Take time-lapse shots without expensive equipment.
Time-lapse videos can compress otherwise boring events into interesting visual sequences. By condensing a sequence of events that are normally separated by periods of time, a videographer can, in a few moments, show viewers scenes that take days or weeks to unfold. Taking time-lapse video requires planning and simple math to calculate the length of the finished project.
Instructions
1. Set up the tripod on a stable surface, and attach the camera.
2. Frame the shot, and focus the camera on the subject. To get a smooth, fluid time-lapse shot, the camera and tripod should not be moved after they are in position.
3. Calculate shot duration and intervals between shots. Shot duration and interval time varies with event duration and the total time allotted for the scene. In general, shot duration should be no less than one second. The interval between shots can be calculated by dividing the time allotted for the scene by the shot duration. To time-lapse a 12-hour event into a 60-second scene with video shots of 2-second duration, you would need 30 shots evenly spaced over the 12-hour period. Intervals for this shot can be calculated by converting 12 hours into the equivalent number of seconds (12 x 60 x 60 = 43200 seconds) and dividing the total number of seconds by the number of shots required (43200 / 30 = 1440 seconds). Convert this number to minutes (1440 / 60 = 24), and your interval between shots is 24 minutes.
4. Set the timer to 24 minutes. Take a 2-second video shot of the subject. Start the timer.
5. When the timer reaches zero, repeat Step 4 until all 30 shots are taken.
Tags: between shots, shot duration, allotted scene, interval between, interval between shots, number seconds
