A timelapse video is one of the best and most creative ways to capture a scene, but shooting a good looking one can be challenging. When thinking about the best way to capture a scene, think if the setting and subject work with time-lapse videography. Not everything will come across well in a timelapse video, such as anything stationary. In order to shoot a timelapse video, you really only need a tripod or something to hold your camera steady, a camera even as simple as an iPhone, a good scene to shoot, and some time!
When questioning which method of videography is the most effective in displaying a scene effectively, one must keep a few things in mind. The most important of which being, is the subject/scene able to be put in a timelapse video? If you are shooting a scene of traffic moving throughout the day, then that is a fantastic choice for a timelapse video. If you are shooting a scene of a sky on a cloudless day, that may not be a good choice for a timelapse, since it will be hard to see movement.
In order to shoot a timelapse video, you really only need a few things. The most important thing aside from your camera is a good tripod or something to keep your camera steady. A tripod is a very good option in order to keep your recording device secure, and you can find them for decently cheap at places like Amazon. Your camera is another important feature when creating a timelapse. iPhones now have the capability of shooting video in a timelapse mode, if you scroll the whole way over to the left in the camera app. Other than that, you are in good shape to shoot!
When shooting your timelapse video, you have to keep a few things in mind. Firstly, you need to gauge about how much time you plan to record for. Keep in mind that the time that you record for will amount in significantly less time in your timelapse. You have to judge how quickly your scene is changing, and that will result in the amount of time you need to record for. For example, if you’re recording a scene of traffic moving on a busy road, you will need to record for less time than if you were recording something decomposing since the traffic scene moves significantly faster than the decomposition.
One of the most important aspects in creating a good timelapse is making sure the shot you have captured is visually appealing. Editing your video in something like Adobe is a good idea after shooting. Making sure that the video looks the way you want it to is essential in making a good time-lapse video. For outdoor time-lapses, making sure to edit the shot in order to account for how the lighting looks is important. If it’s a cloudy day you might want to brighten the shot up, but if it’s very sunny you might have to dull it down. Check out my second vlog to see an example of time-lapses!
Do you have any special techniques or tricks you use in order to shoot good timelapse videos?