Time-lapse photography: Waldorf Astoria event

Typically with timelapse photography projects, I use multiple cameras. This is to give a more dynamic, changing view of the event that it is happening. But I don’t use many effects because I feel those often detract from the story that is unfolding. With that in mind, the time-lapse videos you see here are generally linear in how it portrays everything.

This event took place over 3 days, as decorations for an upscale wedding reception being held at the Waldorf Astoria, were being built up. The two videos here show the eventual party as the culmination of there entire 3 days. But there are important differences between these two videos!

Below is the horizontal video, showing the 3 cameras being intercut for the final video. But what I also wanted to show, is the vertical video (appearing above) — the view from just the one camera. For timelapse videos, I create the building block videos for all the cameras, and then intercut them for the final video. But here I used just the videos segments from one of the cameras. With that vertical video, I had the viewpoint move from left to right — this then gives the effect of our viewpoint of the set being built, from the start at the left-hand part of the frame … and then culminating with the end-of-night light show during the reception party.

Here’s a photo showing the one camera’s setup. It was mounted high above the event taking place, so it wasn’t in the way of the set being built, or in the way of the guests.

For more info about Time-Lapse Photography in New York (and New Jersey)