I love the way a photograph captures a moment before it disappears.
© Susie Salmon, The Lovely Bones.
I continue the section on non-standard content for Instagram. I hate articles like “55 types of content that will blow up your profile with likes.” Usually they are a simple collection of the first ideas that came across, with half thrown in just for the sake of quantity. Therefore, 1 idea = 1 article. Today I will develop the video topic started in the article about.
So, the topic of today's post is - cinematography. The first cinematographs were presented to New York City by photographer Jamie Beck and web designer Kevin Burg. Of course, the first reaction may be something along the lines of “It’s just a simple gif.” True and false at the same time. You can’t upload a GIF to Instagram, and yes, this is not a type of Boomerang; a real live photo looks much more interesting. Interesting? Go.
First, I will answer the question HOW and only then WHY. This is such a strange logic, yes.
A more complex, but still simple option is to use traditional Photoshop. It took me about 30 minutes to find the original video for the article, my ideas with a bottle of wine, a dog and a mug of coffee were embodied in “so-so posts”, there was too little light around me. But we will focus on author's videos shot on a phone/camera. The key point in the original video is that the camera must be absolutely still. Ideally, you'll need a tripod, but I've managed to make do with whatever I have at hand.
All work when creating cinematography takes place in your licensed Photoshop. Videos can be trimmed using separate software or during import.
1. Import the video file into Photoshop – File – Import – Video frames to layers– select the required file. Now each frame opens as a new layer.
2. Select a static layer and combine all the remaining ones through Ctrl+G. Further Layers - Layer Mask - Hide All
3. On the first stationary layer, using any tool convenient for you, select the area in which we will have movement and paint it with white. This will be our “Window” through all the layers.
4. Now we need to enable the animation section, if you haven’t already. Window - workspace - animation. Now there is an area with footage of our future cinematograph. Look at your sequence of frames. Almost all of them have a transparent background. To get rid of it, select the first layer in the layers panel and click on the icon " Unify layer visibility" In the dialog box that appears, select " Synchronize».
That's it, our video is almost ready. To loop the final video, we copy all the resulting frames using the drop-down menu. Next, in the same menu, select “ Insert Frames" In the dialog box that appears, select " Paste after the selected area". Without deselecting frames, select the menu item " Reverse frame order».
Ready! Congratulations, you are amazing! Almost.
For example, I chose the simplest possible video without people or other complex objects. But for a clothing designer or manicurist, this option will be too limited.
While working on this article, I turned to
Not long ago, Instagram and other social networks were flooded with a new fashion trend- “live” photographs. How to do Live Photo? On this moment Many different programs have been developed that can help you achieve the desired effect. On iPhones running iOS 9 and above, this feature is enabled in camera mode. Now we're talking about not about pictures that convey real emotions, or about random photos, but about animated pictures where only one specific episode “comes to life”. Despite all the similarities with gifs, they are still different.
What are "live" photos?
“Live” photos are images in which the main subject remains static and the background is animated, or vice versa. In fact, any detail can move: eyes open/close, leaves flutter, water flows, hair flutters, etc. Everything else remains strictly motionless, which creates a feeling of real magic.
What is the difference between “live” photos and GIFs?
We are used to calling a GIF an animated image consisting of several static frames. All gifs, accordingly, are in GIF format.
"Live" photos are a combination of JPG and MOV formats. This hybrid is only supported by the iOS 9 operating system and higher. All other gadgets, if you transfer this file, will only see the JPG image. To show the world the original appearance of such a Live Photo, it is most often converted into GIF format.
And, of course, the style of live photos itself implies that part of the image will be static, and part will be animated, thereby creating a magical effect.
How did the fashion for “live” photos appear?
When it went on sale 2 years ago New Product Apple, many users were interested in how to take a “live” photo on the iPhone 6. Not only did the quality of the gadget’s camera become significantly higher, but it also added a mini-video function, which was saved in the “live” photo format by combining JPG and MOV. Despite its mega-popularity, this new product still had a number of disadvantages:
- the photo was played only on iOS 9; to convey the motion effect on other devices, it was necessary to convert the file to GIF format;
- accompanying sound was recorded, which made little difference new format video was not always convenient;
- The iPhone recorded 45 frames and played back the image at 15 fps, which was very similar to a GIF, but the file itself was much heavier;
- there was no function for erasing audio;
- the slightest tremor of the hands could ruin the shot;
- The Live Photo format was very specific, because it combined MOV and JPG. If they tried to send this “live” photo by mail, then only the JPG component remained, the most important effect of movement disappeared.
How to take "live" photos?
Fortunately, now there are a lot of interested users of not only the iOS operating system, but also Android, searching the Internet, they can find a lot alternative ways to create live photos.
If you are the owner of a famous Apple smartphone, then you must know how to take a “live” photo on your iPhone. To do this you need:
- Open the Camera app.
- Activate the “live” photo mode (life off).
- Press the shutter button.
If you are the owner of a smartphone with the Android operating system, then one of the most suitable methods for you is to use free application Loopsie. We'll talk about it a little below.
How to edit photos
The updated version of iOS 11 introduced several new effects for live photos. If previously they could only be viewed, now it is possible to turn off the sound, loop “live” photos or play them forward and backward. Also added function long exposure. The developers took care not only of how to take a “live” photo on an iPhone, but also of editing it.
Converting "live" photos
We learned how to take “live” photos on iPhone 7. But how to adapt this format for other operating systems? To do this, Live Photos need to be converted. If you are interested in the question of how to make a video from “live” photos, then the answer is simple: just download the Live Gif application. It costs a little more than 100 rubles and, as you might have guessed from the name, it can format live photos into GIF or video files. After certain manipulations in this application, the material will become suitable for publication in in social networks. You can also use Google's Motion Stills app, which works on a similar principle.
