Albert Einstein once stated, “The only reason behind time is to ensure that everything does not happen at the same time.

It is not gently I contradict certainly one of history’s finest minds, but lately we have discovered one more reason for time, the magnificent visual artistry of your time-lapse photography.

With amazing camera mobile phones such as the Nokia Lumia 1020 making time-lapse photography more and more common, you would be excused for thinking it was a comparatively modern phenomenon. Reconsider. It had been used in a commercial sense the very first time in Georges Méliès feature film Carrefour P L Opera way in 1897! Happily, nowadays we do not have to be film producers to produce breath spending time-lapse photography. Should you are packing a Nokia Lumia, all you need is appropriate in your wallet.

One guy that has proven this to be real greater than every other is Olivier Noirhomme. We connected with this time around-lapse photography master to understand more about how he makes his miracle. In a number of articles, he will train you the way to produce landscape time-lapses, macro time-lapses and evening time time-lapses. But to jump start we obtain lower to fundamentals. To you, Olivier.

Needs to get began

1. An idea for any scene

This is often anything you like, heaven, a landscape, a street, a park, your home view. Literally the only real requirement is the fact that something moves inside the scene. The thing is to determine the evolution of the subject. A uniform grey sky, for example, will not create a great video since there is unlikely to become anything moving.

2. A method to secure your  smartphone

The easiest way is by using a tripod. Should you do not get one, you can put the telephone on something solid and connect it to avoid any movement.  It is also best to find away out of secure your device to prevent it falling. Having a tripod, make certain it is locked whatsoever occasions just in case of strong wind.

3. A energy adapter

Time lapse photography could be pretty taxing in your smartphone battery. To make certain you do not run dry, It is best to possess a energy adapter or portable charger always available.

4. The best app 

The Nokia Camera application does not come with an interval capture option however the Home windows Phone Store has lots of applications offering this functionality. Amongst others, there is Timelapse Professional and CameraPro. Timelapse Professional is ideal for regular and fundamental time-lapses. There is a totally free version having a couple of capture configurations, which let you take shots and directly create a video from them. The compensated version allows you to definitely add effects, export/upload video in order to save the images within the gallery. CameraPro is ideal for regular and advanced time lapses. It is the main one I am use constantly because it features a much more configurations than Timelapse Professional for example total focus control, exposure time or ISO value.

If you wish to control every single setting, as with Nokia Camera, and have fun with the resolution, then transfer the images to some computer later on, it is your should have application.

5. Software applications to render the recording

When I have already pointed out, you will find applications that induce a relevant video immediately after the capture, therefore it is not mandatory focus on a PC. However, these applications can be quite restricting. With respect to the configurations, you will don’t have any color, brightness or contrast correction, no effects, no music and definitely no zoom or pan. All individuals situations are, obviously, possible using the file produced through the application however it is extremely restricting. It is much better to operate on the images than you are on a previously processed, compressed and limited in resolution video. I usually make use of a video editor to complete time-lapses specifically have the ability to do whatever I would like related to the initial files.

How you can fix your configurations

Selecting the best resolution

You will most likely desire a 1080p (1920*1080) or 720p (1280*720) video. It is vital that you have pictures having a greater resolution to help keep the sharpness. Always select a 16/9 ratio otherwise you will lose the bottom and top of the pictures and have black bars around the sides. Whether you’ve got a Nokia Lumia 920, 925 (both 8MP, 3552*2000), 1020, 1520 (both 5MP, 3072*1728) or any other Lumia, the resolution on each is ample, for little stylish zooms (near to 2x focus 1080p with 8MP).

Just compare the various dimensions and also you will observe that even 2MP could be ample. 2MP appears really small for any picture however it is slightly larger than a 1080p video. On phones such as the 1020 or 1520, the entire resolution pictures are not essential for a normal time lapse, despite small zooms. It’ll drain your battery for free, take much space in your phone and will also be more for the computer to deal with. Furthermore, with 5MP, you will possess the best picture quality because of the oversampling technology.

Now, for insane zooms and pans, you will require the full resolution of the 1020. The energy adapter is required and also you will lose the advantages of oversampling however it will let you zoom 4x in 1080p, 6x in 720p as well as 2x in 4K, because of the 33,6MP (7712*4352).

Here, a 4/3 ratio can often be helpful. Because of the greater resolution of 38,2MP (7136 × 5360), you are able to zoom a bit more. However, except with black bars around the sides, it won’t be easy to show the entire scene inside a 16/9 video. Here is one particular time-lapse where where ultra high resolutions can be very helpful.

The interval some time and quantity of pictures

For a brief video, you will need 100s of images so once-lapse can occasionally take hrs to shoot. The amount of pictures clearly is dependent on what you would like to capture and also the selected interval time but remember that it is time which will influence the size of the recording.

