An Unexpected Time-Lapse Memory
I find that the best things in life are often unexpected.
I woke up this morning to a beautiful day in New York City. Rather than waste it, I decided to take my camera into Central Park and snap some photos. After putzing around for about an hour and taking some [rather lame] pictures, I decided to do a time-lapse of the Bethesda Fountain. Often a nice tourist spot, I figured I would get a cool looking time lapse of the crowd. I set my camera and my intervelometer to take a photo every 5 seconds. About a minute in though, it started to drizzle. I packed up my gear and headed home.
The time-lapse amounted to less than a half of a second when played back at normal speed. Not surprising since I only recorded a photo every 5 seconds for 1 minute. I was about to delete the sequence when something in my head said “review them before deleting.”
And that’s when I saw it. Directly in the middle of the frame, as if I had planned it: a man proposing to his girlfriend. 50 seconds. 10 pictures. A fleeting moment now relive-able.
I don’t know who this couple is or where they’re from. I don’t know if they’re New Yorkers or here on vacation. Finding them will be near impossible. But in this social world of Facebook and Twitter, I’m hoping we can track them down. This is something they should have.
UPDATE 5/11: So far no leads have turned up, yet the word is slowly spreading. I realize adding the time might be helpful, so… I was taking these photos on Saturday May 7th at around 12:41 pm in Central Park. Please post it on Facebook/Twitter, maybe go back to Saturday’s posts and see if any of your friends congratulated anyone on a recent engagement. Anything might and can lead us to this couple!
UPDATE 5/23: The response has been incredible — over 200K people have seen this post. Unfortunately though, nothing that has led us to the couple in these photos. We have reached out to the Ellen Show, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, and some news sources to help us. So far no one has picked up the story.
Michele
May 9, 2011 at 11:58 am //
This is AMAZING. How sweet of you guys to post this hoping to find the couple.
MichaelJustinFilms
May 9, 2011 at 3:00 pm //
Thanks Michele! Please pass this link around — we won’t be able to find them unless people start spreading it.
DOIHAVETOO
May 9, 2011 at 5:01 pm //
All I can say is, when I propose I would love to have something like this..!! And I hope you can find the couple and share this with them..!!
Mindi
May 11, 2011 at 6:47 am //
I posted this on FB and Twitter – I hope you find the couple! This is really sweet!
Reddiot reader
May 11, 2011 at 8:54 am //
Maybe he was tying her shoe
govmule84
May 11, 2011 at 12:57 pm //
Where is the upvote button?
Céline
May 12, 2011 at 12:55 pm //
Same thoughts !!
Belle
May 12, 2011 at 7:53 pm //
Haha! Oh, silly…
Dan
May 11, 2011 at 9:16 am //
I assume you have higher res versions of these? Can you crop the couple in question at and post the full size version of that section? In the third picture it looks like his face might be at least a little more visible if it were the full sized version.
savage
May 11, 2011 at 3:50 pm //
Enhance!
Barrett
May 11, 2011 at 9:28 am //
Posted on FB! Good luck!
Diana
May 11, 2011 at 9:53 am //
Very sweet of you! I hope you can find them! I bet they didn’t think they’d have such a nice memory of their engagement. I’m in tears!
Reddit reader deux
May 11, 2011 at 10:11 am //
“Maybe he was tying her shoe”
I always hug people who tie my shoes. If no one shows them appreciation for their sacrifice, then we’re no better then the animals!
j9
May 11, 2011 at 9:47 pm //
LMAO
Carol P
May 11, 2011 at 10:22 am //
I’ve posted it on facebook too, I have lots of family in NY so maybe they will spread it too. I hope they can be found
Jessa
May 11, 2011 at 11:25 am //
This made me cry. This is absolutely wonderful. I love it!
Amy (DangRabbit)
May 11, 2011 at 11:33 am //
Posted to my facebook and twitter… I hope you find them! Great story
Duncan
May 11, 2011 at 11:37 am //
Awesome! Where can I see the full timelapse?
