The Best Tips for Sunset Timelapse Photography
If you want to create a beautiful timelapse of your sunset, you will need a few things. The most important is an effective camera. If you are planning a timelapse of the sunset in the desert, you’ll need to choose one that can record the sun disappearing and the sky growing dark. It needs to be able to capture both colours and movement.
The first thing you’ll want to consider is your location. Where are you planning to shoot? If you are in an urban area, the best bet is to use a camera with a tripod and timer. In the countryside, you may be able to set up your camera and tripod on a hillside and use a remote trigger to start the camera. The advantage of this is that you can change the settings – shutter speed, ISO, aperture – to give different effects. However, you may not have a remote trigger, or it may be too far away, in which case you’ll need to use a wireless trigger, which is a bit trickier. You also need to ensure you’ve got somewhere quiet where you can place your tripod.
To create a timelapse of the sunset, you’ll need to change the exposure mode from auto to bulb and set the camera to record continuously. You’ll then need to adjust the shutter speed. Ideally you should choose the lowest setting (1/1000) that will give you enough time to get the shot you want. A good rule of thumb is that your shutter speed should be between 1/100 and 1/200. A higher shutter speed means a longer exposure time, which would result in less movement in the image. A lower shutter speed means a shorter exposure time, which will make the sky appear brighter.
The final thing you’ll want to consider is your subject. The sun is the main thing you’re trying to capture and you’ll want to place your camera at a low angle, to minimize the sun in the frame. Once you have chosen the right location and camera, you’ll want to practice your technique until you get it right. This will involve testing different shutter speeds and locations to find the one that gives the effect you want. Once you have your settings correct, you will want to take a series of images using the remote trigger or wireless trigger. It’s also a good idea to test the settings again before you shoot, as it may be possible to get a better result with a slight change to your settings.
Once you have the timelapse sequence ready to go, you will need to take the following precautions to make sure it goes off without a hitch. Ensure your camera and tripod are in a safe location. If you’re using a tripod, make sure you’re aware of your surroundings and that the tripod isn’t on a slope that could potentially roll over. Finally, make sure that you have a charged battery.
If you’re going to shoot in a city, you’ll need to make sure there’s no traffic on the road you’re on. If it’s too noisy, you could move your tripod to a quieter spot. You could also try using an extension cable, but make sure it’s long enough to reach from the camera to the tripod.
If you are shooting in the countryside, the best time to shoot is early evening. During the day, the sunlight will be bright and the foreground will be in shade. It may be possible to use a high-angle lens to get a shallow depth of field, so that the sun fills the frame. At dusk, the light will be softer and the landscape will look more inviting.
When you’re ready, go out and take your timelapse. Remember that you can’t predict exactly what will happen. For instance, the sun might come out and then suddenly go back out, causing the scene to look completely different. The sun’s position will also change throughout the day. To avoid this, you will need to change your settings several times to capture different parts of the day.
You’ll also need to be patient. If you are shooting in a city, it will be impossible to capture the sunrise, as it will be too bright. Instead, you’ll need to wait until the sun has completely set. If you are shooting in the country, you’ll need to wait until the sun is almost setting, but you’ll still need to set your camera on a tripod.
Finally, you’ll need to make sure you’re looking at the right direction. You’ll want to aim towards the sun, but it’s essential to aim slightly downwards and off centre, so that the sun is in the middle of the frame. Make sure you’re looking at a spot where the sun will be visible, and keep checking your settings as you go.
Your sunset timelapse will be much easier to shoot than you might imagine. Once you have your settings correct, you will need to take a series of shots. It’s worth practicing on a day when the weather is calm and you won’t be disturbed.