Capturing Sunsets...

[SoulKiss]

Anyone had any experience with HD Webcams/Cameras with programmable timers?

I have quite an amazing view out of my living room window -can see Wembley from 14 miles away.

Now as its West Facing, I get a magnificent Sunset on days where the weather isn't totally awful.

Heres a couple of examples - click on pics for full-size images (taken on my Sony Ericsson Xperia Play)

Sunday

http://www.chaoscrypt.com/pics/sunsets/Sunset20110821_204431-thumb.jpg (http://www.chaoscrypt.com/pics/sunsets/Sunset20110821_204431.jpg)

Tonight

http://www.chaoscrypt.com/pics/sunsets/Sunset20110825_200058-thumb.jpg (http://www.chaoscrypt.com/pics/sunsets/Sunset20110825_200058.jpg)

http://www.chaoscrypt.com/pics/sunsets/Sunset20110825_200104-thumb.jpg (http://www.chaoscrypt.com/pics/sunsets/Sunset20110825_200104.jpg)

So I was thinking, wouldn't it be cool to capture a picture a minute for the duration of each sunset - say 30 mins before its due to go down and then 15 mins after to get the effects of the light below the horizon reflecting off of clouds.

This would allow me to compare where the sun actually sets, and how weather conditions affect the sunset.

So, any recommendation on kit etc, as said, thinking of getting a 1080p webcam and hooking it up to a PC to do the capture and upload.

Any other thoughts come to mine people?

Oh and do any of the Soho lot have a spare "decent" digital camera I could borrow for a bit (maybe with a tripod) so I can see whats possible to achieve with better kit?

Thanks

[andrewsmith]

Two ways of doing it SK

The webcam one is very good as it can be controlled for the snapshot period.

Here's a 30 sec burst one I was involved with (I was the photographer for the new build)

HXMP_lLgYZg

You can set up a DSLR to take at set intervals, but you need to set focus etc.. prior to starting

[missyburd]

Time lapse cameras or too expensive? I'm considering saving up for one to see what visits the garden :)

[SoulKiss]

Two ways of doing it SK

The webcam one is very good as it can be controlled for the snapshot period.

Here's a 30 sec burst one I was involved with (I was the photographer for the new build)

HXMP_lLgYZg

You can set up a DSLR to take at set intervals, but you need to set focus etc.. prior to starting

Yeah, I saw a 1080p webcam in CEX for about £50, would just need to add a long USB cable to reach the PC.

If I went DSLR I am thinking that reproducing the middle pic of mine and focussing on the building would be the best bet.

[DarrenSV650S]

Andy is that new building supposed to look like a space invader at the far end? :p

[Viney]

Ahhh, the Ikea Chimeneys

I have a decent compact (Panasonic TZ10) you may borrow if youd like

[andrewsmith]

Not intentional but does.
The lead architect got wound up about that a for a few weeks after the cladding was put on

[SoulKiss]

Hmmmm need to borrow a Canon or a Nikon it seems - they can be remote-controlled from a linux box it seems...

http://www.gphoto.org/doc/remote/

[jambo]

I'm happy to lend you my slr for a week, be an interesting little project :)

[tigersaw]

I've just bought an andriod tablet - acer A500 iconia.

It can take time lapse video, many settings, and then can upload to youtube with a single click:

gZpIiwsIrPI

[LankyIanB]

The Nikon Capture Software is quite good for this kind of thing - but...

a) It's not free

b) You need to have the camera mains powered if you're going to have it set up for any length of time. The USB link to the PC does not provide power to the camera. So factor in a mains adaptor...

I've not used the software for time lapse but have used it as a remote release for photographing a selection of paintings that an artist friend had done. I found that it ran down the battery very quickly.

[mattSV]

I've just bought an andriod tablet - acer A500 iconia.

It can take time lapse video, many settings, and then can upload to youtube with a single click:

gZpIiwsIrPI

Can you make sure the 9:10 to Edinburgh leaves on time tomorrow please ;)