Electric Films specialises in delivering high-end construction time-lapse
video, drone and 45MP still photography for developments across Sydney and
regional New South Wales.
From boutique developments to multi-story high-rise, we deliver high quality
4K time-lapse, live site monitoring and drone photography for multi-storey
high-rises, residential towers, and major CBD developments.
Led by award-winning
cinematographer Graeme Beck, we reject the standard "set-and-forget" mentality.
We actively monitor camera outputs and relocate our custom made, live enabled
and solar powered cameras when a better angle arises.
We can integrate
drone cinematography for a comprehensive, cinematic narrative of your construction
project from groundwork to completion.
Each system is custom-built
and actively managed by experienced crew—handling everything from crane
and rooftop mount placements to council liaisons and periodic angle adjustments
to ensure dynamic progress capture.
Long-term, rugged time-lapse monitoring systems built to handle major high-rise
building developments.
These systems capture
ultra-high-definition 5.2K progress frames 24/7 to provide reliable project
documentation, site security monitoring, and marketing assets.
Targeted documentation
for medium-density residential apartment builds.
This service provides
project teams with 4K construction time-lapse videos and high-resolution stills
tailored for real estate marketing, cinematic completion highlights, and large-scale
project library prints.
Each system is custom-built
and actively managed by experienced crew—handling everything from crane
and rooftop mount placements to council liaisons and periodic angle adjustments
to ensure dynamic progress capture.
To capture a wide shot, we scout locations and photograph potential camera
positions for review from street poles and adjacent buildings.
Or if using a single camera, we attach to the edge of the pit, scaffolding
or tower crane for a dynamic view.
We get a camera up and running within a day or two and if attached to a street
pole, we do the liaising with councils or power authorities.
Building managers
usually take a few weeks to secure one of our non-destructive mounts.
Time-Lapse
Camera Positions
Selecting Camera Positions for Site Monitoring
We don't just set and forget our time-lapse cameras from a distance. We actively
monitor their output and relocate them when a better angle arises, avoiding
repetitive, monotonous documentation from a single vantage point to deliver
dynamic construction time-lapse videos.
We scout locations for optimal vantage points and manage all liaising with
building managers and local councils for permission to mount our non-destructive
camera mounting systems.
Attaching time-lapse cameras to rooftops, scaffolding, cranes, and custom
poles is our specialty.
Mounting
Time-Lapse Cameras On Site Cranes & Scaffolding
Mounting time-lapse cameras
onto working site cranes or scaffolding offers a dynamic view of high-rise
construction sites in Sydney.
However, these advantageous
camera positions produce severe camera movement making the shots unusable.
Have a look at our process
below to see how we transform shaky unusable source files into broadcast-quality
cinematic video.
(36s)
At Electric Films, we
don't compromise if a better angle can be found.
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.
