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Tim Shepherd

As a botanist, and with nearly 30 years experience, Tim combines all the specialist skills of time-lapse photography with an in-depth knowledge of his subject.

This passion and knowledge has enabled him to capture some of the most famous time-lapse sequences in television history. These include David Attenborough’s ‘The Private Life of Plants’ and more recently the astounding woodland time-lapse in ‘Life’.

Timelapse reveals things that you are unaware of because the change is too slow to watch in real time
Tim Shepherd

Tim says:

“Timelapse shots reveal things that you are unaware of because the change is too slow to watch in real time, as with plants growing. Or because it happens at night when we are not around, such as the amazing behaviour of earthworms pulling leaves down into their burrows.

These shots look like they are well lit, but in reality it is pitch black. Each frame is exposed by flash with an interval of 60 seconds between frames. When they are shown together at 25 frames per second it looks like continuous light. Fortunately the flash does not put off the earthworms.

The slime mould sequence was a treat too. The time-lapse makes you realise that they behave more like an animal than a fungus or plant and shows clearly how they are feeding on their fungus prey.

Clips

Timelapse showreel: Tim Shepherd

A collection of the timelapse footage produced by Tim for The Great British Year.