Setting Up a Time Lapse Camera to Create Stunning Time Lapse Content

How to Create Stunning Time-Lapse Videos with Enlaps' Tikee Camera

Do you want to capture the slow transition of a setting sun and create a captivating minute-long video clip? Learning how to make a time-lapse. is the perfect solution. This photography technique is ideal for shooting scenes with slow processes, such as the rising and setting sun, traffic movement, blossoming flowers, stars at night, moving clouds, or any subject in motion. A regular video of these scenes might take hours to show the full transition, but a time-lapse compresses this duration to a few seconds or minutes, making it more engaging.

Aside from increasing the speed of the video, time-lapse will make the footage a lot more creative and interesting to the viewers. You can also create a time-lapse by stitching together still images captured at the same frame and at a constant interval over a long period of time. You do not have to be a professional photographer to be able to create time-lapse images and videos. However, having a camera with the settings needed for shooting time-lapse will surely step up your game in the field of time-lapse photography.

How to Set Up the Camera

A DSLR or mirrorless camera with a built-in intervalometer is the best camera you can choose when shooting a time-lapse because it will require you less equipment to create a great shot. But any type of camera will do, even the ones without the time-lapse feature. With the usual cameras, you can just capture still images of the same frame, or capture a video and edit it in an app or software afterward.

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Camera Settings Adjustment

To prepare your timelapse shooting, you will have to adjust and control the camera’s manual settings. Here are some tips on the settings that must be adjusted:

Frames per second (FPS) 

Often known as frame rate, indicates the interval lapses or how many times the camera captures an image in each second. What you have to keep in mind is that if you are shooting a motion at a fast speed, your interval must be shorter. Likewise, a slower speed would require a longer interval.

Shutter Speed

The ideal shutter speed rate for time lapse is to double the set frame rate. So if your frame rate is set at 30 frames per second (FPS), then you should control your shutter speed at a rate of 1/60.

Aperture 

This affects the brightness exposure of your subject because it will control how much light will enter the lens. The lower the aperture, the less light, but the subject will be in sharper focus. On the other hand, a higher aperture rate will increase the exposure of the image. Adjust it accordingly.

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Additional Equipment to Consider

Another thing to control is to ensure that your camera is stable when shooting. Using a tripod is the most efficient way, but if you do not have one, you can just place your camera on something stable. It is also great to buy an intervalometer which can either be extra equipment, or software that will be downloaded directly to your camera. This will control your camera to take photos for a period of time at the interval rate you have set. This way, you won’t have to press the shutter button in manual mode to get shots from time to time.

Edit Time Lapse via Software

What Is Time-Lapse Photography?

Time-lapse photography is a powerful visual technique that compresses time, making slow processes appear much faster. By capturing individual frames at set intervals and then playing them back at normal speed, events that would usually take hours, days, or even months can be viewed in a matter of seconds or minutes. This method is particularly effective for showcasing changes and movements that are too gradual to notice in real-time. Common subjects for time-lapse photography include natural phenomena like sunsets, cityscapes transitioning from day to night, and, notably, construction projects where the transformation of a site over time can be visually summarized into a short, impactful video.

Time-lapse photography's appeal lies in its ability to reveal patterns and processes that are otherwise imperceptible, offering viewers a unique perspective on the world. Whether you're watching a flower bloom or a skyscraper rise, time-lapse captures the essence of progress in a way that still photography or real-time video cannot.

Best Time-Lapse Settings for Construction

When it comes to capturing a construction site over an extended period, getting the time-lapse settings just right is crucial for achieving a consistent and professional result. One of the most important settings to configure is the focus. Manual focus is a must for construction time-lapse, as relying on autofocus can lead to inconsistencies in focus across frames, which can be nearly impossible to fix in post-production. With the camera and lens set to manual focus, you eliminate the risk of focus shifts that can ruin a sequence.

Aperture Priority is the recommended shooting mode for long-term time-lapse. This setting allows you to maintain a consistent depth of field while the camera automatically adjusts the shutter speed to match the lighting conditions. Despite this, lighting variations throughout the day can cause flicker, an unwanted effect where the brightness of the video fluctuates between frames. While flicker can’t be completely avoided during shooting, it can be mitigated in post-production through frame blending and other techniques.

White balance is another critical setting. By setting the white balance manually, you ensure that the color temperature remains constant across all images, preventing the sequence from having unnatural color shifts due to changes in ambient light. A neutral or daylight white balance setting is typically effective for outdoor shooting.

Which Are the Best Construction Time-Lapse Settings?

The best settings for construction time-lapse photography are those that provide a balance between capturing enough detail and managing the practical constraints of long-term shooting. Aperture settings are particularly important; for construction sites, a narrower aperture (such as f/8 to f/11) is generally advisable. This ensures a larger depth of field, which keeps more of the scene in focus, an important factor when the camera is positioned far from the action.

