Stop Motion Bike Build

This stop motion short follows the build of a TIME Alpe d’Huez from the frame up. Created in collaboration with The Gear Attic, the project gave me a chance to combine two things I’ve spent a lot of time around: bikes and motion.

Every part of the build was shot frame by frame, turning a familiar process into something more playful and unexpected. The goal was to make the bike feel like it was building itself, while still showing off the details, craftsmanship, and personality that make TIME bikes so distinct.

Motion Design · Stop Motion · Photography · Editing · Sound Design

Process

The project started with storyboards, lighting tests, and a locked camera setup before moving into frame by frame production. Each component was photographed combined with short filmed clips, that moved in small increments to make the bike feel like it was assembling itself.

From there, the project really came together in the edit. Stop motion stills, practical video, sound, and music were sequenced in Premiere Pro, with After Effects used for cleanup and finishing. A lot of the final rhythm came through testing, adjusting, and occasionally reshooting until everything clicked.

Storyboarding

Lighting Tests

Solidifying some stark studio lighting and a backdrop was not the answer. This was a bike used for lighting tests prior to getting the Alpe D’Huez frame.

Alpe D’Huez frame in. No backdrop, but still a no on studio lighting. Had to try it one more time.

Natural lighting felt a heck of a lot more natural.

Confirmed direction. Adding in the play of shifting shadows involved with natural lighting over multiple days and weeks gave a fun vibe to this stop motion project.

Editing Workflow

The project was assembled and paced in Premiere Pro, where I built the main sequence, handled the stop motion timing, and edited the sound effects.

From there, I used After Effects for finishing work, experimenting with lighting, exposure, and color adjustments across the piece. I also worked with Magic Bullet Looks, a color grading and film look plugin from Maxon’s Red Giant tools, to test different treatments and push the footage toward a more cinematic finish.

The background music was also refined in After Effects, where I adjusted levels and pulled it back when needed so the sound effects could stay prominent throughout the build.