Exploring Time
Learn How to Create Stunning Time-lapse Videos!
Dr. Mike Shaw
Bryan Peterson School of Photography
Time-lapse videos are everywhere! From social media to websites to commercials to documentaries – time-lapses have hit the mainstream. The good news is that there has never been a better time to learn how to make your own. With camera gear you most likely already have and a few easy-to-learn processing techniques, this course will have you up and making incredible time-lapse videos before you know it!
Week 1 – Time-lapse Fundamentals
You will learn why time-lapses work, and how our vision system interprets a sequence of still images as representing motion. This knowledge will be the foundation for your journey through the incredible world of time-lapse videos. You will also learn what equipment is needed and how to set it up to get the images you need to create your time-lapse videos. Finally you will make your first time-lapse video using Photoshop!
Week 2 – Level Time-lapses with LRTimelapse/Lightroom
This week you will learn how to use LRTimelapse and Lightroom to create sophisticated time-lapse videos. You will go through the main processes of converting your image sequence from last week into a professional quality, high definition time-lapse video. You will also see how the powerful processing tools of LRTimelapse turn your time-lapses into smooth, fluid sequences that are an absolute pleasure to watch.
Week 3 – Ramped Time-lapses with LRTimelapse/Lightroom
The challenging exposure changes that occur during sunrise and sunset are the prime focus of this week’s lesson. Such sequences typically go through over FOURTEEN stops of exposure! Converting these images into a smooth time lapse has been dubbed the “Holy Grail,” of time-lapses; here you will master this most difficult of projects. Building on your knowledge of LRTimelapse and Lightroom, you will create a new sequence of images during a sunrise or sunset and process them into an amazingly dynamic time-lapse video.
Week 4 – Creative Time-lapses – Adding Motion, Starbursts and More!
This is the week that pulls it altogether; you have the option of including camera motion in your time-lapse videos, exploring advanced processing and rendering techniques with LRTimelapse, or creating dazzling “starburst” time-lapses of night sky scenes. Your creative juices will be on overload after this one!
Course Requirements
– You will need a camera with either a built in interval timer capability or an external intervalometer. You will use this to create sequences of images that you will then compile into your time lapses. Note that this camera capability is different from a built in, “time-lapse” capability.
– You will also need a tripod/ballhead.
– You will want to have access to a computer with Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom installed, along with either the free or fully paid version of LRTimelapse (lrtimelapse.com).
Instructor: Dr Mike Shaw
Dr. Mike Shaw is an award-winning night and nature photography workshop leader, book author and educator based in St. Paul, Minnesota. Before his photography career took off, he was a physics and astronomy professor for over fifteen years. He also worked as an applied physics research scientist for over ten years. Yes, he IS a rocket scientist!
His new book, “The Complete Guide to Landscape Astrophotography – Understanding, Planning, Creating and Processing Nightscape Images,” Routledge/Focal Press, integrates astronomy, photography and planning methods to allow you to be at the right place, at the right time, with the right equipment and knowledge to get your shot right the first time.
His forthcoming book (2019), “Composite Nightscapes and Time-lapses,” Routledge/Focal Press, explains everything you need to know to make stunning multi-image photography and time-lapse projects using photographs made from a fixed tripod position.
Mike has traveled with his camera to remote wilderness areas around the world. He is known for his friendly, down-to-earth teaching style and enjoys collaborating with others. His work has appeared on CNN, CBS, NBC, ABC, Space.com, NASA, Minnesota Monthly, Destination Duluth, The World At Night (TWAN), PhotoPills, the Bryan Peterson School of Photography and in the US National Park Service.
Mike Shaw Photography:
Web: www.MikeShawPhotography.com
Facebook: @mikeshawphotography
Instagram: @mikeshawphotography
Twitter: @mikeshawphoto
To Learn more about how our courses work please visit: Course Info
