How Clouds Transformed My Boring Sunrise Timelapses into Pure Magic
I’ve effectively stopped taking photos and videos of sunrises. Why? Because every close-up shot of the early sun is the same.
Instead, I now focus on showing how the environment reflects or responds to first light. So that requires a wider angle shot where the sun isn’t necessarily center stage.
That creative approach is much more interesting to me.
The Dance of the Clouds
Often, the key ingredient is how the clouds are positioned and move throughout a sunrise. Their sped-up motion becomes the anchor for the entire scene.
Cloud support is always part of any successful sunrise timelapse video I record.
But there are many variables… How much cloud cover is there? How fast are they moving? In which direction? What are their colors?The permutations are endless.
Waking up at 4:30am on Vacation?
Which is why I always choose to set up my tripod for a summer sunrise timelapse whenever I’m on vacation in Cape Porpoise, Maine. (This is not a ‘once and done’ creative exercise.)
The place we stay offers a spectacular view over the mudflats near the ocean. So, if the weather forecast looks good for the next day, I set my wakeup alarm for 4:30am.
Yes, it may be counter intuitive to get up wicked early on a vacation morning. But that’s what it takes to capture the amazing colors in the sky before the sun shows up at 5am. And let me tell you… it’s worth it.
My DJI Osmo Glows with the Sun
I’ve been using my little DJI Osmo gimbal camera for my ongoing sunrise project over the past five summers, and I’ve found that each of my sunrise timelapses looks entirely unique. That’s because every morning brings a different cloud formation.
Of course, you can’t have total cloud cover. Alternately, you need some clouds in place. Otherwise, you’ll just have that little glowing ball moving slowly in an empty blue sky.
Nature Calls the Shots
I run my sunrise timelapses for an hour, auto-snapping frames at 3-second increments. That generates a 40-second video.
A lot can happen in the sky across an hour. So, what you start with may evolve into something entirely different that can make or break your results. But there’s nothing you can do… other than observe.
Nature is in control.
Which means you’re not going to get what you hope for every morning. But I’m pleased to report that I had some success this summer in Maine. And I have a new crop of Cape Porpoise mudflat sunrise timelapses to share with you. Here are the highlights.
Start Your Day
My ‘skill’ in capturing these stunning moments is mostly just about being able to stumble out of bed and show up on time to witness nature present its magical morning show.
And if the clouds should decide on a ‘pleasing’ sequence for a timelapse, you’re in for a treat.
What better way to start your day.
