Time lapse Photography

I’m personally very partial to still photography. However, there are some stories and scenes that a still photo just can’t convey. Time-lapses are a perfect instance of this. Additionally, while I love being able to display an awesome photo on my wall or social media channels, there’s something cool about having a collection of time-lapse videos from a trip that you can play on loop on your screensaver or home television.
While time-lapse sequences are incredibly rewarding pieces of art to create, they are very complex. It would be impossible to cover every aspect of shooting them in a single blog post. This tutorial will be a basic tutorial of how to start out and what common problems you may encounter.
Cameras? Any camera is capable of shooting a time-lapse. All a time-lapse is is a collection of still photographs stitched together into a video.
Any camera will work, but you’ll find the process much easier if your camera can shoot on manual mode (where you control shutter speed, aperture and ISO) and is capable of shooting RAW files. If not shooting in manual mode, you may end up with varying lighting throughout the pictures, causing the light to jump around throughout the video motion.
Beyond those basics, you’re going to need an intervalometer. Some cameras have a built-in intervalometer; others will require you to buy one. This device allows you to control the number of shots and the interval between each shot, rather than having to manually depress the shutter for hours on end.
Some newer cameras and phones have the feature of creating a time-lapse video. While this is quick and easy, I recommend against it, as you have zero control in your ability to do any post processing (color, speed, flicker, etc.).

How do I go about creating a time-lapse video?

 

You’re looking for constant motion (water, people, cars, clouds and other subjects that move), and you’re telling a story. Think about what is going to unfold once you start your camera, and plan your shot with that in mind.
Consider investing in a phone app that tracks the sun and stars. This way you’ll know where the sun’s (or moon’s) path will be as you’re composing your shot.
Once you’ve composed your shot, set up your tripod and make certain it’s stable. Any movement to your camera during the time-lapse will ruin the end result. Finally, set your exposure (shutter speed, aperture and ISO), your interval (how often your camera will take a photo) and the number of photos you want your camera to shoot. Start your camera and walk away (remembering not to walk in front of the camera).