automaton dance stop motion animation

[vividvectors]

cool animation

[canalgualdina]

Stunning. 

[MrViolentViolin]

cool :P, but why not rendered in HD:P

[williameallan]

i love the music!

[lavilla91]

Very nice lighting work. Did you use a remote shutter release to take your pictures and did you find any camera shake or exposures that didn't match up with the last frame? (from the moving parts in an SLR--shutter, mirror, etc.). What program did you use to put this together?

I'm looking into a stopmotion setup and would appreciate any advice from an exerienced motioner.

[richragsdale]

I used a cable release and a tripod

i put it all together in final cut

after adjusting the pictures in photoshop

[lavilla91]

did you use a PS action? or manual adjustments?

[richragsdale]

manual adjustments

[avisualjourney]

Like your use of blacks. Music was very nice.

[brennig2]

Brilliant, the focus and lighting was very good. I'm planning on getting a Canon 1000d or 450d for my stop-motion.

[zeprefel]

This i sgreat

[monstersitophil]

Great Music and film. a dance a dance a dance with shadows and textures and souls of bodies dancing. I like your animation

[moddyboy80]

Fantastic, brilliant and a little spooky!

I am so intrigued...I love the lighting, and shadow play. I like that you did this with a digital SLR. I have been wanting to do something like this myself, but everything I read said no, you can't use a digital still camera to do stop motion on a computer, which didn't make sense to me. So, thanks for posting it. I like it !

[03crichardson]

I personally think it's illogical to use anything BUT a digital stills camera for stop-motion...

[terrestial63]

5*****!!!!

[richragsdale]

well this was actually shot as a test for a fully stop motion music video i did right after

i was mostly interested in experimenting with animating the light, focus pulls and the like as well as developing a work flow with the d200

i cut it all together with some music and thought it was cool so i posted it - but it was created with things i found laying around my house and was never meant to be considered a fully realized film - just a test - but thanks for watching

[issofunky]

who made this...because it looks like any of the Quay Bros. compositions....or an early Tool video....which ever you are familiar with. except there doesn't appear to be very much stop motion in it at alll...the dance looks like it was done with real time motion...doll on a stick essentially, and the light shifts really show just how NOT stop motion ANY of this is....there is no jerky ness....no disjunct pos. shifts.....it isn't stop motion at all except for the window lock.

[richragsdale]

i appreciate you watching -

but you are sorely mistaken my friend -

i made this as a test for a stop motion music video (d11)

the entire thing is done with a digital slr still camera

no real time filming at all - the light is animated - the doll is animated - everything animated in the computer at 23.98 fps - the light source went thru a gobo and was animated as well! (the purpose of this test was mainly to practice the animated light technique)

where you are correct- it is very quay inspired

[issofunky]

then I must bow down, I stand corrected.....and astounded....the flow of motion is so realistic.

I've just watched a bunch of other things you've done, and I'm really getting a better impression....like all artists, I get the felling that never sleep.

[artsaveslives77]

Wow! Pure genius! That was wonderful!

[holly84]

Ooh!

Great work, sir- you must have the patience of a saint.

[ChimLeeAnimation]

really lovely lighting. great work, thanks. loved it. x

[eynesprayer]

Thats really wonderfully done.

[richragsdale]

sho nuff

of course with digital it is all in the lighting

you really have to work to get it less digital-y

[akshyat]

j This vid made me sOOoOoOo wet LOL m

[richragsdale]

glad to oblige

[CerebralStasis]

Excellent work! I can definitely see the Jan Svankmajer influence, though I'm not familiar with the others you mentioned.

[JazzyMeg]

This is fantastic!  How many fps did you use?

[richragsdale]

i edited/animated at 23.98 fps

[yummymayo]

wow, fantastic work! i rarely see such dynamic and fluid motion and textures with stop animation like this. the brothers quay would be proud.

[fromedmond]

Yeah, this is well done

[beckyelizabeth77]

I really liked your use of lighting in this animation it was very creepy!

[KawhackitaRag]

Nice video. I have a hard time believing that this cylinder music box movement can make all those noises with most of the teeth on the comb missing, but I guess we should all have a healthy suspension of disbelief! (yes, I know, you added the Cage recording afterward)

[richragsdale]

yeah - the sound/image relationship was certainly

meant to be more poetic than diegetic

[Mikesafilmer]

Bravo!!! Great idea, makes me want to bust out my digital SLR and make a stop animation right now...

[jiolsmolimassunemo]

what is the name of the cage piece used?

[jiolsmolimassunemo]

haha oops i commented too soon.

brilliant work, all in all.

[muffinbanana]

...I haven't found a real sense in there yet... but I have to say I love it (; I would have never expected such work when I saw it was called 'stop motion'... really awesome!

[cheekychen]

i think i watched this a while back... it's fantastic. well done. Feel free to check some of my animation if you haven't yet.

bye

[Rodimus78]

dear 'richragsdale', I am working on a stop-motion project using a digital slr, but I don't have the money to buy Final Cut Pro to get that film-look once it's edited, and I only got a PC. What alternative editing software should I use to achieve that film-look you've just did? Please help.

