ᐅ Setting Up a Time-Lapse Camera for House Construction

Hello everyone,

I have been doing time-lapse photography as a hobby for several years, mostly with a DSLR. However, for continuous use, I had initially considered two other options:

• GoPro (but I really have battery issues here, as I might not have a power source available)
• Raspberry Pi with a camera module in an outdoor camera housing (dummy)

But neither of these is ideal from my point of view. The Brinno BCC100 is perfect because it shoots with an extremely wide angle and a very large aperture (f/1.4). The only downside is that the camera does not offer a RAW mode... but for amateurs, it’s ideal since you don’t have to worry about anything!

My big question is: how does this stand legally? Is it a gray area? Do you get written permission from the contractors to confirm that it’s okay?

Regarding the frame rates: here in Europe, we are used to 25 frames per second, so at least 25 as the frame rate! Brinno recommends taking photos every 30 to 60 minutes for construction projects. I think that is too infrequent; I tend to prefer 1 to 5 minutes intervals at a frame rate of 30 or 50 fps.
For example, taking one photo per minute results in 60 photos per hour. At 30 fps, that equals 2 seconds of finished video. Assuming a shooting time from, say, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., this amounts to 22 seconds of video per day. Speeding up always works well, but the opposite doesn’t! Since the resolution is only 1280 x 720 pixels (720p), the file size per photo is not large.

According to Brinno, with good quality, you can store around 30,000 photos on a 4 GB memory card! Returning to the example: with 330 photos taken per day, it would take about 90 days to reach the 30,000 photo limit on a 4 GB card.

I’m really excited about using this camera for the construction site task (with a DSLR, it’s very labor-intensive) and I hope the image quality will convince me!

I’m curious to see what others think about the legal aspect!

Best regards

Definitely get it in writing. If you ever post the photo series online (which is planned), the receipts might be requested.

In the age of Facebook and similar platforms, everyone demands data privacy—except when it comes to their own interests (in this case, building a house).

HilfeHilfe schrieb:
Definitely get it in writing. If you ever put the photo series online (which is supposed to happen), the receipt might come in handy.

Unlike many others, this is meant to be a purely private keepsake. My house is my private space and it does not belong on the internet...

My concern is more about the companies working there and their employees. Let’s think back to the scandal with LIDL and Aldi regarding cameras over the checkout areas. In companies, filming offices, etc., is also a topic for the works council. It could be interpreted as workplace surveillance. In photography, passersby can be photographed and published without their consent as long as they are not the main subject of the image... For example, a photo of Cologne Cathedral, a sports stadium, and so on.

I find the topic somewhat divided when it comes to building a house because the companies are involved in the construction, and possibly their employees are recognizable. Even if I don’t publish the photos and only take a picture every minute, depending on the viewpoint and sensitivity, it could be a gray area...

Therefore, I hope someone here might be able to clarify the issue! I have already considered obtaining written permission to photograph, but then the question is: is that sufficient?

I’m not taking this personally concerning my own interests, but this is exactly where you picked the wrong person with your comment.

I don’t think a written consent will work. A contractor cannot give that on behalf of their employees. These are personal rights that a client or employer cannot decide on. So you would have to ask every construction worker and tradesperson individually, including anyone who enters the site unexpectedly.

Edit: Okay, maybe that goes too far, but I wouldn’t find it funny to be photographed without my permission. And building a house is not the Cologne Cathedral.

lastdrop schrieb:
I don’t think a written permission will work. A contractor can’t provide that on behalf of their employees. These are personal rights that a client or employer cannot decide on. So, each construction worker and craftsman must be asked individually, including anyone who enters the site unexpectedly.

Good point, it’s difficult to implement. However, on site, the construction workers represent the company, and the company is also liable for the workers. From that perspective, it’s not just a private matter... There must be some legal regulation on this, right?
Personally, I find photographing without permission impolite, and I totally agree with you on that! Therefore, at minimum, I would inform the companies and leave a corresponding note with a contact number on the camera.

Another question came to mind: how long does the camera expose? Does it take the 180° shutter into account? In that case, employees wouldn’t be recognizable, only markings on excavators, fences, etc., which remain stationary. I need to check this with Brinno. That would at least be a first approach, but it would conflict with the use of a fast lens.

Hello,

splitti schrieb:

My big question: how does this stand legally? Is it a gray area? Do you get written permission from the contractors that it’s okay?

You need to ask everyone for their consent, as each person has the right to their own image. It doesn’t matter whether you use the footage solely for private purposes or eventually post it online, even if it’s just parts of it.

The only exception is if the camera is placed at a sufficient distance from the shell construction so that individual faces cannot be recognized. Even then, you should inform your contractor that the entire construction process will be recorded and obtain their approval.

Edit: You need your contractor’s consent because they hold the right of domicile (house rights).

Best regards, Bauexperte