MichaelJustinFilms
May 11, 2011 at 12:47 pm //
Hey Duncan, we only got 10 photos from that timelapse b/c it started to drizzle and our cameras are not waterproof. That is what makes this story even crazier. I started the timelapse at photo 1, when he is just getting down on his knee…and then I stop the timelapse when they are kissing.
Andrea
May 11, 2011 at 12:19 pm //
I can safely say the goosebumps on my legs lasted at least 8 seconds after seeing this series of photos. Good luck in your search, I really hope the couple is found!
D'vine Living
May 11, 2011 at 2:12 pm //
This is so amazing!such a special way to capture that special moment.I hope you find this couple!would be an amazing end to this glorious story.
Aric
May 11, 2011 at 2:38 pm //
This is such a great story Michael, thanks for sharing. We’d love to help find this couple so we’ll post something on CentralPark.com and let you know if anything comes up!
WN737_FlyGirl
May 11, 2011 at 5:13 pm //
He is definitely not tying her shoe! His face is looking up at her the whole entire time! I hope you find them!!!
Michelle Simpson
May 11, 2011 at 5:26 pm //
Fun story, and a cool time lapse! I hope they can be found! I will pass the word on.
Nick
May 11, 2011 at 6:11 pm //
Your story has been posted on Facebook, twitter and now tumblr. Linked to your blog. I really hope that someone around the internet finds this couple for you. Good luck mate!
amanda
May 11, 2011 at 6:29 pm //
You should try to contact some news stations in the NY area everyone loves a love story!
Susan
May 13, 2011 at 1:40 pm //
Perfect idea!
Toby
May 11, 2011 at 6:33 pm //
Beautiful.
Everything that’s great about photography.
Cheers
tldr, er, karma
May 11, 2011 at 8:05 pm //
What if they’re from (gasp) Jersey? I can just imagine. “Ohhh my god, so Shaaairyl, he toook me to da paaark, got down on one knee, one knee! and just popped the ring right out da box, I staarted crying soooh hharrrrrd, I made ‘em get up and hold me, oh my god, it was adoooooorable, you shoulda been there, I took pictures though, going to put ‘em on facebook.” I’m just saying, maybe the tristate area should be examined. Who proposes in the daylight in JNCO’s? People from New Jersey.
Skeptic
May 11, 2011 at 8:06 pm //
This is clearly an attempt at viral advertising. A agency that sells wedding photography services “accidentally” catches a couple’s proposal on camera? That sounds highly suspicious. And it wasn’t enough to just show everyone the pictures, they have to turn it into some sort of game. “Go find this mystery couple! Post it on you facebook and twitter! Surely people will see this and be able to find these people!” This tactic will do nothing more than virally spread the name of this photography company. No one will find the couple, because they are most likely paid models.
Also, I am going going to archive this page, so when this comment is deleted it will just be further proof of this company’s dishonesty.
MichaelJustinFilms
May 12, 2011 at 6:29 am //
Skeptic,
I’m sorry you feel that way. In fact, I am not a professional photographer. I make movies. Huge difference. If you need more “proof,” here’s a ‘high resolution’ version of one of the photographs. You’ll notice it’s out of focus b/c I had set my camera to auto focus, not manual focus like you’re apparently supposed to. A real photographer would have known that. I hope that we do find this couple and I really do believe they should have this memory. You should watch my cross country proposal video where I propose to my fiance — there’s nothing greater than having that memory captured so that years from now, we can relive it.
http://michaeljustinfilms.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/IMG_3280.jpg
adamp
May 26, 2011 at 1:29 pm //
This is a ridiculous response. The fact that you are videographers instead of photographers is not at all relevant. This is a website that sells services to people getting married (and even suggests “proposal” videos).
Showing an out of focus shot also does nothing to “prove” authenticity. If this was meant to be a viral campaign, making the shots look non-professional would be an obvious step.
