To document the massive, four-year Parramatta Square commercial redevelopment in Western Sydney, Electric Films deployed three dedicated time-lapse camera systems operating 24/7. This unparalleled dedication to long-term site monitoring earned our team the Time-Lapse Cinematography Specialists of the Year title at the 2026 APAC Awards.
(11m 42s)
By capturing three bracketed exposures in High Dynamic Range (HDR) every ten minutes for four consecutive years, we recorded over two million high-resolution images of this project. After securing the necessary local council permissions, our rugged cameras were strategically mounted on street poles and the rooftops of neighbouring buildings to ensure the perfect cinematic angles throughout every phase of construction.
How
often are your time-lapse cameras maintained?
All cameras are monitored via
a cellular link daily and we perform regular monthly physical checks where
lenses are cleaned and systems checked. If a better camera position is available,
we liaise with the site managers.
What
happens if a camera gets bumped?
To correct minor movement, we
stabilise the footage in Adobe After Effects. A bump of up to 20% of the frame
size requires using a corner pin filter to align the footage and match the
shots together. Larger movements require the camera to be repositioned.
You
often attach a camera to scaffolding or a crane; how do you get the wobble out?
As these platforms offer a superior
viewpoint, they are frequently utilised. For regular monthly updates, we run
the footage through Adobe After Effect's stabilisation program. Superior results
can be obtained by pre-editing the footage to remove the frames with the largest
movement.
Can
your clients access the camera?
Yes. We can provide a live feed
to your mobile device and can also upload shots in real time to our computers
or the client's computer if desired.
What
time intervals do you shoot?
We tailor the shooting interval
to the pace and complexity of your project. For long-term construction builds
spanning several months, we typically capture frames every 10 minutes. As
your construction project nears completion, we shorten the interval to 5 minutes
to capture dramatic day-to-night transitions.
Other time-lapse projects can
be as little as every 30 seconds on projects over just a day or two.
Do
you shoot video and stills as well as Time-lapse?
Yes. We offer an extensive service
starting from scriptwriting.
