How to create an "empty" time lapse

First, watch this video.

The Day Wonderland Stood Still... from Bruce W. Berry Jr on Vimeo.

Now I don't know about you, but when I first saw that video my mind was blown. How could someone create a time lapse video in such a busy city without having any signs of life in it. I racked my brain for the little knowledge of time lapses it has, but came up empty. After heavy thinking I decided it was time to turn to the google. I stumbled upon a blog post that helped me understand the time lapse video a lot better, and also gave me inspiration to go out and shoot my own. I'll summarize it below, but if you want to find out more you can do so here.

First, go out and shoot a normal time lapse. Most of the effect is done in post. When shooting the lapse just try to shoot it during a low traffic time.

Then, when editing, you should have enough shots that every part of the traffic area (sidewalks, roads, walkways ect.) should be empty in at least one shot. Layer the photos over each other so that there is never any signs of human life.

Finally just put those layers over the time lapse video and it should work.

For more information follow this link, they do a much better job explaining than I do.

http://rossching.com/running-on-empty

And here is one last time lapse video.

Running on Empty from Ross Ching on Vimeo.

Time Lapse

Dynamic Perception - Introduction to Shoot Move Shoot Mode from Dynamic Perception on Vimeo.

Time lapse are very cool to watch but no one knows that there is preparation that has to go into them, especially when you want to incorporate movement. I follow this one website on my Twitter called fstoppers and there was a tutorial on how to shoot time lapse's, especially with movement.

I found this very interesting and want to do some cool time lapse of LA or Ithaca when I have my own camera and gear. For those of you who have DSLRs and looking to make a lot of money, start looking to to time lapse because any network or sporting event is always looking for time lapses to air during a "Coming Up" or "Thank Our Sponsors."