Behind the lens: Star trail time-lapse over Death Valley

• Posted By: Bryan Chan
• Posted On: 1:16 p.m. | January 23, 2013

For photographers, personal projects are often a way to express an independent vision, or are just an excuse to get out there and shoot.

When filmmaker Gavin Heffernan and his friends, producers Michael Darrow and Rachel Payne, needed a break, they set out to do a time-lapse project in Death Valley National Park. The result is the video “Death Valley Dreamlapse.”

The three did their location scouting online and found actual shooting spots on the fly, having never been there before they arrived just before sunset. Death Valley was chosen for its dark skies away from light pollution.

In below-freezing temperatures, with boxed wine and firewood for warmth, on the peak night of the Geminid meteor shower (Dec. 13), they witnessed an “incredible galactic palette,” Heffernan wrote.

They captured star trails, the meteor Shower (2:20-2:35), the occasional passing planet (1:15-1:30 and 2:15-2:25) and some unexplained lights (1:30-1:35) with 25-second exposures using Canon 5D & 7D, with a 24-millimeter/1.4 lens and a 28-millimeter/1.8. Each camera shot a scene for roughly three hours at a time (that’s when the wine came out). No special equipment was used, just tripods and the rotation of Earth’s axis. They set lanterns near the cameras to find them in the dark.
Along with color and contrast, the stars were given a streak effect using freeware StarStaX.

This video is the latest in a series of nighttime time-lapse projects. See more here.

Upper photo: Gavin Heffernan, left, and Michael Darrow at Eureka Dunes in Death Valley. Credit: Rachel Payne

Lower photo: Rachel Payne and a Canon 7D. Credit: Gavin Heffernan

More time-lapse videos:

Space shuttle Endeavour’s tek across L.A.

Mulholland Drive bridge removal during Carmageddon

Hollywood Sign repainting