Expert Tips for Creating a Time-lapse Video

Time-lapse effects are great ways to add atmosphere to any brand video. You might create a time-lapse of people shopping in a store, products being turned out in a factory, or the sun rising over your office.

While it looks complicated, creating impressive time-laps videos is easier than you think. In the video below (created by the photo and video experts at Adorama), photographer and director Corey Rich explains the basics of time-lapse shooting. The video is full of the kind of expert advice that only comes from years of experience.

To start, Rich explains that there are three basic ways to shoot a time-lapse: you can shoot hours worth of video and them compress it with your video editing software, use the time-lapse photography mode included with many cameras (which shoots pictures at pre-set intervals and creates a movie file), or use an intervalometer (included with some cameras) which shoots pictures at pre-set intervals, but leaves the results as separate images.  Rich demonstrates his lessons with a Nikon camera, but many DSLR and video cameras have time-lapse features.

"The camera really needs to be locked off or stable," Rich says. "A chintzy tripod is not going to do the job." A little wobble can ruin hours of time-lapse shooting, so be sure your camera is steady.

Rich points out some of the most common mistakes in shooting time-lapse videos, such as leaving the camera in autofocus mode or not dimming the screen for a long shoot, and then draining the battery.

For more insider times on time-lapse shooting, watch the video below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2L39kw9PMoU#t=319

Troy Dreier's article first appeared on OnlineVideo.net