From Still to Motion: A photographer’s guide to creating video with your DSLR

Chapter 19. Stop and Go

Creating Stop Motion Animation

with CHRIS GORMAN

When shooting video, your camera usually captures the action as a series of rapidly recorded still images. But there’s another way to create motion in the frame: stop motion animation. In its simplest form, an object in a scene is moved or manipulated in small increments, and then photographed. The process is repeated for several frames, which leads to the illusion of movement.

The process dates back to The Humpty Dumpty Circus releases in 1898. But the technique has been used throughout cinema and television. Some notable examples include Gumby, South Park, and Robot Chicken ...