MULTIMEDIA

Still In Motion (Part 2)

6/13/2013 9:01:37 AM

Creating The Time-Lapse Movie

Now that you have the frames shot, it's time to make the movie. If you have an in-camera movie option, try that first. I'm amazed at the quality of the finished time-lapse movies my D4 creates. I choose the movie quality settings before shooting the sequence, and the camera creates the movie after all the frames are shot. I simply download the movie off my flash card, and it's ready to go.

Most time-lapse sequences are created in the computer using image-editing software. There are many ways to create time-lapse movies, including advanced workflows using Final Cut Pro X and Adobe After Effects. But if you're just starting out, two of the easiest methods are using QuickTime 7 Pro or Lightroom 4.

The quickest and easiest way to create a time-lapse movie in the computer is using QuickTime 7 Pro. This inexpensive software provides you simple control of the movie creation. To start, put all your sequence images into one folder on your desktop. Open QuickTime 7 Pro, and choose File > Open Image Sequence.

Creating The Time-Lapse Movie

Navigate to your folder of images, and select the first image in the sequence. Click Open, and choose the frame rate for your movie. I like to use 24 fps for smooth video clips, but you can choose any frame rate you like. QuickTime 7 Pro doesn't work with RAW images, so you'll need to convert your shots to IPEG or TIFF. Once your time-lapse is created, you can edit and export the movie according to your end use Lightroom 4 also offers an easy way to create a time-lapse sequence, but with that added benefit of being able to batch-process RAW files to create the movie. RAW files will produce the best end result, especially if you need to adjust exposure, saturation, sharpening, etc.

My normal time-lapse workflow involves shooting the images in RAW, then importing the shots into Lightroom in a separate folder. Next, I choose one image in the sequence and do adjustments to optimize the shot. Then I select the rest of the images and "sync" these adjustments to all the shots in the sequence. Now the files are ready to be made into a movie.

you can edit and export the movie according to your end use Lightroom 4 also offers an easy way to create a time-lapse sequence

you can edit and export the movie according to your end use Lightroom 4 also offers an easy way to create a time-lapse sequence

To create the time-lapse movie, you'll first need to download some presets. Sean McCormack at Pixiq (www.pixiq.com) has developed some time-lapse movie presets you can download for free. Once this is done, go to the Slideshow module in Lightroom 4. Under User presets, choose the frame rate you would like to use. Next, hit the Export Video button, which will prompt you to choose the frame rate again. Choose the same frame rate as you chose in the User presets, and hit the Save button. Now Lightroom will render your time-lapse movie, which may take a while depending on your file size.

Using Advanced Time-Lapse Techniques

Once you've mastered simple time-lapse movies, you may want to explore more advanced techniques. Here are two that will really spice up your time-lapse moviemaking.

The Panning Time-Lapse Shot. Have you ever watched a time-lapse movie that slowly pans sideways past rocks and flowers as the clouds whiz past overhead? The lateral movement in the shot adds a very professional look. I low do you create this panning motion over hours of shooting a time-lapse sequence? You need a special motorized dolly system.

Advanced Time-Lapse Techniques

When I first saw a panning time-lapse sequence, I knew I needed to shoot one. For that task, I purchased a motorized dolly system from Dynamic Perception (www.dynamicperception.comy This company offers the Stage Zero system, which includes a six-foot track, a motorized slider and a controller with an interval meter.

Dynamic Perception has excellent tutorials on their website, and I was up and shooting in minutes with their system. The Stage Zero not only can be set up horizontally, but you also can create vertical panning movement, as well. Imagine slowly panning past the trunk of a bristlecone pine tree as the stars rotate above. Adding movement to your time-lapse movies opens up endless creative possibilities.

The Sunset/Sunrise Time-Lapse Shot. Some of the most dramatic time-lapse movies record sunrise and sunsets. Visualize warm light slowly illuminating snowy mountains and crystalline lakes as the sunrises into the clear sky. But this scene presents a big challenge. How do you set your exposure for this dramatic shift in lighting?

One option would be to use shutter priority or auto ISO mode. But anytime the camera changes the exposure during a time-lapse sequence, the result is choppy video. The easiest option is to use the Lightroom technique mentioned above, but with a few different adjustments.

For a sunrise sequence, try using this technique. When you process your images in Lightroom, choose the first frame in the sunrise sequence and set the exposure to approximately one stop underexposed. When you apply these Develop settings to the rest of the sequence images, the final overexposed images after the sun has risen should be about the right exposure, with few blown-out highlights.

The Sunset/Sunrise Time-Lapse Shot. Some of the most dramatic time-lapse movies record sunrise and sunsets.

The Sunset/Sunrise Time-Lapse Shot. Some of the most dramatic time-lapse movies record sunrise and sunsets.

Your movie will start out a little underexposed, but should have detail in the shadow areas. The movie will quickly transition into brighter scenes, and the final shots shouldn't be overexposed.

You can adjust the underexposure depending on how bright the last scene is. For sunsets, start with the brightest shot and add more light to it, just to the point of being overexposed. Then apply this bump in exposure to all the images in the sequence, and the final shots after the sun goes down shouldn't be too dark.

Time-lapse photography is a quick and easy way to liven up your photography. The next time you're watching clouds race overhead, grab your camera and shoot a time-lapse sequence. You won't believe how good accelerated time can look.    

Check out a few of Tom Bol's time-lapse movies, which are featured on the DP website at dpmax.com/bol-time-lapse.

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