Can I make a long-term construction timelapse with a Canon 70D by returning to the same spot for each photo?
Asked 11/16/2016
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I want to document a building project from demolition through construction, but I can’t leave a camera set up on site or buy a dedicated timelapse camera. Can I use my Canon 70D by going back to the same location each day, week, or month, taking one or more photos, and then combining them into a timelapse video later? If so, what should I do to keep the framing consistent enough for a good result?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
9y ago
2 Answers
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Yes, it is possible. The ideal case would be if it was visible from your home so that you can leave a tripod stationary and just attach the camera when you need to. If the construction site is somewhere else, however, you can't use the tripod to mark a location. Better try to think of a good location to shoot from with something that won't move for a while - e.g. a road sign, a traffic light, a post box, a hydrant or something else. From there, choose an appropriate focal length (taking into account that at first you'll only see the foundations but the building will grow tall) and framing (maybe using the camera's focus points in the viewfinder to "mark" something in the frame). Then proceed to actually shoot once or several times a day (depending on how much stuff is happening to the construction site). Photoshop can do a relatively good job at aligning consecutive frames (even shooting from a tripod will cause several pixels' worth of deflection); worst case scenario you will have to do some aligning by hand (but not aligning the images perfectly might not be that bad since the exposures will also differ).
Before everything, you may look around the construction site for a sign - it should describe the project, how long it should take and so on - to give you an estimation of how much time you have.
Originally by user31714. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user31714
9y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Yes — that’s a practical way to create a long-term timelapse.
For the best results, keep your viewpoint and framing as consistent as possible each time. Use the same location, same lens, and same focal length. Pick fixed reference points around you or in the frame — for example a sign, post, or other permanent object — to help line up the shot. If you can leave a tripod in place, that’s ideal, but if not, choose a stable spot you can reliably return to.
Your images still probably won’t match perfectly, so expect to use software later to align them before making the video.
Shooting RAW is a good idea because lighting and weather will change over weeks or months. RAW files make it easier to correct brightness and contrast so the sequence looks more consistent.
Also think ahead about composition: the scene will change as the building grows, so choose a focal length and framing that will still work from foundations through the finished structure.
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