Frozen Helicopter

It’s optical illusion time...

10.31.12 | By: Richard

It’s optical illusion time. This video, entitled “Camera shutter speed synchronized with helicopter blade frequency” – though not so creatively named, makes creative use of camera tech and helicopter tech to make the helicopter look like it’s floating in mid air.

Magicians aren’t supposed to reveal their secrets, but this isn’t magic, it’s science. The “secret” through which the video renders its effect is a combination of syncing the camera’s shutter and frame speed with the RPM of the helicopter’s rotor blades. Each frame has to be shot just fast enough to freeze the blade for minimal motion blur. Tricky, tricky.