Stop motion video is used less widely than digital video but it is still a fun project to undertake. Famous stop motion still video includes "Gumby" and "The Nightmare Before Christmas." The technique involves takings several still images and stringing them together in a video editing program. For a beginner, start simple. Think of an interesting idea that involves only one object moving across a frame of the camera. Then set up the gear and get to work.
Instructions
1. Set the still camera up on a tripod. Adjust the tripod height and location to frame the shot properly. If there is no tripod available for use, set up the camera in a location where it won't move such as a table or a stack of sturdy books.
2. Set up the scene in the frame of the camera. Pick a simple scene to start with where only one object moves throughout the frame. Place the object that will move in its starting position.
3. Take a picture of the first placement shot. Move the subject in the direction of its movement and then take another shot. Repeat this until the subject is finished its movement through the frame. Estimate that 30 images equals one second of a movie and take images accordingly.
4. Upload images to the computer and place them in their own folder.
5. Open a movie editing software program such as iMovie for Mac, or JPGVideo for PC. Create a new project. Import the folder into the program.
6. Drag all of the images onto a time line in the order they were shot. Assign each frame a time duration--1/10th of a second is good.
7. Review the completed film. Slow down or speed up the time as desired. Export the video as a Quicktime file and save it to your computer.
Tags: frame camera, only object
