Shoot a time stack

Mike Harris uses still images to illustrate the passage of time by stacking a sunset sequence in Adobe Photoshop CC

Convey the passage of time by shooting and stacking a sunset sequence

Time stacking allows you to convey the passage of time in a still image and is the brainchild of Canadian photographer Matt Molloy (see www.bit.ly/39viq0v). It works by blending together multiple photographs of the same scene that have been shot over a certain period of time.

While a sturdy tripod is a must to retain the exact same framing for each shot, subtle movement within the landscape is required to convey how the scene changes over time. We captured a cloudy sunset over Normanton Church, which provided moving clouds and changing light conditions.

A Nikon camera or a remote shutter release with an in-built intervalometer is a huge help as it allows you to set up your camera to automatically shoot a predetermined number of shots at consistent intervals. However, you can still shoot each image manually if you’ve no other choice. So far, this is the same method used to gather stills for a time-lapse video. However, it’s the editing that leaves you with that distinctive time stack.

Once the sequence is loaded into Photoshop’s Layers panel, you need to change the blending mode of each image to Lighten. Astrophotographers will recognize this as the same technique used for blending star trails (see N-photo 113, August 2020). Providing you’ve chosen a suitable subject, the result will be a painterly image with a distinctive staggered effect that conveys the passage of time.