Around the switch side, the size of the interval time will influence the rate of motion within the video. Without considering a particular scene, generally, short times produce slow and smooth actions and lengthy times produce rapid actions. To make sure very smooth actions, I usually make 30fps (fps) videos. This means that the second of video includes 30 pictures. This provides you a concept of the number of pictures are essential for that result you would like.

For instance, having a 5 second interval and 30fps, you will need 450 pictures and 2250 seconds (37,a few minutes) to perform a 15 second video. The 37,5 real minutes is going to be condensed in individuals just a few seconds, therefore, the go forward but very smooth feeling.

When the scene provides extensive fast movement, for example clouds on the very windy day, it is almost mandatory to select a brief interval time. For instance, if your cloud were at the end left by the image in a single frame and and at the very top in the actual next, it might produce a strange effect within the video. Plus, you would not have the ability to observe how it had advanced.

When the actions are slow (for example clouds on the gentle breeze) or very slow (like a growing plant) you may choose extended period interval because there will not be lots of difference in one picture to another one. Regardless of the interval time is, you will still need a ton of images to complete the 30fps and also the longer the interval the more the capture is going to be.

Shutter speed and exposure time

It may be quite different from a scene to a different, with respect to the brightness, or insufficient. More often than not, except during the night, the shutter speed is going to be fast or extremely fast, generally below one second to prevent any overexposure. A really vibrant scene might have an exposure time for example 1/1000s or perhaps shorter. More dark moments, still throughout your day or with soft artificial lighting, might have 1/30s, 1/15s or possibly 1/4s although not longer. Experimentation can help you find the correct one as well as rapidly reveal that, with daylight, it is hard to possess a slow shutter speed without overexposing the scene. For that more complex digital photographer, you are able to try  ND Filters.

ISO value

Do not leave ISO value on Auto. To help keep exactly the same brightness evolution through the capture, it requires the identical value for every shot to prevent any apparent change which may create a expensive like effect within the video. To obtain the get the best value, do tests prior to the capture. Pick the cheapest value, have a picture and check out the end result. Whether it is suitable for you, you are done. Otherwise, select a greater value and repeat the steps before you find the correct one. This really is one particular video, which might have been destroyed by ISO value changes.

Exposure compensation

It truly is dependent in this area itself. Very vibrant moments may require negative compensation as very dark moments may require positive one. Perform some tests should you are doubtful about departing it on zero or judge on your own by staring at the shadows, vibrant areas, heaven etc.

Whitened balance

The Whitened balance can alter the shades and also the tone of the scene. By testing each option, you will see there might be lots of variations in one option to another.

I never let it rest on Auto because it can result in an problem which will ruin your time and effort lapse. On Auto, the whitened balance might be not the same as one picture to another for reasons unknown (a big change of brightness, the sun’s rays departing/showing up on screen, clouds, etc.) and will also break the homogeneity of colors and tones.

Focus

To make it simple, you will find five fundamental options : Auto, Manual, Macro, Hyperfocal or Infinity.

Again, it is not really a setting you need to leave on Auto. Due to the way in which most camera applications work, on Auto, the main focus is realistically remade for every shot. If you will find focus changes throughout the capture, it may cause a vibrating effect that ruins the recording, for example with that one below.

The identical focus is thus needed. In CameraPro, the main focus is fully controlled as with Nokia Camera. For landscapes and distant moments, Hyperfocal or Infinity are great. Obviously, the main focus isn’t remade in Hyperfocal and Infinity since it does not concentrate on an exact area of the scene. I select Hyperfocal nearly every time the way it gives better results by providing the utmost depth of area. For closer moments, manual concentrate on the viewfinder is the easiest method to go, sometimes assisted by furthermore choosing Macro focus. CameraPro will recall the focus you select. It won’t redo it for every shot, even it the scene changes throughout the capture.

Hopefully you found this fantastically detailed introduction to everything about time-lapse photography as helpful as us. Tomorrow Olivier will share what you ought to do on your PC when you have taken your time and effort-lapse. Meanwhile, for those who have any queries, please leave them within the comments below and can request Olivier to reply to them.

A week ago, Olivier Noirhomme demonstrated us how you can capture photos for some time-lapse video. Now, he is discussing his tops tips about how to result in the video itself.

So, you have develop a concept, choosen your application, fixed your Nokia Lumia camera configurations and today hopefully have 100s of photos. (Should you have not done individuals things then head on to part 1 to determine how.) But what next? Don’t fear our time-lapse maestro is here now to inform all. Go away, Olivier.

How you can organize your photos

How to proceed since the capture has ended? Well, you clearly have to transfer the images to some computer. Place them right into a folder without any other files. Remember that the file names have to follow along with one another to become acknowledged as a string so you might want to relabel these. Fortunately, you will find utilities to batch relabel files. I personally use Bulk Relabel Utility, it provides lots of renaming parameters.

