DIY time-lapse photography
Time Travel
© Lead Image © 36clicks, 123RF.com
Using a few simple components and open source software, you can create impressive panoramic time-lapse photos. We guide you through the entire process, from building a simple panning rig to assembling photos into a time-lapse video.
Although time-lapse photography [1] is nothing new, it remains a popular genre with enthusiasts and amateur photographers alike. And it's easy to understand why: Time-lapse movies assembled from multiple photos can be beautiful and mesmerizing, offering a radically different view of the world around us.
Time-lapse photography is great as it is, but adding panning to the equation takes the concept to another level. The idea behind panoramic time-lapse photography is rather simple: Instead of remaining in a fixed position, the camera slowly pans in one direction (e.g., clockwise) while taking photos, which makes it possible to capture panoramic time-lapses of landscapes, city skylines, cityscapes, and so forth.
You may think that creating panoramic time-lapses requires expensive hardware and software. In fact, this type of photography is ideal for tinkering with hardware and putting open source software to creative use, so if you happen to have a Canon PowerShot compact camera or an Android smartphone, building a simple panning rig and creating time-lapse videos makes a perfect weekend project.
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