In 1887, work began in Paris on a massive and unusual steel structure. A Parisian photography enthusiast named Théophile Féau set up his camera in front of the construction site and took a photo. A month later, he returned, placed the camera in the same spot, and took another. He repeated the ritual the following month, and again the month after that—until the structure we now know as the Eiffel Tower was completed.
The Birth of Time-Lapse
Thanks to Théophile Féau’s photographs, we have a rare visual record of the Eiffel Tower’s construction.
But beyond the historical documentation, his modest images can also be considered the forebear of what we now call time-lapse photography.
When you line up all of Féau’s photos of the Eiffel Tower’s construction on a visual timeline, they create the illusion of accelerated time, allowing us to experience the lengthy building process in just a few seconds.
So even if Féau didn’t intend it, and never tried to make a film, some consider his work the precursor of architectural time-lapse as a genre and technique.
Nearly 140 years have passed since he documented the rise of the world’s most iconic tower—and today, time-lapse films that capture the construction of infrastructure and buildings are already a standard part of the real estate industry.
Multiple Uses for Architectural Time-Lapse
What began as an innovative artistic technique and a tool for documenting architectural work has, in recent years, been translated into multiple practical applications.
Significant advancements in video technology and the development of specialized field cameras have enabled the use of time-lapse cameras for remote site monitoring and oversight.
This includes security (since cameras set up to document the project can also serve as surveillance cameras), as well as work supervision and tracking the use of construction materials.
In recent years, time-lapse photography has gained another surprising and practical use in construction projects: it has become a tool for marketing and selling the property.
A Studio Specializing in Time-Lapse Photography
When watching an accelerated time-lapse film of a tower rising from the ground, it’s hard not to be impressed by the powerful visual effect.
Time-lapse videos have a distinct aesthetic quality and evoke a strong sense of momentum for the viewer.
It’s no surprise that time-lapse has been embraced as a sales aid.
This brings us to another unique application of the technique, especially relevant to real estate developers and marketers.
As we know, one defining feature of today’s real estate industry is that many apartments are sold “off-plan”—before construction is complete.
By installing time-lapse cameras, a developer can allow apartment buyers (and potential buyers) to follow the project’s progress in real time.
This provides significant peace of mind to buyers, and experience shows it’s often a tool that helps sell the final units in a project.
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