Time Will Tell: Using Time Lapse Photography and Digital
Storytelling in Science Roger Pence, MA Ed. Benicia Middle School
Touro University California CSTA/NSTA Area Conference, Long Beach,
CA 2014 [email protected][email protected] Wiki resources:
https://dsinscience.wikispaces.com
https://dsinscience.wikispaces.com
Slide 2
Session Agenda Time-lapse vs. Stop Action Photography What are
the Learning Goals? What Skills Do Students Practice? How are
time-lapse stories constructed? Samples of Student Work Equipment,
Software, and Techniques What do students have to say about this
(their words not mine) Practical considerations and classroom
handouts
Slide 3
Time-lapse vs. Stop Action Photography Time-lapse aims to show
slow-moving events quickly Examples: flowers blooming, clouds
passing, decomposition, etc. Stop-action aims to freeze a moment in
time for accurate and keen observation Examples: a bullet from a
gun, an explosion, pollen bursting from a flower, etc. Slow-motion
aims to slow the movement of something down for observation
Slide 4
What are the Learning Goals? Students will be able to:
Accurately and keenly observe a slowly unfolding event and record
those observations Use digital technology to photograph the event
so as to compress the real-time unfolding into 60-90 seconds of
time Research the underlying reasons for why we see what we see
Write an accompanying narrative script describing the changes
observed and why they occur Use video editing program to record
live voice narration that describes the time-lapse video Produce a
final, sharable version
Slide 5
What Skills Do Students Practice? Observation Recording of
observed changes
PhotographyResearchingProblem-SolvingCollaborationWriting Voice
Recording All related technology pieces
Slide 6
The Old Way before good digital technology
Slide 7
The New Digital Tools iPad/Tablet Phone Digital Camera
Computer
Slide 8
How are time-lapse stories constructed? A suitable event is
chosen (look for interest, photographic potential) Practice
photographing the event Choice of suitable interval to end up with
30-40 discreet shots (every 5 minutes to 12-24 hour intervals
depending on event pace) Weaving observations into a coherent
story: LETS SEE SOME RAW TIME-LAPSE FOOTAGE!
TIME-LAPSEFOOTAGE!TIME-LAPSEFOOTAGE! What needs description? Why,
why and why DO WE SEE WHAT WE SEE? Raw pictures are inserted into
an editing program such as iMovie, Windows Live Movie Maker, Adobe
Premiere Elements, etc. Individual shot duration decided upon to
produce 60-90 seconds running time Voice recorded into program to
provide accurate, revealing voiceover
Slide 9
The Assignment Overarching, guiding question: How can we show
and describe scientifically events that happen too slow for us to
see in real time? Classroom Handout Classroom Handout (uploaded to
NSTA scheduler) Classroom Handout
Slide 10
Samples of Student Work Sunset on Carquinez Strait Sunset on
Carquinez Strait - good narration Sunset on Carquinez Strait Chia
Pet Chia Pet Movement of Shadows Movement of Shadows Flower
Blooming Flower Blooming - good tech narration Flower Blooming
Night and Day Night and Day Days Light Days Light - overall good
example Days Light Bean Seed Growth Bean Seed Growth good
photography Bean Seed Growth SunsetSunset ELL student Sunset
Molding Bread/Fruit Molding Bread/Fruit - great narration Molding
Bread/Fruit Egg in Vinegar Egg in Vinegar good collaborative work
by three girls Egg in Vinegar
Slide 11
Equipment, Software, and Techniques Cameras and Photo Equipment
Digital camera (manually time shutter or setting) Phone with good
camera (can download app for iPhone, Android) iOS 8 for iPhone/iPad
has a time-lapse feature (demonstrated later) Time-lapse camera (I
have a Brinno see actual) Tripod mount for device (iPad sample)
(iPad sample)(iPad sample) Computers and Tablets PC, Mac, iPad,
other tablet, iPhone Lighting considerations Consistent and
appropriate for subject/camera If photographing sun/moon, test for
camera washout
Slide 12
Software/Apps Mac: iMovie or Adobe Premiere Elements (import
photos PC: Windows Live Movie Maker, Adobe Premiere Elements
(import photos), WeVideo Chromebooks: WeVideo (import photos)
iPhone/iPad (use its camera) with iMovie: Osnap!, Lapse-it, or
others Use iOS 8s time-lapse setting
http://www.studioneat.com/blogs/main/15467765-how-does-the-ios-
8-time-lapse-feature-work
http://www.studioneat.com/blogs/main/15467765-how-does-the-ios-
8-time-lapse-feature-work
http://iphonephotographyschool.com/ios-8-time-lapse/ Android (use
its camera) Galaxy Tablet, Note, etc.: with WeVideo (collaborative,
web-based): Osnap!, Lapse-it, or others
http://www.superstokedmagazine.com/article/2014/10/timelapse-
samsung-galaxy-note4/
http://www.superstokedmagazine.com/article/2014/10/timelapse-
samsung-galaxy-note4/
Slide 13
Lighting and Technical Considerations Lighting considerations
Consistent and appropriate for subject/camera If photographing
sun/moon, test for camera washout Use without flash if possible Use
side-lighting when possible to accentuate detail Other Technical
Stuff: Take 50-60 images (makes for a smoother movie) Disable pan
and zoom (Ken Burns effect) on final movie Use manual focus for
consistency if available Be sure batteries are well-charged
Slide 14
Lets Make A Sample Quick One! Computer (importing pics) and
iPad (iOS 8) Obtain time-lapse photo set (one obtained from Brinno)
For importation into iMovie Observe and Write Script (draft) well
do this quickly together! Time script narration to adjust video
length (1 minute) Record narration Add titles, credits Finalize
(Share) movie
Slide 15
What do students have to say about this (their words not mine)
The only factor was the wind (problem solving) I managed to work
harder and it turned out just fine (grit) This may help me in the
future for other projects or similar situations (transferable
skills) Overall, I think I learned a lot and tried my best I
learned things I didnt expect to I had to do a lot or research on
the internet to create this videobut it was fun
Slide 16
Practical considerations and classroom handouts Time Will Tell
Project Directions Time Will Tell Project Directions Time Will Tell
Script Checklist Time Will Tell Script Checklist Offer groups of
2-3 so as to cover equipment needs.
Slide 17
Thanks for your time and attention. [email protected]
https://dsinscience.wikispaces.com