Time Manipulation Through Photography: A Novel Exploration
In the picturesque village of Etseri, Svaneti, Tony Hanmer and his wife run a charming guest house. But when the sun sets and the mountains loom, Tony transforms into a passionate photographer, capturing the ever-changing landscape through his lens.
One of Tony's most captivating creations is timelapse videos, where he captures the "mountain wall" opposite his guest house in various weather and time conditions. His videos, ranging from 30 seconds to nearly 3 minutes, represent hours of real-time footage.
Tony's experimentation with timelapse videos has led him to discover some fascinating aspects. For instance, clouds can appear and disappear in a mesmerising fashion in a timelapse video, creating a hypnotic effect as each layer of altitude has its own direction of cloud motion, often flowing past each other in different or opposite ways.
As a weekly writer and photographer for GT since early 2011, and the runner of the "Svaneti Renaissance" Facebook group, Tony has a deep understanding of photography. He shares his knowledge, not just with his guests, but also with a wider audience through his YouTube channel, where he posts his timelapse videos.
For those interested in creating their own timelapse videos, Tony offers some practical advice. Using a smartphone, you can easily capture time-lapse videos with the built-in time-lapse or hyperlapse feature in most modern iPhone and Android camera apps. Simply place your phone on a stable surface or tripod, select the time-lapse mode, and hit record.
For those seeking more advanced techniques to enhance their timelapse results, Tony suggests using a tripod or stable mount, shooting in manual camera mode, disabling lens stabilization, and using software like LRTimelapse to correct exposure variations and eliminate flicker. He also encourages experimenting with adding motion by slowly tilting or sliding the smartphone during capture, known as a hyperlapse.
Tony's latest masterpiece, a 6-hour/3-minute timelapse video, is available for viewing on Google Drive. For a glimpse into his work, follow the link provided.
Timelapse photography, like all forms of experimental photography, is unpredictable. But with the right equipment and techniques, it offers a unique way to capture the passing of time, transforming the mundane into the mesmerising.
- Tony shares his expertise in timelapse photography on his YouTube channel, where he posts videos captured using smartphones and advanced gadgets.
- To create mesmerizing timelapse videos, Tony recommends using smartphones, tripods, and software for stabilization and exposure correction, and experimenting with adding motion.