Finally, to end your response with a suggestion to watch a proposal video on your website further reinforces the fact that you are trying to sell video services.
If this was in fact a serendipitous event, it would be cool if the couple finds these images, but the skeptical argument is pretty compelling. Even if the couple turns up in the end, that would not be proof that these photos were a coincidence. It would be extremely easy to work with a couple (especially since that’s what you guys are in business to do), and then get them to lie low for a while while the viral publicity drummed up.
MichaelJustinFilms
May 27, 2011 at 7:18 am //
It’s a shame that you feel that way Adam. I understand that it might sound “fishy” considering I film weddings, but it is 100% real. I wish I could say I’m smart enough to think of an idea like this for marketing purposes. The fact is, i’m not. I was in Central Park, I was taking photos, and this was caught. I hope this post finds this couple…for no other reason than to allow this couple to have this memory.
S.M.
May 12, 2011 at 6:41 am //
Skeptic,
You’re despicable. Go away. It’s people like you who will never understand the notion of romance or miracles.
Harvard Student
Lersavich
May 12, 2011 at 8:15 pm //
I’m on your side skeptic.
Melissa
May 11, 2011 at 8:11 pm //
You should enlist the help if the Ellen show… They love stuff like this!!
Rahul Sharma
May 11, 2011 at 8:46 pm //
Nice capture mate
casey
May 11, 2011 at 9:22 pm //
This is beautiful, I hope a news station picks up this story so that you can share this with the couple!
Kevin
May 11, 2011 at 10:36 pm //
This is amazing-and it looks like you specialize in wedding video/photography as well, what an amazing coincidence!
Good luck finding this couple, I would love to see them come forward so they can have the photo record of this treasured memory
Sarah
May 11, 2011 at 11:43 pm //
Hi Justin,
I have posted this link on Time Out New York.
You should set up a FB page to try seek the couple.
Good Luck.
Sx
Sarah
May 11, 2011 at 11:43 pm //
Err I meant Michael, haha not Justin.
Patrick Dinneen
May 12, 2011 at 1:29 am //
LOL, very cool indeed. I hope that they hear about it and manage to get copies!
Melody
May 12, 2011 at 3:28 am //
Defnitely! Contact the today show, or Ellen! I bet you find your couple in no time!
PhotoDingo
May 12, 2011 at 4:54 am //
On my facebook as well, lets find these two!
Ricardo Vilela
May 12, 2011 at 5:24 am //
Thanks God You dont deleted the photos. Well seen and wonderful storie.
eric schwartzman
May 12, 2011 at 5:44 am //
Everyone should contact their favorite newscast and suggest a story be run about this.
AC
May 12, 2011 at 7:46 am //
Awesome! Now that is what I call great timing…- Ok, with a little bit of luck thrown in..
Great photos.
Dailymobile
May 12, 2011 at 9:09 am //
That’s so cool
Scotty
May 12, 2011 at 12:44 pm //
I bet some kid with a cell phone camera got a better shot than this at ground level. They look like ants.
Dava Shepherd/Treasures From Hawaii
May 12, 2011 at 3:34 pm //
What a gift for all involved! Never delete without review
Will share on Twitter/Facebook…God bless…
Ernest
May 12, 2011 at 3:50 pm //
Awesome. Posted on FB. Hope you find them.
Meg
May 12, 2011 at 6:06 pm //
It’s just this sort of amazing serendipity that made me pick up the new book, Heart of the City: Nine Stories of Love and Serendipity on the Streets of New York. It’s a collection of true love stories set in public places in NYC. Details here, for the curious: http://www.arielsabar.com/heart.html
Good luck with the search!
Meg
Tomi
May 12, 2011 at 7:39 pm //
Is she wearing a NY Mets Tee?
That is helpful
She’s a Mets fan-that’ll break it down a little more. Perhaps there was a game that day?
