Creating a night lapse with the GoPro Hero 12 is both easy and fun. Recently, I shared with you tips and tricks for achieving the best star trail night lapse effect. Today, I’ll provide more information on various GoPro Hero 12 night lapse effects.
In this article, I’ll provide you with clear instructions on how to set up your camera for a night lapse and explain the effects you can achieve.
Watch my quick overview on GoPro Hero 12 Night Lapse: Star Trails, Light Painting, Vehicle Light Trails
QUICK TAKE
- Use a tripod for stability
- Charge your gopro and get extra batteries
- Try out different Night Lapse effects: Star Trails, Light Painting, Vehicle Light Trails
What is GoPro Hero 12 Night Lapse
Night lapse is a technique in photography where multiple images taken over time are combined to showcase the dynamic movement of the night in a video format.
Given the reduced light at night, the camera has to work differently, often absorbing light over extended periods. The GoPro Hero 12 simplifies this process. Its Night Lapse mode intuitively adjusts settings to allow optimal light intake, delivering clear and stunning results even in dim conditions.
However, if you prefer customizing your configurations, that’s possible too. Continue reading to discover the optimal settings for GoPro Hero 12 Night Lapse.
Activate Night Lapse
Enabling Night Lapse mode on the GoPro Hero 12 is a breeze. Follow these simple steps:
- Swipe left on your camera until you reach the Time Lapse mode.
- Tap on the current Time Lapse mode setting and scroll down to select Night Lapse.
- Tap the pencil icon to access and adjust your Night Lapse settings.
In Night Lapse mode, users have the flexibility to manually select different shutter speeds. Lower lighting conditions usually demand longer exposures to capture more details in the darkness. On the other hand, well-lit areas, such as city skylines illuminated by streetlights, require shorter exposure times.
To ensure your footage is free from blur, it’s advisable to mount your camera on a tripod or position it on a stable surface to prevent any wobbling or shaking.
GoPro Hero 12 Night Lapse Effects
The GoPro Hero 12 Black introduces three new and captivating night lapse effects:
#1. Star Trails
Star Trails leverages the Earth’s rotation and the brilliance of the night sky to craft captivating light trails. Mount your camera on a stationary object or tripod, aim it at the celestial canopy, and witness the magic unfold. You can use the trail length effect to select from maximum, long, or short trail lengths.
#2. Light Painting
Light Painting employs long exposure to enable you to create dynamic brush stroke effects using moving light sources. Secure your camera to a stationary object or tripod, grab a flashlight, glow stick, or any other source of light, and let your creativity shine.
#3. Vehicle Light Trails
By mounting your GoPro Hero 12 on a stationary object or tripod and aiming it at moving vehicles, you can produce mesmerizing footage of light trails left in their wake. Adjust the trail length effect to choose from maximum, long, or short trail lengths, depending on your creative vision.
GoPro Hero 12 Night Lapse Settings
Once you’ve selected your preferred night lapse effect on the GoPro Hero 12, you still have the flexibility to fine-tune your camera settings to align with your creative vision. Here’s a breakdown of the available settings:
Interval
The interval dictates the time gap between photos taken during the night lapse sequence. To adjust the Night Lapse Interval on your GoPro Hero 12:
- While in Night Lapse mode, either press and hold the icon located at the bottom center of your camera screen or tap this icon and then select the pencil icon adjacent to Night Lapse.
- Tap ‘Interval.’
- Utilize the sliding scale on the right side of the screen to set your preferred photo interval.
Shutter Speed
Shutter speed controls the duration the Hero 12’s shutter remains open. The longer the shutter is open, the more light it captures. To adjust the Shutter Speed on your GoPro Hero 12:
- While in Night Lapse mode, either press and hold the icon located at the bottom center of your camera screen or tap this icon and then select the pencil icon adjacent to Night Lapse.
- Tap ‘Shutter.’
- Use the sliding scale on the right side of the screen to set your desired Shutter speed.
Output
The Output setting determines the file type of the resulting image. You can choose between ‘Raw’ or ‘Standard.’ Opt for Raw if you intend to perform post-processing on your images.
Timer
The Timer function allows you to set the duration between pressing the shutter button and the actual start of the capture. This is invaluable for eliminating camera shake, which can lead to blurry results.
Protune Settings
For those who crave ultimate control, the GoPro Hero 12 offers a range of Protune settings that you can fine-tune according to your preferences:
- EV Comp: Employed for fine-tuning exposure levels.
- White Balance: Adjusts the overall color tone to match the warmth of the lighting.
- ISO Min/Max: Modifies the camera’s sensitivity in low-light conditions, striking a balance between brightness and image noise.
- Sharpness: Alters the acutance, impacting the severity of transitions and borders in the image.
- Color: Allows you to fine-tune the color profile to meet your creative vision.
Ready For a Night Lapse?
Now that you’re armed with the GoPro Hero 12 Night Lapse effects and settings, you’re well-equipped to capture awe-inspiring night lapses.
Keep in mind that time-lapse sequences require time, so ensure your camera has sufficient battery life before embarking on your nocturnal adventures. For extended time-lapse sessions, consider connecting your GoPro to a power source or have spare batteries on hand.
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I hope this guide helped you learn about all the GoPro Hero 12 Night Lapse settings. 🙂
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