News Time-Lapse Trends: Halloween
“Time-Lapse Trends” is a video blog series which draws attention to some of the many exciting trends in time-lapse production. We feature a new trend in each instalment, to demonstrate the scope of the medium and the various ways in which it is applied, ranging from the popular to the more obscure.
Halloween is quite often full of colour, scary symbols and fun! Observed in a number of countries across the globe, the festival makes for an interesting time every year. We feature a few examples that reveal the best of this spooky season using time-lapse.
Perhaps one of the most popular and familiar elements of Halloween is the costumes.
The custom is said to be rooted in certain Celtic festivals, as well as from the practice of ‘souling’ while observing Christian Allhallowtide – a time for remembering the dead.
Looking the part can take lots of time and effort, although the use of time-lapse to show four different Halloween makeovers in this video by Studio 424 makes it look like a breeze!
Of course, pumpkin carving is another thing that it wouldn’t be Halloween without. This seasonal activity stems from the phenomenon known as ‘will-o’-the-wisp’, an atmospheric ghost light resembling a flickering lamp seen at night, usually over bogs, marshes, and swamps.
Pumpkins are hollowed out with a light source placed in the centre, a ghoulish or comical face carved onto the outside, resulting in what are known in folklore as ‘jack-o’-lanterns’.
Such a process can be great to do – and watch! Ochen K.’s video (above), for example, captures this incredibly detailed craft. Time-lapse enables the most detailed of tasks to unfold in a matter of seconds.
Of course, there is plenty of scope to be creative with how activities like these are rendered through time-lapse.
joe vaughn’s ‘Pumpkin Lobotomy’ shows an amazing carving process unfold without the presence of tools or the people handling them.
Stop-motion gives this illusion of a pumpkin carving itself, while time-lapse allows a sense of time to be skewed – fast-forwarding and rewinding as the process takes shape. Ending with the pumpkin rotting away also adds that Halloween feel to the video.
As well as certain activities, we can associate this time of year with particular characters – especially those from famous films.
Mario Orta’s time-lapse is able to capture the level of detail and texture required to create such a realistic artistic impression of a recognisable character.
The speed-drawing reveals Pennywise, the clown from Stephen King’s famous horror novel, IT, which has seen a recent revival in popular culture via the 2017 film adaptation, starring Bill Skarsgård. A good likeness, wouldn’t you agree?
Whether done with traditional arts and craft materials, or created using computerised software, themed art is a great way to get involved with Halloween.
The above video by Titus Simirica is an excellent example of how time-lapse can be applied to capture almost any process. Videos like this allow you to become absorbed in the details – the colours and textures that can be created through PhotoShop – and see a work of art appear before your eyes in almost no time at all.
Whether or not you like to observe this seasonal trend, there is no doubt that you will come across something – or someone – Halloween-related this weekend. As we have explored here, time-lapse is an effective tool for capturing this time of year in all its spooky detail.