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With the Right Camera Gear, Anyone Can Shoot An Amazing Time Lapse Video.
Time lapse video is a wonderful storytelling device. It speeds up action so things that normally take a long time can be viewed in seconds. Motion that is slow or imperceptible can be sped up dramatically. For example, you can watch flowers bloom, buildings being constructed, or shadows changing with the sun’s motion.
Here are my 10 Useful Tips for Shooting Time Lapse Video:
Persecond – Timelapse video made easy. July 15, 2020; Photography; Last Updated on July 15, 2020 by admin. Persecond from Flixel Photos is the new super-easy. Please welcome our newest app, Persecond. Beautiful timelapse videos have never been easier to make. Import an image sequence, trim the length, adjust the speed and playback direction, and you’re done. Export in broadcast quality. Try it for free today. When using the calculator, just choose what you want to calculate (shooting interval, clip length or event duration) and Introduce the settings you wish to use to make the Time lapse. For example, if you want to calculate the shooting interval, these settings are: clip length, event duration, frames per second (usually 25 fps) and image size (MB). Camera settings for Time-lapse photography With even smart phones now offering a Time-lapse Photography mode, this interesting area of photography is accessible to anyone. For the smooth, professional-looking time-Lapse sequences you see in movies and TV series, you would have to put some thought into how you control your camera – and specifically, your camera Read more inside.
5 Step Persecond Tutorial. Step 1: Shoot a series of still images using the appropriate timelapse settings. See this blog for more on the technicalities of shooting timelapses. Step 2: Import still images into Persecond Step 3: Adjust the timeline and speed, with the option of reversing your video for a cool effect Step 4: Export as an.mp4, or 4k as an.mov.
1. Plan the Shot Before You Begin
First, let’s go over the basics. To create a time lapse video, you aren’t shooting video at all—you’re shooting a series of still photographs, and then turning those photos into video frames. Receipts 1 8 1. The subtle differences between those frames is what creates motion.
So in planning the shot, what do you want to achieve? Do you want to make clouds roll across the afternoon sky? Car lights at night motion-blur into red and white lines?
Also, think about the angle of the camera. Will pedestrians or traffic be moving in front of you? Obviously, it’s better if they don’t block the shot.
Time lapse shots with people tend to have frenetic motion. Depending on the interval settings, they may look like they’re walking fast, or disappear into a blur.
2. Use the Right Camera
There are many different cameras available that shoot high-quality video. Some of them have time lapse functionality built right in.
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My Panasonic GH5, for example, enables me to set up a time lapse shot, click the shutter once, and walk away. It will continue snapping pictures at whatever interval I set.
Then, once shooting is complete, it will convert that set of images into a video file.
That makes my job a lot easier. If your camera does not have time lapse functionality, there are devices you can buy that plug into your camera and control the interval and picture snapping. There’s also software you can buy that converts photos into video.
3. Shoot 4K If Possible
Shooting 4K isn’t about the image quality, it’s about the size. When you’re editing a 1080p video, 4K footage is literally TWICE the size you need. That means you can add motion to the shot—slowly zoom in or out, or pan across.
That gives you a lot of flexibility when editing.
4. Use Manual Settings
Most experienced shooters use manual settings—no auto focus or auto exposure for us. But when shooting time lapse video, using manual settings is even more important.
As time goes by and light changes, your camera will not adjust settings in exactly the same way.
So the photos won’t be consistent in their focus or exposure. This can cause your time lapse to flicker.
Also, if you’re shooting time lapse video at night, longer exposure settings can add some interesting blur and lighting effects. But of course, the exposure can’t be longer than the time lapse interval.
5. Use a Tripod
For time lapse to work, the camera has to remain in EXACTLY the same position, sometimes for hours at a time. The only way to achieve this is with a tripod.
Even then, you have to be careful not to touch the camera. The tiniest shift or pan will show up in the footage.
6. Use a Fully Charged Battery
I think this is a corollary to Murphy’s Law. If you spend an hour shooting a time lapse sunset, your battery light will start blinking before the sun goes completely down.
Per Second Timelapse Video Made Easy 1 4 600
Corollary number 2: the better the sunset, the more likely the battery will die.
