In this article, I'll cover the fundamentals of making a timelapse video, whether you're a novice or an expert photographer. A common style of cinematography is time lapse, in which the frequency of the captured frames is much slower than the pace of the finished video playback.
Timelapse filming produces interesting effects and is also incredibly user-friendly. You can create a time lapse with a smartphone, an action camera, or a mirrorless/DSLR camera once you know the proper techniques. For even better results, a tripod should also be used.
Understanding Time Lapse Videos
Let's start by taking a closer look at the fundamental components of a moving image, more commonly referred to as a video, in order to better comprehend this technique and the overall process.
Every movie you see, whether it be on your phone or in a theater, is made up of unique frames that are recorded and shown at predetermined times. The frame rate is the frequency at which the frames are captured and/or shown. Typically measured in frames per second (FPS), the most prevalent frame rates are 24, 25, 30, 60, and 120 FPS (FPS).
The capture and display rates are equal in a typical video. For example, a video could be recorded at 24 frames per second and played back at the same frame rate. The finished video clip appears to be moving as a result. While 30 FPS is more typical in home videos and YouTube clips, 24 FPS is more commonly utilized in movies and is referred to be "cinematic." Frame rates of 60 FPS or more are common in video games.
By taking pictures at a slower shutter speed than you will be playing them back at, you may artistically change how quickly things appear to be moving. What would happen, for instance, if a video was shot at a frame rate of 120 and played back at a frame rate of 24? In this scenario, you have a slow-motion video. In particular, you would have 120 frames if you had only filmed for one second. It would take five seconds to play them back at 24 frames per second, which would significantly slow down any action in the movie.
Slow motion is the exact opposite of time-lapse photography. In this situation, you might only be taking one frame every several seconds or minutes, which is much slower than usual. Though you unavoidably compress every movement and give it a sped-up appearance by keeping the playback rate at 24 FPS. You can compress an entire hour of movement into one second of video 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.
When capturing time-lapse pictures, you should be aware of the following three things:
- How swiftly you want the video's topics to move
- Length of the desired final movie clip
- The frame rate of the replay
It will be simple to calculate how many images you will need to take and how long you will need to shoot them if you are aware of these three factors.
Choosing your interval should be your first step. The distance between the start of each recorded frame and the interval. Any movement will appear to move more quickly the longer your gap is between exposures.
How to Choose a Period
How frequently you take fresh exposures will depend on the interval setting you give the camera. The camera will start a new exposure every five seconds, for instance, if you select a time period of five seconds.
Theoretically, this is alright, but if your interval is longer than your camera's exposure period, often known as shutter speed, issues could arise. For example, if your exposure duration is six seconds but your interval is five seconds, you'll probably wind up skipping frames and getting a choppy timelapse.
Finding out the buffer clearing speed before choosing your interval is a smart idea. When using a slower memory card, the camera frequently needs a few seconds to empty the buffer before it is prepared to shoot another picture. Skipped frames may result from this, especially if your interval is a tiny bit greater than your exposure.
As a general rule, you should include your exposure time and your buffer clearing time together to prevent any potential complications like those mentioned above. Any period longer than that one can be used without causing any discomfort.
What to Note [what to take]
In time-lapse videos, the passage of time in one place is tracked. It is therefore great if the subject or its surrounds move in an intriguing manner while the video is being created.
These are a few instances:
- The Sun rising and setting on a windy day, with clouds drifting in the sky
- The Milky Way Galaxy Core moves at night.
- A busy crossroads of the road nearby your home
- A melting ice cube from the refrigerator
The time-lapse photography technique is a fantastic one that, if everything goes as planned, will astound you with its output. Even though it can be a little difficult at first, the advice in this article should help you get started. As soon as you can, venture outside to begin experimenting with timelapse photography.
In the comments section below, let me know whether you've ever made a timelapse or if you have any queries regarding the process.