Time-Lapse Video, a simple guide to master it!

Luthor
16 Jul, 2022


Whether you're a beginner or an experienced photographer, I'll go over the basics of creating a timelapse video in this article. Time lapses, in which the frequency of the collected frames is significantly slower than the speed of the finished video playback, are a fairly prevalent type of cinematography.

In addition to being very user-friendly, timelapse filming also creates unique effects. Once you know the right methods, you can make a time lapse with a smartphone, an action camera, or a mirrorless/DSLR camera. Also advised is the use of a tripod for even better results.


How to Interpret Timelapse Videos

To further understand this method and the overall procedure, let's start by looking at the basic elements of a moving image, more generally known as a video.

Every video you see, whether it's on your phone or in a cinema, is made up of distinct frames that are captured and displayed at specific intervals. How frequently the frames are recorded and/or displayed is referred to as the frame rate. The most common frame rates, which are commonly measured in frames per second (FPS), are around 24, 25, 30, 60, and 120 FPS (FPS).

In a typical video, the capture and display rates are equal. A video might be captured at 24 frames per second and played back at the same frame rate, for instance. As a result, the final video clip seems to be moving. While 24 FPS is referred described as "cinematic" and is used in movies, 30 FPS is more common in home videos and YouTube clips. Many video games have frame rates of 60 FPS or higher.



You can artistically alter how quickly objects appear to be moving by capturing photos at a different pace than you play them back at. For instance, what happens if a video is recorded at 120 frames per second and played back at 24 frames per second? You have a slow-motion video in such case. In particular, if you had only filmed for one second, you would have 120 frames. Playing them back at 24 frames per second would take five seconds and severely delay any movement in the video.

The complete opposite of time-lapse photography is slow motion. You might only be taking one frame every several seconds or minutes in this scenario, which is far slower than typical. However, by maintaining a playback rate of 24 FPS, you inevitably compress every movement and give it a sped-up appearance. If it takes you an hour to capture 24 frames and you play those frames back at a frame rate of 24 frames per second, you will have compressed an entire hour of movement into one second of video.


You should be aware of these three things when taking timelapse photos:

  • How quickly you would like the subjects in the video to move
  • length of the finished video clip that you desire
  • The playback's frame rate
Once you are aware of these three things, it will be easy to figure out how many photos you will need to take and how long you will need to shoot them in order to make your time lapse.

Your first step should be determining your interval. The interval is the amount of time between each recorded frame's beginnings. The bigger your gap, which extends the time between exposures, the faster any movement will appear to be.

How to Pick an Interval

The interval you choose for the camera will determine how often you take new exposures. If you choose a time interval of five seconds, the camera will begin a new exposure every five seconds, for example.

Theoretically, this is fine, but if your interval exceeds the exposure time (also known as shutter speed) of your camera, problems may occur. If your interval is five seconds but your exposure time is six seconds, for instance, you will likely end up skipping frames and have a choppy timelapse.



It's a good idea to determine the buffer clearing speed before selecting your interval. The camera frequently needs a few seconds to empty the buffer when using a slower memory card before it is ready to take another photo. This may lead to skipped frames, particularly if your interval is just a little bit longer than your exposure.

As a general rule, to avoid any potential issues like the ones listed above, you should add your exposure time and your buffer clearing time together. You can use any interval longer than that one without experiencing any discomfort.


What to Record ( what to take)


The passage of time in a specific location is monitored in time-lapse movies. Because of this, it's ideal if the subject or its surroundings move in an interesting way while the video is being made.

Several examples are as follows:

  • The Sun rising and setting Clouds moving in the sky on a windy day
  • At night, the Milky Way Galaxy Core moves.
  • a road intersection near your home with heavy traffic
  • A kitchen ice cube that is melting

Conclusion

If everything goes according to plan, the time-lapse photography method is an amazing one that will amaze you with its results. The suggestions in this article should assist you in getting started, even though it can be a little challenging at first. Get outside as soon as you can to start practicing timelapse photography.

Let us know if you've ever created a timelapse or if you have any questions about the technique in the comments area below.


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