How to take better time-lapse videos?

Choice of location is very crucial in time-lapse photography. You need to find the right spot to place your camera. The camera has to be placed in a way so that it captures the action, but doesn’t get damaged. The camera is placed in the same spot for a long time. So make sure that it is protected properly. It must not be an intrusion to anyone. You can put up a hand written note or some sort of sign to warn people about the camera. But it is better to find a secure location. It must also protect the gear from rain, sun or wind.

Unlike the popular belief, that lighter gear needs light tripods, tripods always need to be sturdy and strong, especially for time-lapse photography. You need to choose the right tripod for your gear. The basic requirement here is to have a steady tripod, securing the gear for a long period of time, without shaking or moving due to any force or disturbance.

If I am using my Sony A6000 mirrorless camera, I would prefer my Manfrotto Tripod. If I am shooting with my action camera or mobile, I shoot with Bexin.

If you are using a DSLR or a Camera that does not have a time-lapse mode, then you may need to buy an intervalometer. Intervalometer clicks shots on your camera at set intervals over a set period of time. But you will have to use a software to stitch all these photos into a video. Most mobile phones and action camera these days come with time-lapse mode. Wide angle lens is best suited for landscape time-lapse like moving clouds, busy traffic or market. Any lens would suffice to click flowering or movement within a confined space. I would prefer any gear that has a built-in time lapse mode. Mobile phones are my go-to choice for time-lapse photography. But whenever I get a chance, I love to use my Xiaomi Yi Action camera.

Panoramic moving time-lapse videos are captivating and beautiful. A simple pan head mounted between your camera and the tripod can add a lot of drama to your time-lapse videos. I found two pan heads on gearbest.com and they are both very convenient to use. These pan-heads are simple to use and easy to carry. They don’t require any complex connections or battery. Just a simple spring winding system and a variety of camera gear can be mounted on it. Once the timing is set, these heads rotate slowly with the camera mounted on them, giving a slow panning effect for your time-lapse videos.