Time-Lapse Photography - Frame-by-Frame Stop Motion: The Guide to Non-Traditional Animation Techniques - page 61

designers like Chris Church are sharing their information about off-the-
shelf hardware and common-use software, available to anyone who has
the time, patience, and curiosity to explore. Chris has an “open-source”
site called openmoco.org, where contributors and viewers can share
experiences, resources, software, and reviews to help build their own
systems. Aluminum rails are bought off the shelf or can be custom made
to “specs,” and astronomical mounts can be placed on the rails for pan
or tilt capability. All of this is run by Arduino circuit boards. According to
Arduino's site,
“Arduino is an open-source electronics prototyping platform based on
flexible, easy-to-use hardware and software. It's intended for artists,
designers, hobbyists, and anyone interested in creating interactive
objects or environments.”
Now you may think “this is beyond my capability,” but you might be surprised
and find some already fabricated hardware and software setups.
Fig 4.9 three views of motion control rigs. Courtesy of Eric Hanson, © 2010.
Camera motion is not absolutely critical to making a successful time-
lapse film, but it certainly is what the experts are using for greater depth
perception; and it adds a whole other quality and control to the output.
You can create your own camera rigs with guides, rails (wood or metal),
and geared heads mounted on the track. This all must be controlled by
hand, but it takes some very exacting, demanding concentration and
work to add this element. Camera movement should not be used just
for the sake of movement. Take advantage of the changing perspective
that a camera move might offer. A camera move might reveal new and
important visual information. Constant use of camera movement starts to
become tedious, and the lack of contrast in shots can diminish your film.
Use these techniques sparingly and create an interesting dynamic in your
filmmaking.