What is time-lapse?
Have you ever wanted to capture a sunset or a sunrise in its entirety? Or maybe see what a sports stadium looks like completely full and then empty seconds later? That’s where time-lapse comes in. Time-lapse, in the simplest of terms, is the condensed and compressed version of real time using still photography – or video in certain cases. Instead of shooting at a normal rate of 24 frames per second, time-lapse changes the rate of frames shot over a certain period of time, to say, one frame per second or even one frame per hour. Because we’re removing so many frames from the standard rate of filming, we’re able to speed up time drastically and dramatically. Time-lapse brings life and motion to subjects that would otherwise seem stationary because they move too slowly for us to perceive their actual movement. It’s been around for over 100 years, believe it or not! With the introduction of digital cameras, the ability to shoot and process time-lapse has become incredibly easy and much more rewarding for those who are looking for instant gratification. In the early days it could take months or even years to process an entire time-lapse sequence. Thanks to modern technology we can do it in minutes or hours. Time-lapse is categorized as both photography and video. The process begins by taking a single series of still photographs which are then strung together using a non-linear video editor. Shooting time-lapse draws in many photographers – it’s an easy way to transition from photography to video. Time-lapses can be shot over the course of minutes, hours, weeks or even years, depending on what it is you’re trying to show.