More often than not, the application you used names the files using the date at the start plus some sequence amounts in the finish. When renaming them, just the finish needs to be transformed. The start needs to stay for every file to exhibit they are in the same sequence. For instance, “20140203_0001” shows it’s adopted Feb 3, 2014 which it is the very first picture within the sequence. The 2nd file needs to be named “20140203_0002” and so forth for an additional ones. When the date alterations in the title of among the next files, it will not be looked at area of the same sequence.

Which video editor to make use of

For normal time lapses, a media player by having an image sequence functionality like Quicktime (Professional version only when that is still the situation) is going to be enough. You need to simply open a picture sequence, choose the images (or sometimes only the first) and select the framerate. The gamer will directly create a video. Older computer systems could have a difficult time playing it easily because it requires lots of computing energy. After that you can render the recording to some file inside your format and backbone of preference. MP4 is the greatest compromise : great picture quality, less space around the hard disk (and therefore a shorter period to upload too).

You will find restrictions with this particular process tough : no zoom, pan, music, sounds or effects plus some media gamers cannot handle high resolution pictures. For example, Quicktime (by version 7.7.4) cannot handle 34/38MP shots. Here is an good examples of the time lapse, that is possible using 5MP pictures and Quicktime, without any zoom nor music.

The number of fps?

The framerate is dependent on what you would like. 24fps may be the regular movie framerate (blu ray, cinema) therefore it is ideal for a film feel. I would not recommend going below 24fps. You will begin to see the gaps in between each picture and also the actions will not be so smooth. Personally, I more often than not choose 30fps. It is a great compromise between video length and level of smoothness. More fps can also be great and ultra smooth however your video is going to be shorter (1000 pictures at 30fps : 33 seconds, 1000 pictures at 50fps video : 20 seconds) and also the actions might be too quickly.

If you wish to do 50 to 60 fps video but they are afraid the actions is going to be too quickly, just lessen the interval time in between each shot. You will convey more pictures in then finish and fewer changes between one picture from the next.

For advanced time lapses, you’ll have to make use of a video editor and also have an idea about editing notions. You will find several editors, each with its benefits and drawbacks : iMovie, Movie Maker, Adobe Premiere, The new sony Las vegas, etc.

Posting a string of images might be different in a variety of editors however it is pretty much exactly the same pattern for every one : import option, pictures selection, framerate choice and validation. The editor directly constitutes a sequence of images and import it as being just one media within the timeline or perhaps in the work files.

Firing your creativeness

Now, you are liberated to do anything you want : zoom, pan, cut, copy, crop, go backwards, go faster, go upside lower, add effects, etc. Add text, music or sounds too if you would like. Here is a good example shot on my small old Nokia 808 PureView with added seem, recorded before the capture.
How to produce a slow motion effect

It is also easy to have fun with the rate from the video to complete slow motion parts. For your, you will need to choose something similar to a 90fps or 120fps general framerate for that video. You’ll be able to do decelerate parts before you are back at 30fps (3x for 90fps, 4x for 120fps). Make a cloud coming extremely fast at 120fps after which slowed down lower 4x for any couple of seconds after which back at 120fps. It might provide an amazing effect. Do not result in the transition between your normal and slow motions parts sudden and abrupt. The transition needs to be gradual to become smooth.

However, you will need a ton more pictures to possess a decent length video (at 120fps, 1000 pictures = 8,3 seconds) but, again, you are able to lessen the interval in between each shot to possess more pictures along with a not too longer capture time.

If pictures are 33,6MP or 38,2MP ones, you may be much more creative. Make a virtual camera how big the recording you will render after (1280*720, 1920*1080 or any other) going wherever it wants, in each and every direction, within the much, larger scene (7712*4352 or 7136 × 5360). You are really capable of finding tales inside the primary story, create a extended video with simply one scene by showing various spots inside it, go ahead and take ZoomReinvented philosophy one stage further.

What is really effective would be to begin with an optimum zoomed place after which zoom out before the whole scene is displayed or in the whole scene to some maximum zoomed point. Ideally, to control your emotions having a slow focus Orto enjoy it and also to give a never-ending zoom feeling.

Rendering your masterpiece

Once the editing is performed, all remains would be to render the work like a video. MP4 is again the best option : high display quality and more compact quality. There are always higher quality format however they will require more room in your hard disk. The rendering can be quite lengthy, depending on your pc energy, sometimes 10 x more than the recording for any simple one or 20x longer should you added effects. And don’t forget to make certain the made video is like everyone else wanted for before removing all of the pictures to restore space! Here is another video shot on my small old smartphone to exhibit all of the advanced techiniques for action.

Another fantastic tutuorial from the guy that has had the experience and done that, first together with his Nokia 808 PureView and today together with his Nokia Lumia 1020. Hopefully, his advice and the time-lapses inspires you receive available and give it a try. Meanwhile, for those who have any queries make sure to share lower below.