Shooting in RAW format (or a combination of RAW and JPEG) is recommended for those who wish to retain maximum control over the image in post-production. RAW files contain more data, allowing for greater flexibility in adjusting exposure, contrast, and color during editing. However, for simpler workflows, shooting in JPEG can be sufficient, particularly if the camera settings are carefully optimized from the outset.

One of the most significant challenges in long-term time-lapse photography is managing exposure over varying lighting conditions. The exposure compensation setting can be adjusted to ensure the subject is properly exposed even in challenging lighting scenarios, such as when the sun is directly behind the subject or when the site is heavily shaded.

Best Shooting Intervals for Construction Sites

Choosing the right shooting interval is essential to capturing a smooth time-lapse sequence that tells the story of your construction project effectively. The interval dictates how frequently your camera will take a picture, and this needs to be balanced against the duration of the project and the desired final video length.

For general construction progress, where changes are gradual, an interval of 10 to 30 minutes is typically sufficient. This interval ensures that you capture significant developments without producing an overwhelming number of images, which can be difficult to manage in post-production.

For high-activity periods—such as during concrete pouring, large equipment movements, or the assembly of major structural components—shorter intervals of 1 to 5 minutes might be necessary. These shorter intervals capture more action and make the final time-lapse more dynamic and engaging.

However, it’s also important to consider the practical aspects, such as data storage and power consumption. More frequent shooting generates more images, requiring larger storage capacity and more frequent data uploads, which can be costly and resource-intensive. Additionally, high-frequency shooting consumes more power, so it’s vital to ensure that your camera setup is equipped to handle this, possibly through solar panels or large-capacity batteries​.

What Equipment Is Needed for the Best Time-Lapse Photography?

High-quality time-lapse photography, especially for long-term projects like construction, requires specialized equipment that can withstand the rigors of outdoor environments and operate autonomously for extended periods.

A dedicated time-lapse camera like the Tikee 3 PRO+ is ideal for construction projects. This camera is designed specifically for long-term time-lapse photography, offering features such as a 6K resolution, which ensures sharp, detailed images even when zoomed in during post-production. The dual Sony sensors in the camera allow for ultra-wide panoramic shots, making it possible to cover large construction sites with a single device​.

Durability is another key factor. The Tikee 3 PRO+ is IP66-rated, meaning it is fully weatherproof and can operate in harsh conditions, including rain, dust, and extreme temperatures. This is crucial for outdoor installations where the camera must remain functional without regular maintenance.

For long-term deployments, power management is vital. The Tikee 3 PRO+ features an integrated solar panel, which can keep the camera running indefinitely in good sunlight conditions, combined with a large internal battery that provides backup power during periods of low sunlight. This setup ensures that the camera can operate continuously, capturing every stage of the construction process​.

Do You Need a Special Camera for Time-Lapse?

While it is possible to create time-lapse videos with a standard DSLR or even a smartphone, a specialized time-lapse camera offers significant advantages, particularly for long-term projects like construction. These cameras are designed to operate autonomously for weeks, months, or even years, without requiring constant supervision.

The Tikee 3 PRO+ is an example of a camera that is optimized for this purpose. It comes equipped with advanced connectivity options, including 4G/LTE and Wi-Fi, allowing for remote monitoring and management via a cloud platform. This means you can adjust settings, check on the camera’s status, and download images without having to visit the site physically​.

In addition to connectivity, specialized time-lapse cameras often include features such as automatic interval adjustment, which helps conserve power and manage data usage efficiently, adapting the shooting schedule based on environmental conditions and battery levels​. These features make a specialized camera not just a convenience but a necessity for high-quality, long-term time-lapse photography.

How Do You Start a Time-Lapse?

Starting a time-lapse project begins with careful planning and setup. First, select the optimal location for your camera, ensuring it has a clear, unobstructed view of the entire construction site. This location should also be secure and protected from potential hazards.

Next, configure the camera settings: choose an appropriate shooting interval based on the expected pace of construction and the final video’s desired length. Set the camera to manual focus to prevent unwanted focus shifts, and configure the white balance and exposure to manual settings to maintain consistency across all frames.

Power management is critical, especially for long-term projects. Ensure your camera has a reliable power source, such as a solar panel with a battery backup. The Tikee 3 PRO+ is designed for such conditions, with its solar-powered operation ensuring that it can continue capturing images without interruption.

Finally, use the camera’s remote management features to monitor its operation regularly. Platforms like myTikee allow you to control the camera, adjust settings, and view captured images from any location with internet access. This ensures that you can react promptly to any issues, such as changes in weather conditions or unexpected obstructions, maintaining the integrity of your time-lapse sequence​​.

By following these steps and using the right equipment, you can create a stunning time-lapse video that effectively documents the progress of your construction project, providing a valuable visual record for stakeholders and a powerful marketing tool for your business.

With these tips and the right equipment, such as Enlaps' Tikee cameras, you can create stunning time-lapse videos. For more advanced time-lapse photography, consider using Enlaps' Tikee cameras, known for their high-quality imaging and reliability.