How to make a Drone Hyperlapse

Learn how a drone hyperlapse is done! Aaron takes you through a comprehensive step by step tutorial on how to create this spectacular shot. If you are starting out in drone videography or an expert wanting to know new techniques this video will show you how to do it.

 

Feel free to skip to the sections you desire:

1- Intro to Hyperlapse @0:30

2- Workflow @2:22

3- Capture @2:52

4- Lightroom/ Colouring @4:09

5- Images to video @7:42

6- Stabilise / edit @9:02

 


Hyperlapse- what is it?

Hyper-lapse evolved from time-lapse drone videography/photography where a sequence of images are taken over time and are pieced together, the end product looks like time has ‘lapsed’ hence the name.

Hyper-lapse is essentially the same but there is movement of the camera in between each shot. Drone hyperlapse principles are the same but we are in the air. You need to think about things like wind, air threats, safety, stability etc.

There are two ways to do it.

  1. Fly the drone along an automated path as slow as possible and record in 4k. Then in post production speed or ramp up the clip.
  2. The second is to take digital stills in increments of 2 or 5 seconds. Longer process but you will get a better result. Remembering in 1 image you will have more pixels and information (dynamic range) to work with rather than a video taken video at 4k. Ill explain the second one in more detail below.

Workflow

There are 5 steps in the process, and it takes a bit of patience and planning.

  1. Capture
  2. Import to Lightroom & colour
  3. Turn Images to video
  4. Stabilise & edit
  5. Export

 

1- Capture

During the capturing process, make sure you use the following:

  1. Manual camera settings – colour & White balance stays constant
  2. Use intelligent flight modes such as: Tripod Mode/ Point of interest/ tap fly.
  3. Shoot RAW
  4. Relatively flat colour profile
  5. Fly as slow as possible

2- Import ALL to Lightroom

All the images need to be processed, straightened and coloured. Use Lightroom for this, it is the best & quickest.

My steps;

  1. Colour the first, middle & last image with same style.
  2. Apply to all images in the batch (use sync button)
  3. Minor stabilisation on individual shots
  4. Export as jpegs

 

3- Turn the images into a video

There are plenty of timelapse programs out there I used ‘Time lapse assembler’ as its currently free & very easy to use. Simply select all the colour corrected jpegs then choose the frame rate & it will export your video!

4- Stabilise your footage

As you don’t have a tripod in the air your shots are going to be a little unstable. Use a software such as Davinci resolve, premier pro or final cut pro to stabilise the footage. Even do it a few times if need. Then you can export this into your timeline and bingo- done!

 

If you are interested in a hands on workshop training with Aaron check out our drone Workshops we currently run in Australia, Thailand, Bali and beyond!

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