Iceland time-lapse – The Magic of the North
Skagaströnd, a small town in Northern Iceland, offers some of the most rugged and beautiful coastal views. This time-lapse movie captures the moment the sun dips below the horizon, giving way to the deep blue of the Arctic night.
The Technical Challenge: The “Holy Grail”
In time-lapse photography, the transition from day to night is known as the “Holy Grail.” Why?
-
Brightness Shift: The difference in light intensity between sunset and civil twilight is massive. This requires gradual adjustments to shutter speed and ISO throughout the session.
-
Flicker Elimination: Every EV change in exposure parameters creates visible brightness jumps in the video. To achieve perfect smoothness, specialized software (like LRTimelapse) must be used to interpolate these steps in post-production.
Location and Gear
This sequence was recorded in 2019 during an expedition to Iceland. The harsh northern climate forces a photographer to not only ensure tripod stability in strong winds but also to battle moisture settling on the front lens element. The result, however, is a unique spectacle of colors that cannot be found at lower latitudes.
