I’ve just released my new short film, Skylight. This timelapse film, presented in 4K, showcases some of the amazing sky shows I have been lucky enough to witness and capture over the years.

Whether in the city or a rural area, surrounded by nature or man-made things, the one constant is the sky. No matter our lifestyle or surroundings, we all share the same world above us. The sky holds the power to make a good view great, and to mesmerize us with the wonders of the world – within our atmosphere and beyond.

This film has been a long time in the making, and I am so happy to share this with the world and greatly appreciate everyone who takes the time to watch it, like it, or share it.

To watch in stunning 4K resolution, click the HD button and select 4K.

Here are some facts and common questions about the film –

Film facts: “Skylight” was filmed over 5.5 years. The oldest shot in the film is from June 2010, the newest is from January 2016. The majority of material was captured between 2013-2016. About half of the material was shot specifically for the film and the remainder was captured during various other shoots and projects.

What you see on-screen in 3 minutes is actually about 36 hours of time. There were 42 unique locations used in the creation of this film.

What is your favorite shot? The opening shot. This is one of my all time favorite sunrises. While camping with good friends, an early morning thunderstorm with heavy winds passed over us shortly before dawn. We hunkered down in the tent, being battered by the wind and rain. Once the storm moved on, dawn was upon us. I looked outside groggily and knew I needed to get up and grab a camera. This slow moving storm was captured with a slowly panning shot over 40 minutes as it moved past the valley and into the Sierra Nevada.

At 2:01, is that a meteor? How was this captured? This shot was basically an accident. It didn’t occur during any major meteor showers. I was camping in the Eastern Sierra – it was cold and I didn’t have any motivation to leave the warm fire to setup cameras at any of the nearby scenic locations. I at least decided to drop a static camera 10 feet from our tent looking toward a clearing in the trees, at least feeling good that I’ll capture something, even if not too dramatic. I woke up in the morning and reviewed the shot and was amazed. I’ve never seen anything quite like it since.

How long was the vapor trail from the meteor strike? The vapor trail lasted 95 frames, and is visible over a timespan of 52 minutes before it disappears out of frame.

What’s going on in the closing shot? This shot was captured late at night in the San Gabriel Mountains, nearly one mile above the LA basin, which was completely covered in low fog. With the fog shrouding and dampening much of the city’s light pollution, a starry night sky was visible. To me, this shot really showcases the significance of man-made light pollution, but also shows how even in the city, we are only superficially removed from the natural world.

What is the full list of locations featured in the film? While some of these locations are only briefly on screen, the full list of locations is: Los Angeles • Chicago • NYC • Tokyo • Singapore • Sydney • New Zealand (North Island) • Malibu • Big Sur • Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest • CARMA • Owens Valley • Eastern Sierra • Death Valley • Yosemite • Vermillion Cliffs • Mojave Desert • Central Iowa • Western Illinois

Thank you for taking the time to check out Skylight! If you liked it, please share it! Thanks!

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