Author: Lily HarperDate: February, 2024

In the fast-paced world we live in, capturing moments in unique ways has become more important than ever. Arguably due to the rise of social media and influencers, online photography has become oversaturated. So how can you stand out ?

Time-lapse is an innovative technique that allows us to condense hours, days, or even months of footage into just a few seconds, creating visually stunning and compelling content that offers a variety of benefits for you or your business.

Whether you are just generally curious about the use and benefit of time-lapse, or you have a project you think may benefit, this blog will help educate you on 5 creative uses of time-lapse, using our own professional experience at JRNVisuals.

 

1. Visual Story Telling

By speeding up time, viewers can experience changes in moments, seasons, or even years, which effectively conveys narratives. This technique of visual storytelling adds depth to any video project, making it a powerful tool for businesses seeking to creatively tell their stories. It can hold viewers’ attention longer than traditional static photography or videography.

Different elements could include, but are not limited to:

Brand Differentiation: By incorporating time-lapse storytelling into their content strategy, brands can differentiate themselves from competitors and stand out in a crowded marketplace, thereby attracting attention and building brand recognition.

Emotional Connection: Over time, time-lapse storytelling can evoke emotions such as wonder, anticipation, or nostalgia, fostering a deeper connection with the audience.

2. Stand Out On Social Media

61% of the world’s population uses social media daily, averaging around 2 hours and 24 minutes per day (Shewale, 2024). As of 2022, TikTok has been ranked among the most popular social media apps globally and has introduced consumers to a faster algorithm and shorter attention span. Consequently, this has led businesses to adapt their content to social media, albeit in a saturated market influenced by micro-influencers.

How could time-lapse on social media make a business stand out?

The Solution?

TikTok’s format favours short and concise content, so keep your time lapse videos relatively brief. Aim for a duration of around 15 to 60 seconds to maintain viewers’ attention spans and ensure that your video fits within TikTok’s recommended length.

 

3. It’s All In The Dramatics

Time-lapse photography and videography can evoke awe and wonder with the ability to transform mundane scenes into extraordinary ones. The movement of clouds, the transition from day to night, or the bustling activity of a city can be accelerated, creating a sense of drama and intensity. These visually stunning effects can greatly enhance the emotional impact of a video or film.

These are often used in popular television programs, adverts, and cinematic pieces too;

• Build Tension
• Highlight Transformation (Of a place or character)
• Portray Time Passing
• Create Enhancing Visuals
• Used as a filler shot in between changing scenes.

4. Progress Development

Time-lapse photography and videography are especially useful for showcasing development or progress over an extended period. For example, construction projects or urban growth can be beautifully condensed into a few seconds, offering viewers a captivating glimpse of the entire process

Case study: Throughout our 6-month partnership with an industry-leading Solar PV construction company, using time-lapse technology, we were able to provide updates on the condition of the solar panel site to our partners. Once the project is complete we can create a satisfying video condensing 6 months into 1 minute, which you can watch below:

Click the image to take you to the video.

Other ways progress development time-lapse could be used:

• • Marketing e.g Event Promotion, using time-lapse to show the setup and preparation of the event layout / stage builds. 

• • Documentaries e.g Animal documentaries such as ‘ Our Planet’ religiously use time-lapse to show the growth of plants and animal behaviour over a long period.

• • Educational videos e.g Time-lapse can help simplify complex concepts, demonstrate processes, and help the viewer engage visually. Also, time-lapse videos can provide a crucial asset in the design and technical process of a construction project. 

 

Interested In Using Time Lapse For Your Business?

Get in touch today to speak with one of our experts on how we can provide time-lapse services to aid your construction project.

jrnvisuals.co.uk/contact-us