Timelapse
Photography
I was first introduced to timelapse photography when I joined a team doing a documentary on North Cascades glaciers. Timelapse is a great way to add a dynamic aspect to photography.
What are timelapses? Timelapses are created by taking a series of still photos and stringing them together to show a fast-forwarded version of how the captured scene changes with time. In this way, hours of real-time can be compressed into mere seconds of film. The fast-forward speed is dependent on the interval between photos and the frame rate at which they are played.
What you will need: (1) A camera. Can't take photos without that. (2) A tripod. So that every photo captures the same frame so the video flows smoothly. (3) An intervalometer remote that connects to the camera to take a sequence of photos on a set interval. Otherwise you have to just stand there pressing the shutter button manually for hundreds of shots. (4) Computer software to merge the photos into a standard video file (usually at a frame rate of 15-30 frames/sec); there are several simple programs available for free download (I use MPEG Streamclip or Time Lapse Assembler).
The math. The engineer in me likes the mathematical side of timelapse. But don't worry, the math is simple. Say you want a 10 second video; using a frame rate of 24 frames/sec, this video would be comprised of 240 still photos. The following table gives examples of how long you need to run the timelapse and rough guidelines for the interval between photos, depending on the lighting situation. Note that these are only examples, as a timelapse can be made up of any combination of interval, frame rate, and number of photos, it's up to you!
Some timelapse videos
I'm still just playing around with various techniques and learning as I go, but this page shows shows some of my favorite timelapses I've taken.
Installing a Wood Floor
Length of video: 23 secReal time: 4.6 hoursNumber of frames: 547Interval between photos: 30 secFrame speed of video: 24 frames/secTimelapse speed: 720x real timeFor this speed, we charge $36,000/hour.
Flooring the Spare Bedroom in 26.4 seconds
Length of video: 26.4 secReal time: 3.2 hoursNumber of frames: 396Interval between photos: 30 secFrame speed of video: 15 frames/secTimelapse speed: 450x real timeWe'll have the whole house floored in a matter of minutes.
Game Night Fun
Length of video: 20.5 secReal time: 52 minNumber of frames: 308Interval between photos: 10 secFrame speed of video: 15 frames/secTimelapse speed: 150x real timeThings to watch for: playing cards on the table, disappearing chips and strawberries, line-up, execution, and clean-up of the monopoly figures...
An Hour in the Life of a Chair Leg at Starbucks
Length of video: 23.6 secReal time: 1 hourNumber of frames: 354Interval between photos: 10 secFrame speed of video: 15 frames/secTimelapse speed: 150x real timeIf each one of these customers spent $2-5, that's a lot of money spent on coffee in one hour!
Things to watch for: my sister on her hands and knees, the pink Nalgene, me on crutches, my shoe, ball of tinfoil, seat occupation, flow of customers....
Busy day at the parking lot at Artist Point, Mt. Baker Ski Area
Length of video: 17.5 secReal time: 43 minNumber of frames: 262Interval between photos: 10 secFrame speed of video: 15 frames/secTimelapse speed: 150x real timeYou could use this timelapse to approximate the number of people that come to Artist Point on a sunny autumn day: (# cars entering)*(2-3 people per car)*(10 hours per day) = ....
Cloud movement, weather moving in
Length of video: 60 secReal time: 7.5 hoursNumber of frames: 904Interval between photos: 30 secFrame speed of video: 15 frames/secTimelapse speed: 450x real timeIt began to rain about 1 hour after I stopped this sequence of photos. Watching this timelapse makes me wish I could change the focus of my PhD studies to clouds/atmospheric physics rather than earthquake engineering....
A day of work: Filling an empty woodshed
Length of video: 1.5 minReal time: 5.5 hoursNumber of frames: 1338Interval between photos: 15 secFrame speed of video: 15 frames/secTimelapse speed: 225x real timeHaving the timelapse going made this hard day's work quite fun!
Campfire on beach
Length of video: 31.4 secReal time: 40 minNumber of frames: 471Interval between photos: 5 secFrame speed of video: 15 frames/secTimelapse speed: 75x real timeIt's fun to watch how the wood burns on the campfire. At this speed, it appears more like it is melting than burning.
Stars and clouds moving above cabin
Length of video: 7.7 secReal time: 1 hourNumber of frames: 115Interval between photos: 30 sec exposures with no interval in-betweenFrame speed of video: 15 frames/secTimelapse speed: 450x real timeNote the movement on the moonlight on the cabin. I also like watching the movement of the stars in the windows.
Movement of Orion just before dawn
Length of video: 5.6 secReal time: 45 minNumber of frames: 84Interval between photos: 30 sec exposures with no interval in-betweenFrame speed of video: 15 frames/secTimelapse speed: 450x real timeNote the 2 planes and ship going by and the shift in direction of cloud movement as morning comes.
Low to High Tide on Saturna Island, BC
Length of video: 12 secReal time: 12 hoursNumber of frames: 178Interval between photos: 4 minFrame speed of video: 15 frames/secTimelapse speed: 3600x real timeA summer day on the sandstone shelf.
Evening shadows in cabin.
Length of video: 14.4 secReal time: 1 h 48 minNumber of frames: 217Interval between photos: 30 secFrame speed of video: 15 frames/secTimelapse speed: 450x real timeShadows are even more beautiful when you can capture their movement.
Boat, sunspots, and clouds moving over the ocean, as seen from Saturna Island, BC
Length of video: 22.7 secReal time: 34 minNumber of frames: 341Interval between photos: 6 secFrame speed of video: 15 frames/secTimelapse speed: 90x real timeMy favorite part of this timelapse is the movement of the sunspots across the water.
Dawn
Length of video: 5.8 secReal time: 48 minNumber of frames: 88Interval between photos: 30 secFrame speed of video: 15 frames/secTimelapse speed: 450x real timeI ran this timelapse until overexposure with the increasing morning light. Note the cloud movement.
Sunrise
Length of video: 5.2 secReal time: 39 minNumber of frames: 79Interval between photos: 30 secFrame speed of video: 15 frames/secTimelapse speed: 450x real timeNote how the clouds dissipate.
Watching the orcas swim by with my parents on Saturna Island, BC
Length of video: 10.3 secReal time: 5 minNumber of frames: 156Interval between photos: 2 secFrame speed of video: 15 frames/secTimelapse speed: 30x real timeThe orcas come by right at the beginning. This film is kind of dark because I had my exposure set a bit too low in the evening light.
Evening at camp (7:35-8:51pm)
Length of video: 20 secReal time: 76 minNumber of frames: 301Interval between photos: 15 secFrame speed of video: 15 frames/secTimelapse speed: 225x real timeNote the spectacular lighting on the clouds and Mt. Baker in the background. It is fun to watch just one person at a time in this video.
Clouds moving over the Easton Glacier on Mt. Baker
Length of video: 5.1 secReal time: 6.5 minNumber of frames: 77Interval between photos: 5 secFrame speed of video: 15 frames/secTimelapse speed: 75x real timeThese clouds high on the mountain were moving fast.
Alpenglow on Mt. Baker (7:24-7:39pm)
Length of video: 6.1 secReal time: 15 minNumber of frames: 92Interval between photos: 10 secFrame speed of video: 15 frames/secTimelapse speed: 150x real timeCloud formation, lit by evening sun
Length of video: 5.5 secReal time: 14 minNumber of frames: 83Interval between photos: 10 secFrame speed of video: 15 frames/secTimelapse speed: 150x real timeIt's cool too see how clouds propagate.