This month we started #TheFlixelProject – a bi-weekly Instagram cinemagraph contest that challenges Instagrammers to flex their cinemagraph creation skills in new ways. Being aficionados of the classic cup of Joe, and feeling refreshed from a coffee tasting session at our Flixel Retreat last month, coffee was unanimously decided as the theme for our first #TheFlixelProject!

We were blown away by the creativity that showed through the coffee cinemagraphs submitted by our incredible community. Picking a winner was definitely a task, but we are happy to announce the talented Tim Atkins as the winner of our first Instagram cinemagraph contest, #TheFlixelProject. Check out Tim’s winning cinemagraph below!

Meet Tim Atkins

Tim Atkins is a London-based photographer who specializes in food, drink, and interiors photography. With an impressive resume that includes working with chefs such as Martha Ortiz and Alessandro Borghese and being featured in editorials such as Guardian Cook, Ocada and Radio Times, Tim is a maestro in the art of food cinemagraphs and photographs.

Photo by Tim Atkins

Born in Cape Town, South Africa, Tim has always found his creative inspiration from the natural elements that surround him. These elements highlight the shape and colour that is seen in his in work. His preferred method of using natural light has helped show his work in an honest and simplistic way.

Hello, Cinemagraphs!

Cinemagraphs first caught Tim’s attention because they mixed the worlds of photo and video. He began to research cinemagraphs while working with Peroni and discovered that cinemagraphs were really time consuming to create. When he came across Flixel and Cinemagraph Pro, he was able to create incredible cinemagraphs in very little time. Cinemagraphs are now a part of his offering for his clients.

Cinemagraph for Peroni by Tim Atkins

Tim’s process for creating cinemagraphs is very structured. He first envisions the moving element, and then builds a vibrant concept around it. His go-to shooting equipment includes the Canon DSLR 5d MKIII and Arri Fresnal Tungsten T1; and as we know, a steady tripod is #MajorKey! To create a more natural lighting environment, Tim uses a lighting gel called Tough Spun. He keeps the element of motion as the centre point and then styles the set with relative props around the main subject.

Once the video is shot, Tim loads it into Cinemagraph Pro where he masks out the ideal motion for the cinemagraph. He then exports the still frame from Cinemagraph Pro and retouches it in Adobe Photoshop. After importing the image back into Cinemagraph Pro, he makes the final adjustments to the motion and the loop.

When asked about tips on creating the perfect food cinemagraph, Tim says the most important thing is the idea for the movement. “The trick is the more natural the movement looks combined with the photo the more it is pleasing to the eye,” he said. “It could be the simplest idea but done well it can make the cinemagraph amazing. If the viewer can relate to it they will remember it for longer.”

Checkout more tasty cinemagraphs in our Food Gallery, and tune in to our Instagram account for our next #TheFlixelProject contest!