[richragsdale]

the "film look" is really more in the lighting

and using a long lens

i didn't do much to the images in the computer

as far as editing on a pc - maybe premiere

i've never owned a pc so i don't really know - hope this is helpful

[Rodimus78]

It is helpful richragsdale. Thanks a lot. I've decided to stick with Windows Moviemaker for the time being. I've forgot to tell you that your short film is a work of art. I've found your technique impressive. That's why I've contacted you for advice. Happy new year sir.

[redmanwhiterabbit]

Very nice. Any tips?

[turnbullhusky]

Wow, absolutely amazing. Such fluid motion and crisp focus. Just beautiful!

[HD41117]

"Influenced" but in no way subordinate. Your phrasing is beautiful. Which SLR did you use?

[richragsdale]

hey thanks for watching

i used a nikon d200

[zacton]

Gosh, all your videos are sweet. I love the mood in all of them that you set!!! Great job, again!

[o0frigor0o]

very nice

[heurguefloc]

Excellent. I love the DOP, Quay-like. You're good man!

[iraqifreak]

this is equivalent to 5 horror movies combined together... i'm not sleeping tonight :S

[organmaster89]

this video literally makes me want to kill myself not kidding

[triciakitty]

I may end up favoriting everything you've made! heheh...you are awesome! I see we probably both love the Brothers Quay...Looks that way anyway. They have inspired me for years!

[donebyone]

Beautiful piece of animation

we don't hang out enough.

Obsessive Creators never get to enjoy each other's time.

[criscornellius]

i really like it. the lights are greats

and preety cool atmosfere

[Hlynur]

That is a very well done test for your SLR. You have a good eye for lighting and mood. Very moody and captures well the feel from your claimed inspirations.

[musetavern]

Wow, this is so Brothers Quay. Which isn't a bad thing. My film teacher in college was big into experimental stuff, and showed Quay Brothers all the time. They're still a bit influence on me, even though I work mostly in 3d now. This stuff is just great.

[mautomata]

i just saw it, it's so mesmerizing!!!!*but she, ok, i, love,ok loves this more hehehe. if you have more links please post some if you dont mind

[mautomata]

wow!lovely mood! i wanted to spin too.

[punktab]

beautiful photography and the sound design, well done!

[paulbrockenhagen]

S U P E R B  M A G N I F I C

[rotaryracer]

good job man, well done.

[Generalfuck]

well...beautiful..thanks for graciously commenting on my little video..yeah awesome work here though.

[ZOB4]

Wow, that was a little spooky

[maganamagana]

And its just an animation test?, fuck, you have talent

[wintermute1984]

this is great. it's funny - it reminded me of a part in the "the street of crocodiles" when all the empty-headed dolls start swing their arms in unison. then i saw the shout out to the stop-motion gods. i used to mess with stop-motion a lot more on super-8 and 16mm. i'd love to get back into it. it's really awesome that you shot this with a digi-SLR. gives it a really clean look. anywayz, your stuff is tight.^^

[micthementalmonkey]

neat

[mariotski]

very good

[hammen27]

very well done, i like the atmosphere

[Darkpaint84]

how the hell did you do this?

[89845]

weird video but cool its reminds me of tool

[DaylightMusic]

Its so great we love it .....

Greets

visit us on myspace adress is daylighthc

[VILLAGEofMARHEN]

Beautiful light!

[hairbird]

what fps did you end up with for the movement?

[richragsdale]

i animated it at 23.98 fps, one exposure per frame with a few exceptions

where i used a 1 frame cross fade between exposures, though not often because i don't really like that look too much

[thebloodyhatchet]

Absolutely beautiful! Awesome job.

[avantgardener3]

Rich, admire your patience. Great moves, moods and music. Thanks.

[skelpana]

simply beautiful

[StopMoColorado]

Very nice - I'm wondering how you got such a nice shallow depth of field - did you us a lens adapter, or did you just manage to get that look with your DSLR by shooting with the aperature wide open? Excellent work...

[abuser23]

I'm a great admirer of Svankmajer and the Brothers Quay and i have to admit that you've done a superb job!

Best regards = )

[SugarAndDust]

wow. nice video...i like this style.

[hotsaucyduck]

excellent!

[ricardleandro]

Toolish!!

[colesycolesy100]

Yup, Thats worth alot of credit!! Good job!!

[FloopyDoop]

wowweeee that musta taken quite a bit of work.. all stills? very cool lighting

[bigbadwolfami]

This had a little of that Brothers Quay feeling to it only with color. Nicely done!

[futurelight]

I saw this in the animation group; this rocks! Awesome job, man! Svankmajer is awesome as well. His movie, "Alice" is probably the one of the strangest things I've ever seen.

[gamassera]

Very nice clip. Cage's soul is present here!

[mothberries]

ooh, lovely! Good job!

[chastash]

Very nicely done, beautifully lit.

[smithdream]

You did this with a still digital SLR?

That was shockingly very good.

How did you put it all together?

Fantastic lighting and movement.

KEEP CREATING!

[jacydc]

wow, that was exciting.

what did you use for lighting?

and i'm sorry those two lines rhymed, that was an accident.

[richragsdale]

thanks for looking guys

i used a desk lamp with a ventilated hood that creates really nice patterns

when you move it around and edited everything in final cut pro and photoshop