How to bring a JPG photo to life?
Let's say you have a favorite photo that you want to “revive.” This can be done in Photoshop or in the special Plotagraph application. This program has a toolbar and, importantly, background information that will help you figure out how to take “live” photos on an iPhone. This application is paid, it costs about 400 rubles. How does it work?
Open the application, select the desired photo, press the “animation” button. You will see arrows on the screen; they need to be placed in those areas of the photo that you plan to revive. Next, click the “Mask” button and erase the entire area that you want to leave static. The next stage is choosing the animation speed and saving.
MaskArt
This application is free and without it. It is easy to use, but can create spectacular live photos from videos. How to work with it?
- Open the program.
- Select a suitable video.
- Find the best freeze frame and click Done in the upper right corner.
- If necessary, trim the video using the slider.
- Use a brush to paint the area that should move.
- Defects can be corrected with an eraser.
- Go to the video editor and adjust the color. Ready!
This application only works on Apple gadgets.
Loopsie for Android
Many people are now wondering how to take “live” photos on Android. Very simply, a number of applications have also been developed for this operating system. There are cheap and very expensive ones ($200), and there are also free ones.
The Loopsy application is shareware. After a few days of using the demo, a watermark appears.
The first stage is programs. Open "Loopsy" and shoot a video in it, keeping your hands as static as possible. You can use a tripod or other way to secure the phone. This way the “live” photo will turn out to be the most beautiful.
Before you start recording video, you can select the side size, switch the right camera and use the net - in this situation it helps a lot.
After shooting a video, the program starts the stabilization process, which hides hand tremors and other technical irregularities.
Live Photo in Photoshop
On at this stage Many people were interested in whether it was possible to create a fashionable image in Photoshop. Yes, it’s not difficult, but the work involved is more painstaking than in special applications for smartphones.
It is very important that your version of the program has a video creation function. How can I check this? Open "Window", then - "Timeline". Look for the "Create Timeline" button. If it is not there, then, unfortunately, there is no video creation function either.
Now let's figure out how to take a “live” photo in Photoshop.
First of all, open the photo, for example, in JPG format. An animated effect can be created from one or more photos. In any case, the main object and the background should be on different layers.
If you have one photo that you plan to “revive,” you can do it as follows:
- Create a copy of the layer in image editing mode.
- Separate the main object from the background. It doesn't matter which selection tool you use, as long as the effect is as neat as possible.
- Once you have separated the background from the foreground, check to see if there are any unnecessary details. If necessary, they must also be removed.
- We refine the edges of the mask and make the selection more even.
- Let us remind you that all manipulations must be carried out with a copy of the layer.
- Create a duplicate of the bottom layer. For convenience, we label the layer with the main object with the number 1, and the background one with the number ". We do not touch the background.
- Take the Stamp tool, set the opacity to 100% and select a medium softness value.
- Go to the middle layer (background) and start using the Stamp tool to hide the main object.
The next stage will be the “revival” process itself, before which it is recommended to reduce the size of the picture so that in the future it will be easier to play and will not slow down.
- Go to the "Window" menu and select "Timeline".
- Click on the “Create video timeline” button.
- On the left are the buttons: “Stop”, “Play”, “Rewind/Forward”, “Scissors”, etc. The duration of the video image can be changed with a special slider, as in any other editor.
- Layers are automatically transferred to the timeline, which makes it possible to work with each of them separately.
- For example, select a zoom effect for the background by right-clicking. Next, play the video and see what happens.
- To create an aerial perspective, you also need to work with the layer on which the main object is depicted. You can also bring it closer or further away, and also determine the direction of movement.
- Convert the image into a GIF animation or video file. Ready!
As you can see, many programs and conditions have been created to express yourself creatively. Feel free to discover something new, perhaps your creative brainchild will become the next fashion trend!
Cinemagraphs are very impressive live photographs that were invented in 2011 by a duo from New York: photographer Jamie Beck and designer Kevin Burg. The idea was simple - to show not a static picture, but an animated one. We can say that this is a new era in photography - creating an image that is not yet a video, but is no longer a photograph. We would like to show you cinemagraphs created by graphic designer from France, Julien Douvier. In his works you will see simple scenes from everyday life, looking at which you will feel like you are watching a movie.
10 PHOTOS
1. Cinemagraphy combines traditional photography with elements of local animation, which creates the effect of a living picture. (Photo: Julien Douvier). 
2. Selected moving parts of the picture are isolated from the static image. This dichotomy makes the images quiet and somewhat contemplative. (Photo: Julien Douvier). 
3. These are not just gifs, these are much more complex animated images raised to a whole new level. (Photo: Julien Douvier). 
4. Cinemagraphs create a convincing illusion that you are watching a movie. (Photo: Julien Douvier). 
5. Cinemagraphs by Julien Douvier radiate calm, revealing the beauty of ordinary, everyday life. (Photo: Julien Douvier). 
6. According to the original creators of live images - Jamie Beck and Kevin Burg - they wanted to connect the world of photography and the world of film. And they really did it. (Photo: Julien Douvier). 
7. It usually takes two days to create one live image, but if the moving element in the picture is a person, it may take a week. (Photo: Julien Douvier). 
8. The author of these unusual live photographs is inspired by everything that can be seen. Music is also important to him in his work, which, according to him, very often influences the choice of subject for filming. (Photo: Julien Douvier).
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