Timelapse Videos

Happy Cows Enjoy the Epic Sunset In Ramona, California

Timelapse of cows roaming around a pasture at Ramona Grasslands Preserve and enjoying southern California's epic sunset on November 1, 2018. The tallest peak in the background is Mount Woodson. For this timelapse, I shot at 75mm and got really close to the cows. Unlike my other recent timelapses here, in this one you can clearly see the cows. I shot 767 frames with a Canon 6D and Canon EF 75-300mm lens in aperture priority at f/10 ISO 400 75mm. Shutter speeds ranged from 1/20 sec to 1.6 sec. Ramona Grasslands County Preserve sits in the Santa Maria Valley between scenic coastal mesas and the rocky outcrops of the peninsula mountain ranges. Hikers, cyclists and equestrians alike can explore this 3,521-acre preserve, however, not all acreage is open to the public; some land is closed to protect sensitive resources along with the natural beauty of the area. Visit on your own or attend a docent-led interpretive excursions – both lead to open breathtaking panoramic views. Private cattle are permitted to graze on the land as it is beneficial to several high priority species utilizing the loamy grasslands, e.g., Stephens’ kangaroo rat (SKR) and raptors. Grazing helps reduce wildfire dangers as well.

Splendid Smooth Still Shiny Sparkling Saturday Salton Sea Sunset Timelapse

Shot from the ruins of the jetty and boat ramp at Niland Marina County Park on the southeastern shore of the Salton Sea. While the park officially closed many years ago, it's still accessible an quite scenic and serene. Several abandoned bathroom buildings remain. The Salton Sea is home to many spectacular sunsets. I believe the moisture form the large lake does something to affect the clouds above it. I first became intrigued by the Salton Sea when I saw an exhibit at the San Diego Museum of Photographic Arts sometime in the early 2000's. Before then, I didn't even know the place existed. This video is was made from 773 frames with a Canon 6D and Sigma 15mm EX DG lens a Aperture Priority at f/5 ISO 400. Exposure times ranged from 1/160 sec to 3.2 sec with a three second interval.

A short timelapse of the SpaceX Falcon 9 launch viewed behind some ocotillo along Highway 78 east of Old Kane Springs Road in Borrego Springs, California. According to the maps, this area is just barely outside of the boundaries of Anza- Borrego Desert State Park. This was another epic launch to watch. And the clouds made it even more interesting. I shot this with a Canon 6D and Tokina 17-35mm lens. This time lapse video is made from 361 exposures shot at 1 sec f/4 ISO 3200. The rocket that starred in tonight’s spectacular launch was the second of SpaceX’s next-generation Falcon 9, dubbed the Block 5, to refly. The veteran flyer had first delivered 10 Iridium NEXT communications satellites into orbit on July 25.

Late Season Milky Way Over Anza-Borrego Desert Landscape Southwest of Blair Valley

Another late season Milky Way timelapse in the Anza-Borrego Desert southwest of Blair Valley. I illuminated the landscape in the foreground some some moderately warm color temperature LED lights. Here you can see lots of agave and a few clouds in the sky. The fast moving streaks of lights are just airplanes and not meteors. This time of year - at the end of what is known as Milky Way season - a sizeable portion of the core of the galaxy is already below the horizon before the sky gets dark enough to see and photograph the best part of the galaxy. This video is made from 667 (not 666!) frames shot with a Canon 6D and Sigma 15mm EX DG lens at 15 sec f/2.8 ISO 3200

Milky Way Over Borrego Springs From Font's Point in the Anza-Borrego Desert

Timelapse of a late-season Milky Way moving across the sky over badlands (visible towards the end when the moon rises and lights up the ground) and the town of Borrego Springs, California. I shot this from atop Font's Point in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. I pointed the camera southwest and shot a total of 687 frames - each at 13 sec f/2.8 ISO 3200 15mm with a Canon 6D and Sigma 15mm EX DG lens. I did NOT use my camera cooling system this time as my 15mm lens is a bit too wide to fit the opening in the cooler (I need to do some modifications) and also the air temperature wasn't too hot. Some noise/grain is visible, but it's not too bad. In what seems to be a rare event in the desert at night - especially on a ridge like up here - the wind was fairly mild most of the time. The humidity was low (not too rare in the desert) and there as almost no haze in the air. Great conditions for shooting the Milky Way. In this video you can see the lights of "downtown" Borrego Springs, traffic on Highway 78, the Montezuma Grade, Yaqui Pass, and more. You can also see the rotating beacon at the Borrego Springs Airport. Towards the end of the video, the moon rises (out of frame) and nicely illuminates the badlands and turns the sky blue. Font's Point is a scenic viewpoint in the Borrego Badlands area of the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park in San Diego County. I've heard some people call it "San Diego's Grand Canyon". The area is named after Father Pedro Font, a Franciscan Friar who accompanied Spanish Conquistador Juan Bautista de Anza on his explorations through the valley. Anza opened up the desert route that the Spanish used as an overland supply route between Mexico and settlements as far north as San Francisco.