{"id":7758,"date":"2018-08-26T08:51:27","date_gmt":"2018-08-26T15:51:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.cicadamania.com\/cicadas\/?p=7758"},"modified":"2018-08-26T08:59:02","modified_gmt":"2018-08-26T15:59:02","slug":"tips-for-making-a-time-lapse-video-of-a-cicada-molting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cicadamania.com\/cicadas\/tips-for-making-a-time-lapse-video-of-a-cicada-molting\/","title":{"rendered":"Tips for making a time-lapse video of a cicada molting"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Molting<\/p>\n

Time-lapse videos of insects molting can be as visually fascinating as they are scientifically important. Cicadas are amongst the best insect subjects for time-lapse because they’re relatively large, and depending on where you live, easy to find. <\/p>\n

Equipment you’ll need for your time-lapse video:<\/h2>\n
    \n
  1. Lights<\/strong>. I use cheap LED and fluorescent lights. Not enough light and you’ll end up with a grainy video. Too much light and you’ll over-expose the subject and miss some important details. You’ll need a stand or tripod for your lights as well.<\/li>\n
  2. A tripod for your camera.<\/strong> You want your camera to be as steady as possible. Hand-holding the camera is not recommended. The molting process takes hours.<\/li>\n
  3. A camera<\/strong>. Some cameras have a Time-Lapse mode, but you could also take a photo every 30 seconds or so and use software to assemble the photos into a video. A camera with a large view screen is recommended so you can make adjustments to the lighting and framing of the insect. <\/li>\n
  4. A platform<\/strong> for your cicada\/insect. If you film outside use the tree the insect decides to molt on. If you film inside, build a structure using tree branches, or other materials the nymph can anchor onto.<\/li>\n
  5. Video editing software<\/strong>. Free software works fine, as long as it lets you compile a series of photos into a single video. <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    I made my own platform out of some driftwood and a 2×4 I had lying around. Cheap but effective. Cicadas need to hang perpendicular to the ground so their wings will properly expand, so your creation needs to allow for that. A lot of people simply use a roll of paper towel. <\/p>\n

    \"Rig <\/p>\n

    Skills you’ll need to practice<\/strong><\/h2>\n
      \n
    1. Patience<\/strong>. Unless you’re a pro who films wildlife all the time, you might need a few tries to get it right.<\/li>\n
    2. Learn how to use the Time-Lapse feature of your camera.<\/li>\n
    3. Learn how to light a small subject like a cicada.<\/li>\n
    4. The ability to stay up late. The entire molting process can take up to 5-6 hours, especially if you want to let the cicada’s wings and body harden a bit. Coffee or tea helps (you, not the cicada).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      If you’ve never tried filming a cicada molting before, you can practice lighting, focusing and using the time-lapse features of your camera with a paper model of a cicada. Just draw a cicada onto a small piece of paper, and pin it to a tree. If you know origami, even better. <\/p>\n

      Finding a specimen<\/h2>\n

      I begin looking for cicada nymphs about 15 minutes after sunset. I find them at the base of trees, or ascending tree trunks. If you plan on filming indoors, or on a custom platform, treat the cicada with care. Be very gentle, and place the cicada nymph in a spacious enclosure — preferably one that allows it to grip, and hang off the side. I transport cicadas in a pop-up butterfly pavilion\/habitat — these portable enclosures are made for butterflies, but they work well for other insects, like cicadas. Don’t forget to release the cicada the following day as well.<\/p>\n

      The overall process for shooting indoors<\/h2>\n
        \n
      1. Set up your rig: platform, lights, camera. Make sure your camera has an empty memory card in it and is charged\/plugged in. Make sure all the lights are working. Place a towel or something soft at the base of the platform, in case the cicada falls (it happens).<\/li>\n
      2. Collect your specimen. Bring a flashlight and a butterfly pavilion (or similar container). Gently grab the cicada nymph with your fingers and place in the container. do not collect a cicada that has already begun molting. Take some (not a lot) of tree branches with you. You can use the branches to augment your platform. <\/li>\n
      3. Place the cicada at the base of the platform. Let it explore and become comfortable. Place it back at the base of the platform if it falls or wanders off.<\/li>\n
      4. Once the cicada is ready to molt, it will stay still for a while. This is a good time to get your camera in focus and lights in the right position.<\/li>\n
      5. The skin of the back of the nymph will split — look and listen for that. Start time-lapse filming. Example<\/a>.<\/li>\n
      6. Re-frame the camera as necessary to capture the cicada’s wings as they inflate.<\/li>\n
      7. An hour after the cicada’s wings move into place (see that happen<\/a>), you can stop filming, and place the cicada into the safety of the butterfly pavilion — or on a tree outside.<\/li>\n
      8. Return the cicada to the outdoors within 12 hours.<\/li>\n
      9. Use video editing software to compile the time-lapse frames into a video. I set each frame to 0.2 seconds — experiment with the times.<\/li>\n
      10. Add the species of the cicada, the location where you found it, and other comments to the video.<\/li>\n
      11. Share your video with friends, family and the world.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        More tips:<\/h2>\n
          \n
        • The process takes a long time — you might be up until 1 or 2 am in the morning. Be prepared for that.<\/li>\n
        • Film some non-time-lapse video as well. There are key moments during the molting process that happen quickly, like when the cicada pulls its abdomen from its old skin. Having a video of that is nice.<\/li>\n
        • Be prepared to adjust the framing and focus a few times during the shoot. Don’t adjust too much though — just if the cicada’s wings fall out of frame.<\/li>\n
        • The cicada will double its overall size. Its wings will hang downward. Be prepared for that when you frame the shot.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

          Some results:<\/h2>\n

          My latest time-lapse video:<\/strong><\/p>\n

          Notice how I frame the video. <\/p>\n