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7. Set the Right Interval
This is perhaps the most important point. The interval you set between shots will determine the speed of motion in the final video. But it isn’t one-interval-fits-all.
For example, if you’re shooting clouds on a windy day, and you can see they’re moving briskly, then your time lapse interval may be one shot per second.
But if it’s a calm day, and the clouds seem still, then your interval may be one shot every 10 seconds.
If you’re capturing the sun’s motion, or shifting shadows, you’ll need an even longer interval—one shot every 30 seconds.
Rule of Thumb: Shorter intervals are better. You can speed up time lapse footage in post, but slowing it down will look jerky.
8. Use the Right Lens
The lens you choose will dramatically affect the impact of your final shot. For example, if you’re shooting a sunset, your first inclination may be to use a wide-angle lens to capture more of the sky. But in reality, a longer lens will give you a much better view of the sunset color and silhouetted clouds.
If you’re shooting at night or in low light, a faster lens will open up more shooting possibilities. But be careful—the more you open up a lens, the more you’ll need to check focus and depth of field.
A fish-eye lens can add an interesting effect. If you’re shooting clouds, for example, you can distort the image so the middle of the shot looks normal, but the edges are curved and convex.
9. Use an ND Filter
Anytime you’re shooting the sun, you have to be careful not to overexpose the shot. You can adjust aperture as well as ISO, but in some instances, that just isn’t enough.
An ND filter, or variable ND filter, gives you another good way to block out excess light. They are especially handy when you want to adjust depth of field and blur the background.
10. Time Lapse Video Takes Time
Depending on the interval settings, a time lapse video can take several minutes to shoot, or a couple of hours. So you need to be prepared to wait.
At 24 frames a second, a ten-second time lapse will require 240 shots. So how long will that take? Well, if you’re using a 3 second interval, that’s only 12 minutes. But a 10-second interval will stretch it to 40 minutes. A 30-second interval will take 2 hours.
And if you’re like me, you’re not going to leave an expensive camera unattended. So be prepared. Have a chair to sit in. A good book. Video games on your phone. And plenty of water.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Harry Hayes is the owner and executive producer at Content Puppy Productions. Before starting his business, he spent 20+ years as an advertising writer and creative director.
Time lapse is a creative technique that distorts time. Highlight the stunning beauty of a metropolitan cityscape, the frenetic pace of people walking on the street, or the ever-changing light all at warp speed. Turn the ordinary into something exciting and extraordinary. Watch the black of night rapidly transform into the shimmering light of morning. Shooting time-lapse is fun and easy once you get the hang of it. In fact, once you do, you’ll be hooked. Learn how to create a time lapse video in 5 easy steps.
What Is Time Lapse?
A time-lapse video is the opposite of a slow-motion video. In this type of video, a series of still images are taken, and then artificially sped up to create a seamless video where time appears to be moving very quickly, distorting the perception of time. As an example, we all know how long it takes the sun to set. In a time lapse, this process can happen in a mere ten seconds.
Any moving subject is appropriate for time-lapse, such as people walking through the city, children playing at the park, a plant swaying in the wind, or the tide rolling in. Typically, the camera is stationary, but I know some photographers who like to move around when shooting stills for time-lapse.
Time lapse is also great for detailing processes that take place over a period of time. For instance, an artist beginning and finishing a painting or the moon rising over the mountains.
What Equipment Do You Need?
- Camera: You can use your DSLR, any compact camera, or smartphone to shoot a time-lapse video.
- Tripod: You’ll definitely need a tripod, especially when using a DSLR. You can use a shoulder pod to attach your phone to the tripod.
- Intervalometer: This is an advanced shutter release timer that will trigger your camera’s shutter to whatever firing frequency you choose. This is an invaluable tool for time-lapse as it allows for hands-free shooting, and allows you to be in the video if you so choose. Some cameras, like Nikons, have built-in intervalometers, but unfortunately, Canon DSLRs do not. In this case an external intervalmeter must be used. Check this one out. If you’re using your iPhone, all you need to do is utilize the time-lapse setting in your camera app.
