We've seen the bullet time effect achieved through many methods. In terms of low-end tech and budget, you've got the inventive ceiling fan/GoPro technique, and on the high-end you've got the innovative 12 Teledyne DALSA Falcon2 multi-viewpoint technique. However, somewhere in the middle lies the action camera array approach, and Devin Graham and his team took 52 of GoPros, built a specialized circular rig, and filmed dogs running through it with some pretty cool results. Check out the behind the scenes video as well as the finished product after the jump.
The process described by Graham's DP is essentially the same process as other GoPro bullet time filmmakers have been using for years, just on a larger scale -- a much larger scale. The team bought 52 GoPros in bulk, set them up on an 8' specially made circular rig that was fitted with individually cut brackets that fit each camera at a precise angle.
Graham says (slightly tongue in cheek) that this is the "largest GoPro array that has ever been conceived." There was a 52-DSLR camera setup done by Timeslice Films for Rip Curl a few years ago that had stunning results, but I haven't heard of anything done on this scale with GoPros (if you have, let us know in the comments.)
The trick with getting good bullet time footage is keeping your cameras on the same plane, otherwise each successive image will be slightly askew from the previous one, leading to a disjointed sequence overall. Graham and his team did a pretty descent job with the video, however the sequences lack that sought-after perfect fluidity.
The team worked with the company OraPup, and through brand integration received the funding needed to make the video. Graham describes this more in the BTS video below, as well as how to construct the rig they used -- so if you ever just so happen to get your hands on 52 GoPros, you'll have an idea on what you'll need.
What do you think? Have you ever constructed a bullet time rig similar to this one?
[via Filmmaker IQ]