*shrugs*
Toby
May 13, 2011 at 4:12 am //
Yeah, good luck – Posted on FB too, let us know if you find them!
Meghann
May 13, 2011 at 11:34 am //
Why do you want to find this couple ?
MichaelJustinFilms
May 13, 2011 at 2:54 pm //
Why wouldn’t I? This is a memory I believe they would love to have.
Ellie Ferguson
May 13, 2011 at 5:45 pm //
Very sweet!
Good luck finding the couple. It can be done: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dmop7EAY1Zg (watch all 3 videos if you haven’t seen them already!)
Sarah H.
May 14, 2011 at 3:23 pm //
My husband says you should contact Yahoo.com. Says they are always picking up stories like this and it made me think that Good Morning America has done stories like this as well… Just a thought! It would be awesome for this couple!!
Kara
May 15, 2011 at 12:11 am //
I got engaged on this date as well! Botanical gardens and about three hours later so it’s not me, but I am so happy for this couple…whoever they may be! Good luck to them, and best of luck in finding the lucky pair!
Mandy
May 16, 2011 at 8:57 am //
I hope you can find them!! I know how meaningful these photos would be to the bride!
I have time-lapse photos of my engagement and it is wonderful! I even put a shutterfly book together as a flip book. My finace planned it out, so our family was around and his uncle took a picture of us and then all of a sudden he got down on one knee.
Dee
May 16, 2011 at 3:43 pm //
Have you thought about posting this to ELLEN or some other popular talk show??
Good Luck!!
MichaelJustinFilms
May 23, 2011 at 7:46 am //
Hi Dee,
We reached out to the Ellen show — so far we haven’t heard back
Cara
May 16, 2011 at 6:16 pm //
I swear I am NOT saying this to be mean, but it looks like the woman could be pregnant…maybe that can narrow the field down a bit???
Nikki
May 19, 2011 at 3:44 pm //
Cara- I thought the same thing because of the way she is tipping back on her heels a little bit, though it could just be her coat is unzipped or something. I submitted this as a tip to the Today Show. I hope that they get found!
MichaelJustinFilms
May 19, 2011 at 4:29 pm //
Thank you Nikki!
Izumi
May 17, 2011 at 7:34 pm //
Hello from Japan!
I just saw the news of your article on Yahoo Japan. This is so lovely!
It’s been depressing here in Japan but your pictures made me smile.
Thank you for sharing!
Missey
May 22, 2011 at 5:59 am //
Hi Michael, posted this to my FB and to the local news stations FB page also.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/WDBJ7/26382032216
Good Luck in finding the couple. This is a great thing you are doing.
MichaelJustinFilms
May 23, 2011 at 7:46 am //
Thank you!
Minechika Endo
May 27, 2011 at 8:07 pm //
I love this…..may I post about this on my tumblr?
MichaelJustinFilms
May 28, 2011 at 6:44 am //
Yes please!
Nicole Young
May 28, 2011 at 9:59 am //
What is the exact date/time of the shots? Might help find your couple.
Nicole Young
May 28, 2011 at 9:59 am //
Oh … nevermind! Just saw it in the “update”.
Kath
May 29, 2011 at 8:53 pm //
Tweeted to my friends in NYC. This is amazing, Justin..as are you!
Becky
June 4, 2011 at 9:13 am //
This is fantastic. Good Job!
terry
June 25, 2011 at 5:29 pm //
Someone sent me a message on facebook about this, because on May 8, i did post a message congratulating my daughter on her engagement, and yes , she was proposed to in New York at Central Park===May 7, 2011, but after viewing the pictures, i am almost 100% sure, it is not them===but what a coincincidence—- hope you find the couple
Sam
July 3, 2011 at 11:26 pm //
Have you contacted various wedding websites? Even if the couple doesn’t visit the sites maybe their family will!
raina
October 17, 2011 at 10:41 am //
Posted on my Facebook requesting my friends share. I have some family and friends on the east coast so hopefully some day this happy couple will find this. <3