A time-lapse is a technique where frames are captured at intervals much longer than standard video, then played back at normal speed, dramatically compressing hours, days, or months of change into seconds.
Time-lapse photography captures individual frames at set intervals — every few seconds, minutes, or even hours — and assembles them into a video played at standard frame rates. The result compresses extended periods of time into brief, mesmerizing sequences. Clouds race across the sky, flowers bloom in seconds, construction projects rise from foundations to finished buildings, and city traffic pulses like a living organism.
Time-lapses are technically straightforward but require careful planning. The interval between frames determines the compression ratio and the smoothness of motion. Camera position must remain stable for the entire capture period, which might span hours or days. Exposure settings must either be locked or gradually adjusted to account for changing light conditions (a technique called "holy grail" time-lapse for sunset-to-night transitions). Battery life, storage capacity, and weather protection are all practical considerations.
In commercial video production, time-lapses are excellent for showing transformation, progress, or the passage of time. Construction companies use them to document projects from groundbreaking to completion. Event planners use them to show venue transformations. Brands use them to visualize processes — a product being assembled, a meal being prepared, a team building something from scratch. A well-executed time-lapse communicates dedication, craftsmanship, and the scale of effort behind a result.
B-roll is supplementary footage that is intercut with the primary footage (A-roll) to provide visual variety, context, and illustrative imagery that supports the main narrative.
Frame rate is the number of individual frames (images) displayed per second in a video, measured in frames per second (fps), which affects motion smoothness and the overall aesthetic feel.
Slow motion is a filmmaking technique where footage is captured at a higher frame rate than the playback rate, causing the action to appear slowed down when played at standard speed.