Welcome to the second episode of our series on long-term timelapse editing. Today, we're tackling the second major distraction: moving elements.

 

In our last post, we explored how to select the perfect set of images for an amazing video edit. That was a significant step forward, but there's always room for improvement.

 

Imagine a timelapse with swaying branches, passing clouds, or moving vehicles. These elements can distract from the core message. It all comes down to the balance between "information" and "noise" :

  •  "Information" is what you want to showcase—seasons changing, a building under construction, a glacier in motion.
  •  "Noise" is anything that distracts from your message.

 

A perfect timelapse delivers maximum information in a pleasing and concise video.

 

To eliminate noise, we use a powerful technique: blending successive images. This reduces flickering and works wonders for extended landscape timelapses. Check out the transformation in the video below!

 

Video Credit: Tikee camera installed by mountain guide Ludovic Erard in the Vercors Massif, France

 

The magic lies in our "secret sauce"—"Advanced smoothing" in the Timelapse Builder. It lets you choose the right amount of smoothing for your projects with three presets. We've done all the hard work, selecting the number of successive images and the weights used to blend them, making it work for all kinds of projects and durations. 

 

However, there's no free lunch. While video smoothing removes noise, it may come at the cost of some information and introduce semi-transparent objects known as "ghosts." But fear not; we'll delve into that topic in our next post. Stay tuned! 

 

Have you faced challenges with distracting moving elements in your timelapses? Share your experiences in the comments, and don't forget to explore "Advanced smoothing" in our Timelapse Builder for your next project! 

 

Article written by Adrien Fontvielle, R&D Manager at Enlaps