Zeitraffung

Zeitraffung refers to the process of rendering time at a faster rate than it passes in real life. It is commonly used in photography, film and digital media to show long processes in a short time. The term is often associated with time-lapse practices, where the sequence is played back at normal speed to create a perception of accelerated time.

In practice, Zeitraffung is achieved by capturing frames at set intervals and then displaying them at a standard frame rate (typically 24–30 frames per second). This makes slow phenomena such as turning clouds, blooming flowers or city traffic appear to unfold rapidly. The term Zeitraffer is frequently used interchangeably, though Zeitraffer more strictly refers to the resulting video sequence, while Zeitraffung emphasizes the technique of time speeding.

Techniques and equipment involve a stable tripod, an intervalometer or a camera with built-in interval shooting, and careful exposure control to avoid flicker and excessive motion blur. In post-production, speed adjustments and timing edits may be applied to optimize the effect for narrative or informational purposes.

Applications of Zeitraffung include nature scenes like cloud movement and plant growth, urban landscapes such as traffic flow and changing light, and long-term projects like construction progress or environmental monitoring. Variants include hyperlapse, where the camera moves between frames, and night-time timelapse, which requires special considerations for low light. Zeitraffung is a common tool to convey the passage of time in documentaries, educational videos, and artistic works.