Animating a still photograph in After Effects

I was looking through some of the pictures on my phone from last summer and decided to have a go at creating a short animation from a still photograph. Here’s the result:

Here’s the original photograph:

speckled wood butterfly for animation

The photo works quite well as the natural background lends itself nicely to the animation technique.

The method I used to create the video was to first cut out the butterfly in photoshop & cover over the space in the background using the patch/healing tool. Importing the PSD into After Effects I could then place the layers in 3D at varying distances and animate a camera round the two.

I’m pretty happy with the result & I find the effect in general is a really nice way of showcasing photographs.

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Rewilding the planet with freelance animation and motion design

We've only got one planet, and right now it needs all the help it can get. Climate change and biodiversity loss are massive challenges that we need to tackle head on.

That's why, for every freelance animation project over £1000 a donation of 1% of the total budget will be made to the World Land Trust, on your behalf.

The money will go towards WLT's "buy an acre" programme; buying up and protecting vital habitats around the world, and helping fight against climate change.

Any motion design projects under £1000 will have a tree planted on your behalf.

Acres saved so far:

Thanks to my wonderful clients and the animations we've produced, enough money has been donated to save around:

17.5 Acres of vital habitats around the world.

Just think, your animated explainer video or logo animation could also be helping fight the climate crisis!

If you're interested in some freelance animation work and saving the planet, get in touch and let's chat!