Apple iPhone 6 films: time-lapse of Somerset House Christmas tree going up

Decorating the Christmas tree is one of the most important rituals of the festive period - even for the busy staff at London's Somerset House as they prepare for their annual Skate season.

This year, photographer Dan Rubin was on hand to capture the hard work that goes into erecting and decorating a 40 foot tree, as well as preparing the ice rink in the neo-classical building's courtyard using iOS 8's time-lapse mode.

London-based Mr Rubin attached an iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus to mini tripods before activating time-lapse and leaving them to record between the afternoon of October 31 and morning of November 1.

The accelerated sequence of pictures taken from differing angles shows workers wrapping lights around the tree using cherry pickers, before adding baubles while other staff prepare the ice rink. Fortnum & Mason hampers were added later.

The famous rink, which featured in Love Actually, opens to the public from Tuesday for two months. Visitors who prefer to watch rather than participate can take a seat in the skate lounge to the side of the action.