Time-Lapse
Q. What is Time-Lapse?
Motion pictures, or films as we know them, are day-to-day examples of time-lapse photography. We are used to seeing films represent reality in 'real time' speeds, where the action is filmed at 24 frames per second and played back at 24 frames per second. However, the term time-lapse usually implies capturing images over a long period of time with large intervals between exposures, such as 24 frames per minute, then playing back the images at 24 frames per second so that the action sequence appears speeded up.
The emergence of digital photography and associated technology and software have allowed time-lapse photography techniques to be refined and purpose-built time-lapse cameras are used for many professional and commercial applications, notably for construction time-lapse and in media and television.
Q. Is it "Time Lapse", "Time-Lapse" or "Timelapse"?
If you search on the internet for "timelapse", a search engine will suggest that you may have meant "time lapse" but interestingly will show websites with "time-lapse" in the results.
Q. Is the meaning of words inherent or is it determined by usage?
- Time-lapse as an adjective: What kind of photography? Time-lapse photography;
- Time lapse as a noun: There was a lapse of time;
- Time lapse or time-lapse as a professional service: e.g. do you do time-lapse?
- "Timelapse" is a computer video game...
The fact is that time-lapse is easier to say than "chronophotography using an intervalometer".
Time-lapse on the internet
Time lapse (defined at http://www.digitalrebellion.com/glossary.htm):
"A cinematography technique where the camera is set to capture one frame at a time with a relatively large interval between captures. When played back at normal speed, the event appears to be occurring much faster than it would in real life."
Time-Lapse (defined at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time-lapse)
"Time-lapse photography is a cinematography technique whereby each film frame is captured at a rate much slower than it will be played back. When replayed at normal speed, time appears to be moving faster and thus lapsing. Time-lapse photography can be considered to be the opposite of high speed photography. Processes that would normally appear subtle to the human eye, such as the motion of the sun and stars in the sky, become very pronounced."
Q. Why Time-Lapse?
Natural processes that are slow to the human eye, such as movement of clouds, the growth cycle of plants and flowers, chemical reactions that often take months to happen, can be described more easily using time-lapse photography. By photographing over the length of the process and then speeding up during playback, a new perspective is gained resulting in valuable insights and observations on processes that would not otherwise be observed.
Commercial applications of motion studies include filming the development on construction sites where the building process can be made sense of, allowing improved project management and efficiency, not to mention the security benefits of having constant camera monitoring of the site.
Lobster Pictures can help you...
We provide professional time-lapse photography services: if you know what you need, give us a call on +44(0)117 370 4217; if you're not sure then browse our website and look at our 3 minute showreel...
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Introducing time-lapse photography and time-lapse camera technology services
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Building site time-lapse & monitoring
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Creative time-lapse for film & tv
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Start to finish corporate productions
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The Lobster Pot wireless time-lapse camera box & Lobster Lapse time-lapse monitoring software
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Our impressive client list
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Experiments in time-lapse - we mess around so you don't have to
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Our best time-lapse work, in under 3 minutes
Royalty-free stock footage available to download now at thoughtequity.com/lobsterpictures
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Time-lapse project news and updates
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Who we are and where we come from
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Contact our time-lapse studios in Bristol