If you have ever wondered, how to capture those clouds move, ones that you have seen in those stunning videos. Or if you watched the mesmerizing documentaries’ Baraka’ or ‘Koyaanisqatsi’ you would be baffled by the amazing quality of time lapse video in these movies. This wiki explains you the technique and simplifies the process of creating time lapse videos using a simple digital camera. Though this can be done by shooting video and then playing it at a faster rate, it can easily be achieved by using a normal point and shoot. With the latest developments in high end SLRS great advantage of lenses and depth settings can be achieved.

<youtube>Ou_zbuq3w-Y</youtube>

”video courtesy: Neves Purificaçao Rodrigues”

== Things you would need ==

100% enthusiasm
Digital camera
A tripod or anything to make the camera still in one position for about 15 mins
Flash or any default movie program eg imovie
Something moving

”Optional”
Shutter remote

== Picking a subject ==

For this technique picking up a subject is always an interesting part. Clouds, sunset, sunrise have been popular subjects. Light is always fascinating and shadows of still objects are always good subjects to choose. Sometimes even just putting a camera in a simple place like a street can achieve excellent results.

== Shooting the images ==

First and foremost choose a vantage point where the camera can be still without moving for a given amount of time. Mount the camera on the tripod and frame the subject. Have all the proper settings like white balance, aperture, shutter ( if manual setting are present in the camera). Next focus on a specific object, in case of landscapes let it be infinity. Then put the camera in manual focus priority. This avoids differences in focus points during the process which would result in often blurry frames. This slightly crops the frame in or out. Once you are set start clicking. Whit delays of about 8 seconds click another frame. Continue shooting the pictures of the same frame till you roughly get about 100 pictures. This would yield a shot of about 6 secs for a frame rate of 15 fps. The more images you get the longer and better the shot will be. Make sure that the camera doesn’t move during the process. Try to avoid camera shake during shutter release.

== Creating the movie ==

Using iMovie

Open iMovie and start a new project. In the center right click on the camera button. Browse to the folder containing the downloaded images. Select all the images and drag the images onto the project library on the right top. Click on the small settings icon on the first still and click clip adjustment. Put 0.05 sec. this would yield 20 frames per second. Check apply to all (fps frame per second Each video comprises of stills played at specific fps) For smoother transitions use smaller time and for longer length of shot use smaller time. This can be tested as different subjects would require different times. Export the movie for either youtube or other media depending on what you want to use it on. Save file and enjoy the shot.

Using Flash

Open flash and import the first image to the stage. Flash would say that the images are part of a sequence and ask you if you want to import all. say yes. This would bring all the images in the timeline. Go to page properties and select page size as the size of elements on stage. change the fps as desired. If desired put an action ‘STOP’ on the last frame. Export movie and upload.

Techniques can be learned, but its the creative mind that creates all the difference. Be creative and explore.

”Contributors

–[[User:neves|neves]] 07:44, 31 July 2009 (UTC)

[[Category:Photo]]
[[Category:Art]]
[[Category:DIY]]
[[Category:Video]]
[[Category:Time Lapse]]