The form of art known as time-lapse photography has gained wide acceptance in this digital age when we can watch as many films as we wish on various video-sharing platforms and social sites.
This method makes it possible for viewers to see an interactive and vivid picture which is unfolding as they watch. It can show what could happen within the span of several years but only in seconds, providing us an even larger picture of what might happen. For example, it can be applied when recording scenes about various environmental changes as a consequence of climatic alterations or other natural reasons.
Nevertheless, although very popular, this has been an approach in which many people lack a full understanding of its impact. However, there are several procedures that have to be adhered to when involving time-lapse photography for the production of the most effective outcome.
Planning
The very first thing that needs to be done before even starting to capture any footage is planning. While creating a time-lapse for something small can be an impulsive decision, most scenarios in which it is used to its full effectiveness are of a grand scale. As a result, it is important to plan it out in order to maximize the potential quality of the shot.
There are various aspects that need to be carefully thought about and considered. With time-lapse photography typically being about the changes that are made, photographers need to consider things like weather and other environmental conditions, while they may also need to recognize that multiple trips need to be taken in order to get the best shots. Without proper planning, shooting the best time-lapse footage can become a tall order, especially if you do not know what you want to shoot and whether it will be able to help a certain goal be achieved.
Shooting
Once a plan has been devised and an understanding of whether the shots wanted to be captured are for personal use or to be made available as stock photos due to their popularity and the potential increase in exposure across the web and other visuals, you can shoot what you want to create.
Unsurprisingly, this can involve making sure you have the right equipment in terms of required devices and quality. You also need to ensure you have a full understanding of how time-lapse photography works, as it can be a lengthy process and one that can be very costly in terms of time if done incorrectly. You need to make sure intervals are set correctly while also making sure there is enough battery life and storage on the device to hold the footage that is captured.
Post-Processing
Once the shot has been captured, you can head into development and start producing the time-lapse footage that you want to share. If you manage to capture what you want, you can then use a software platform of your choice to put it all together and create the content.
There are various editing techniques that can be used that can help to enhance the shots. These should be used to maximize the shots, although it can be important to try and be as natural as possible with them. You do not want to make them look unrealistic or inauthentic with too much heavy editing, especially after a lot of time has already gone into the entire process.
Sharing
When the ideal footage has been created and you are happy with it, now is the time to share it with everyone. As mentioned, there are sites that allow you to make it available as stock footage, while social media sites like Instagram and TikTok can generally be very popular due to their formats.
You should consider SEO practices such as adding the relevant tags and hashtags to captions to ensure they get as much exposure as possible, especially as social media can be flooded with images every second.
Time-lapse photography can be timely but beautiful
The fact remains however, that time-lapse photography has its own drawbacks in so far as being very time-consuming and sometimes having negative image outcomes. Undeniably though, it is an aesthetic means of expression as well. To grab awesome footage, it would be advisable to possess a comprehensive know-how about it and thereafter utilize the top gadgets to make it come alive.
