Time-lapse Photography

[Len 0]

Time-lapse is a very powerful technique to document extremely slow changing phenomena. For example blooming flowers, sunrise and sunsets, rotting fruits. Basically in this technique, a series of photographs of the subject are taken at regular intervals and then arranged sequentially to create a small movie of all those shoots. Stop motion photography is another similar technique, used to create the illusion of the objects appear to be moving.

 

Taking a time lapse:

To take a time-lapse photograph there are somethings which need to be kept in mind, like time-interval and the number of photographs to be taken. Also depending on the number of images, the video FPS is to be decided. 25 FPS would produce smooth motion. However, even 15 FPS would produce equally dramatic results. You can take time-lapse using any camera, and don't need to use a preset function for this purpose. The next step is choosing a good subject. A sunset or a sunrise is always a good subject. You can also consider a developing building, crowds of people, traffic, growing plant. Anything which moves slowly, or changes slowly over a vast period of time is a great subject for time-lapse.

 

The main idea of most time-lapse videos is to have the camera as still as possible, though this is not essential. Lighting or the time of day is a another aspect which needs to be thought of, for example, for a time-lapse of building construction it is important to take the photo at the same time everyday. In the final step you use software to make a video out of those images.

 

Here, I have provided only basic information about time lapse photography. You can check out the following links for more information. You can also search for youtube website for time-lapse videos, there are some really interesting ones.

 

Reference:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time-lapse

http://www.openfootage.net/?cat=4

http://www.haworth-village.org.uk/404.asp?404;http://www.haworth-village.org.uk/nature/t-time-lapse.asp

[BCD 1]

Yes, there are some amazing videos on youtube and others. A plant growth of many days compressed to 10 seconds, fruits rotting, Mushroom growth (oew)
And this one, a funny stop motion photography. There are tons of other such videos. Have a great watch.

Taking such videos/photography requires a saints patience. Even though we don't need to sit beside the camera.

Edited June 6, 2009 by Spencer (see edit history)