Looking for great cinemagraphs and animated GIFs? This is the place. But which are my top 10 best cinemagraphs?
A year ago if you told me I was going to produce micro video content and cinemagraphs for brands such as Adidas, Peugeot, Campo Viejo and the band Little Mix (via Sony Entertainment) I'd have asked you politely what drugs you were on.
But here we are eight months later and indeed I have been hard at work and produced no less than 170 of them.
So after going through my archive and all the cinemagraphs and micro video content I have produced, here are my top 10 cinemagraphs and timelapse loops produced this year:
Number 10:
This cinemagraph is part of a large collection of sports cinemagraphs commissioned by Adidas. I shot 20 Adidas sponsored rugby union players and these were featured on Adidas' social media channels during the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
(see the full Adidas Cinemagraphs collection here)
Number 9:
This is a good example of travel cinemagraph, or how to use cinemagraphs to promote a travel destination. Shot in the beautiful village of St Guilhem near Montpellier in the south of France. Tell me that doesn't tempt you!
Number 8:
This piece of looping micro video content shot in Lyon is really a very short timelapse rather than a cinemagraph. It's always tricky to loop perfectly but it's possible and when you manage, the result is very satisfying.
Number 7:
This beautiful woman is my wife. So the reason I have included this in my top 10 best cinemagraphs is obvious... no it's not because if I didn't I'd be in trouble but instead because she's just the most beautiful person. This was shot in our cosy Dorset home.
Number 6:
This is not a cinemagraph but rather a seamless timelapse loop shot in the London underground. I made sure I was there early on a Sunday morning to avoid too many crowds and being asked to show any kind of permit (which I somehow forgot at home). I decided on this grungy, slightly yellow tinted post-processing to make more impact.
Number 5:
This is actually a composite timelapse loop. I first shot a timelapse of the sky and then added the underground sign I had shot separately. Once in place I blended them by adding a filter to achieve a slightly retro look. The London underground logo has got to be one of the most attractive logos ever designed.
Number 4:
This street cinemagraph is a lot more subtle than others I've produced using timelapse. I thought black and white would give it an even deeper mood. It's the kind of mesmerizing cinemagraph that's hard to stop looking at. Hypnotic isn't it?
Number 3:
I love this London cinemagraph so much it's been my homepage video background for some time now. This is a particularly attention grabbing cinemagraph thanks to the addition of timelapse. Too often cinemagraphs are just too subtle to stop people in their tracks on social media. Not that one.
Number 2:
Commissioned by Campo Viejo Rioja wines, this is one is my favourite food and drinks cinemagraph. I've shot other drinks cinemagraphs, including the (classic) infinite pour which I did for the Beavertown Brewery but that swirling effect really works well. Plus it's super sharp!
Number 1:
Yes this is my most popular London cinemagraph. Piccadilly Circus with a dollop of timelapse please!
I was out at 5am to shoot that one and yet still have people in the shot. But actually I think people make the shot, don't you?
Voila! It was not easy to decide on my top 10 and I'm sure a few maybe should have been included as well.
Make sure you check back regularly and also follow me on Instagram!
Nico