- Time Lapse Video Software: You’ll need editing software to assemble your photographs into the proper sequence and set the frame rate. I’ll go into more detail on software below. During the editing process is when you’ll add your music, making your video super fabulous.
How To Create A Time Lapse Video
1. The first step is to determine the subject of your video: What do you want to photograph? Content will always be key in a time-lapse so make sure it’s great and that your subject is moving.
2. Select your location: Do you want to capture people, cars, boats, or animal? Choose your subject, then go where they are.
3. Stabilize your camera or phone with a tripod: Like all still shots, pay attention to your exposure, composition, and lighting. Use a small F-stop for time-lapse. F/18-F/22 are ideal, ensuring the entire frame is in focus, and allowing for the slowest shutter speed possible. I like shooting in manual mode to correctly dial in exposure.
The longer the shutter speed, the more motion blur your images will have, and the more smoothly they’ll blend together. Your ISO should be at a low setting to eliminate noise and grain, and allow for the slowest shutter speed possible. Of course, if you’re shooting at night, your shutter speed will be very slow. To compensate, your ISO will need to be quite high at around 2000.
For sunset and sunrise shots, use the aperature priority mode on your camera. This way you can set the aperture, letting your camera automatically choose the shutter speed depending on the changing light. And like always, either custom white balance your camera or use the camera white balance setting most appropriate for your lighting.
4. Now it’s time to use your intervalometer: Plug in your external intervalometer or use your camera’s built-in one. Choose an interval based on the motion of your subjects. The faster the motion, the faster the interval. The intervals can start at two seconds and go all the way to 30-second intervals. When set, press start, and take your first photo. All your subsequent photos will be taken at this chosen interval.
5. Shooting your time-lapse according to how long you want your video to be: How many photos should you aim for? Here’s a general rule of thumb when trying to figure out how long your camera should run. Let’s say you set your intervals to five seconds. Multiply five by four and you get 20. You’ll need to let your camera shoot for 20 minutes to get the required number of photos for your time-lapse. We’re talking about 200 + photos for length video. Keep in mind, the less time between your shots, the smoother your video will be.
The goal is to choose an interval that won’t produce too many pictures, but will shoot enough images that your final video will be at least 15 seconds. To give you a feel for timing, a clip that is 25 seconds long will require a full 30 minutes of shooting at an interval of 12 seconds. Think how many pictures will be taken during that half hour time frame – a whole lot! A good rule of thumb is to shoot more images than you think you’ll need.
Time Lapse Video Software
There are a variety of software options available for editing time-lapse. Lightroom, iMovie, QuickTime Pro, and Picasa are all easy-to-use platforms especially if you’re using a DSLR. Picasa and iMovie are free to use for Mac users. QuickTime Pro will run you $29.99, and works for both Mac and Windows. Lightroom is part of the Adobe Creative Cloud, and costs $9.99 a month. Most likely you already have this program if you’re a professional photographer.
I love Lightroom because you can batch edit all your pictures, saving a ton of time and effort. All time-lapse images should be set to 1-frame each, and the timeline set to 24 frames per second.
And for you Windows users out there, you can use Windows Movie Maker at no charge. The interface is intuitive, making it easy to customize the parameters, and publishing your video is a cinch. Filmora Video Editor is also a great choice if your making time-lapse videos. The drag-and-drop feature, animated titles, filters, overlays, motion graphics, and other special effects make it simple to customize your video, sharing it directly to YouTube, Vimeo, an Facebook.
Lapse It is a widely used IOS app for editing time-lapse on your iPhone. You can view a tutorial of Lapse It here. The free version is ok, but ideally you’ll want to pay $2.99 for the premium app. You’ll then have access to all the amazing options and features you’ll need to make an awesome video. Customize the frames per second, resolution, audio, and codec. There are other time-lapse apps, but Lapse It is a popular one.
Key Points
Time lapse is a creative way to turn your still images into dynamic, moving pictures. Transform the mundane into something truly magnificent by distorting time, changing the way every day scenes are typically viewed. Making a time-lapse video is cinematic creativity at its finest. If you haven’t dabbled in this type of video creation, you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how enjoyable it is.
Have you shot time-lapse before? Let me know in the comments:)