Time Lapse Photography Goes Eco Friendly?

There are time lapse photography companies out there developing and using solar paneling and wind turbines to power their cameras!!

What is the point of this you ask? Are they eco nuts…..or just plain eccentric? Well, the companies who use these renewable energy sources do so not only out of choice, but often out of necessity.

The sort of companies using this technology are those s in long period time lapse photography, where cameras systems are often ‘in the field’ in sometimes far flung locations for lengthy periods of time. In such circumstances a normal power supply may be either unreliable, due to frequent interruptions, or, most often, simply not available.

In such cases, solar power may be the first option. A solar panel accompanied by a battery creates and stores sufficient energy to power the camera system and to also compensate for cloudy days and less favorable conditions. Usually in moderately sunny climates the minimum requirement is a 10v or 12v solar panel, feeding a conventional battery.

However, not all climates are moderately sunny! In fact there is a distinct lack of sunshine or even sunlight in some locations or during the winter seasons. In these circumstances the photographer may choose a combination of both solar power and wind turbine power. The principle remains the same and the use of a battery system to store the energy is a constant. However, instead of the singular means to generate power, the wind turbine system is attached as not only an add-on, but a back up.

The wind turbines are generally quite compact and very well designed, and tend not to require a great deal of air flow to feed them. They are usually fitted with a direction sail in order that the blades, which generate the power via a conventional drive shaft, can always face in the best direction to catch the wind.

By using this combination of wind and solar energy, what is created is part of a ‘go-anywhere’ camera system. As either method is quite effective under most conditions; using both methods as good as guarantees operation under all weather conditions.

There are other factors to a go-anywhere system, such as adequate and robust camera housing which need to maintain optimum operating temperature for the equipment. However, harnessing natural sources of power is certainly a vital part of an ‘all terrain’ system.

Not only do time lapse photographers get to time-lapse anywhere for very long periods of time –they also gets a round of applause for being eco-friendly. It’s a ‘win-win’ situation, and as technologies for renewable energy sources get ever more sophisticated and efficient, it will become ever easier for the keen amateur as well as the dedicated professional to use such techniques for their timelapse projects.