Different Types of Time-Lapse Videography

Time-lapse videography is a popular filming and photography technique that’s been used for many years. Over the years, time-lapse videography techniques have expanded to include a number of different shots. With many different types of time-lapse videography now being incorporated into filmmaking, there’s no shortage of new ways for you to employ this technique into your own video projects.

At Beverly Boy Productions, we often employ different types of time-lapse videography into our videos depending on client needs and creative wishes. Give us a call at 888-462-7808 to learn more about our full-service video production and time-lapse videography services.

The most common types of time-lapse videography techniques that we use at Beverly Boy Productions:

1. Basic Time-Lapse Videography

With the basic time-lapse shot the camera and the settings to be captured are essentially fixed. The idea is to simply capture the scene over a long and steady period of time so that the footage may then be exhibited over the time.

This shot, while not anything particularly special, is a great technique for capturing things like moving traffic, sunrise or sunsets, and things like shadows or moving clouds.

2. Hyper-lapse Videography

Hyper-lapse videography is one of the more technical types of time-lapse videography but it provides a “hyper” look for your videos that can really add a lot of excitement when done right.

In fact, some of the most mind-blowing scenes and shots can be captured using hyper-lapse filming. The technique is accomplished by always pointing the camera at the same exact thing no matter where or what is going on around it.

The shots should appear always as if the frame is the same or similar to the previous frame despite the camera being moved from point to point and changing perspective.

3. Plant Time-lapse Videography

Just like it sounds, plant time-lapse videography is a technique that involves capturing the growth of a plant over time.

You’ll have to dedicate your camera to the this form of time-lapse videography for a period of several weeks or months depending on the extent of the growth that you wish to capture. 

4. Holy Grail Time-Lapse Videography

Many types of time-lapse videography are actually challenging to capture, especially the holy grail time-lapse which requires a thorough understanding of what you’re doing in order to achieve success.

With this style of time-lapse, the shots are captured during the sunset or the sunrise. The idea is to adjust the exposure settings such that the end result is a flickering sequence.

5. Aerial Hyper-lapse

This is the term used to describe the various types of time-lapse videography that are captured from the air via either an airplane, helicopter, or drone.

Aerial hyper-lapse thus uses shots taken from the air in which the camera is constantly positioned a set way on a particular item capturing surroundings from various points.

6. Astro Time-lapse

Shot at nighttime from a dark place, the astro time-lapse is one of several types of time-lapse videography that involves capturing astronomical scenes and events in the night sky.

Astro time-lapse is also sometimes referred to as astrophotography or astro-videography.

7. Focus Pull Time-Lapse

A form of time-lapse videography that involves shooting the focus ring and provides the ability to adjust and add axes as you go.

This is an advanced form of time-lapse. This is often in accompaniment or adjustment from the motion control time-lapse videography.

8. Motion Control Time-Lapse

Motion control time-lapse video requires a lot of equipment and gear to accomplish but the results can be a lot of fun.

Of all types of time-lapse videography, motion control time-lapse results in some of the most versatile and fun to use shots.