Fixed Point Photography

Fixed Point Photography uses photographs taken from the same vantage point over time to create timelapses of visual habitat change. ACE Nature's Fixed Point Photography App enables you to mark a location on your phone using GPS, uses faded masks from previous photos to align new photos, and automatically creates timelapses.

The video below shows an example of some river restoration work captured using ACE Nature's Fixed Point Photography App.

User Guide

Android & iPhone Apps

Choosing a new fixed point photography location

• Visible stationary objects for alignment: as the App uses a base photo/mask to enable alignment of new photos, it is best if there are some visible objects within the photo that won't move and can be used repeatedly for alignment - e.g. a tree trunk/fence post/clear horizon
• Memorable location: the App uses the GPS on your phone to find the location from which to take repeat photos. As the GPS is accurate to +/- 5m, it can be helpful to stand in a recognisable and memorable location to take the photo - e.g. by a tree/rock/fence post

Creating a new Fixed Point Photography Location

1. When you are at the site from which you want to do a fixed point photography timelapse, tap Add Location
2. Give the site a meaningful name, and tap Add Location again
3. Tap on the site within the list of Fixed point locations, hold the phone up to capture the desired image (see Guide to good fixed point photography below for guidance on taking a good base photo), and tap on the white circle to take the photo
4. To view the photo, tap on the burger in the top left of the screen.

Adding to existing Fixed Point Photography Locations

1. Open the App to view the list of fixed point locations – your distance from the locations is shown to the right of the location name.
2. When at the site of an existing location, tap on the relevant photo thumbnail and hold your phone up to align the current view with the faded mask/base photo. If the mask is upside down, tap the curved arrow to flip it. Use the Opacity slider to alter the opacity of the mask. Use the Previous Photo slider to view older images if the latest one is not clear enough. Tap the white circle to take the photo.

   Please note: the Android/iPhone Apps are set to only allow one photo to be taken per fixed point location per day. If you take a second photo at the same location, the App will overwrite the first one.

3. To view the timelapse, tap on the burger in the top left of the screen and then tap the photo to start cycling through them.

Uploading photos

1. Tap on the photo thumbnail for the series that you want to upload (if you are near the location you will then also need to tap the burger in the top left) to see the site details,
2. Tap Share and then Collaborate – only use this feature if there is an ACE Nature server associated with your photography locations. If there is not, you can tap Save to Camera roll to save all the photos from the selected location to your phone’s camera roll
3. Check that the correct server is showing. If it isn’t, tap Change Server
4. Tap Upload – the App will count down the photos and then display Upload complete

Using the web-based App

If you would like members of the public or other people who do not have the App to contribute photos, we can provide a QR code which people can scan to access a web-based App. Contact ACE Nature if you would like to use this option

Figure 1: Wendling Beck Fixed Point Photography

Contact us using the form at https://www.acenature.co.uk/ for more information on how to access the App.