, but I have yet to master the techniques mentioned by Chris. I am taking notes and think that is something for me to try in the future.

I have a few examples here:

http://www.vimeo.com/user523172/videos
__________________
Ryan Mackley
Spruce Creek Multimedia:http://www.sprucecreekmultimedia.com
Ryan Mackley is offline   Reply
Reply

DV Info Net refers all where-to-buy and where-to-rent questions exclusively to these trusted full line dealers and rental houses...

B&H Photo Video
(866) 521-7381
New York, NY USA

Scan Computers Int. Ltd.
+44 0871-472-4747
Bolton, Lancashire UK


DV Info Net also encourages you to support local businesses and buy from an authorized dealer in your neighborhood.
  You are here: DV Info Net > Canon EOS / MXF / AVCHD / HDV / DV Camera Systems > Canon HDV and DV Camera Systems > Canon XH Series HDV Camcorders


 



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 07:19 AM.


DV Info Net -- Real Names, Real People, Real Info!
1998-2024 The Digital Video Information Network