How to Create a Stunning Time Slice Photo: Step-by-Step Photography Guide

Written by Giacomo Zamai – Content Production Manager, Manfrotto

Val d’Orcia: A Photographer’s Dream

Tuscany is Tuscany. Timeless, iconic, and impossibly beautiful.

And if there’s one place that captures the essence of this region, it’s Val d’Orcia, the rolling landscape so breathtaking that Ridley Scott chose it to depict the afterlife in Gladiator.

Since the 19th century, when English painters and writers first discovered it, Val d’Orcia has become one of the world’s most photographed and admired views of Italy.

In autumn, the fresh greens and golden wheat turn to softer, muted tones. From the hilltops, you can watch clouds race across the ploughed fields while farmers harvest olives, one of Tuscany’s most prized products. As the days shorten and the sun dips low, the cypress trees cast long shadows that create perfect geometric patterns over the earth.

What Is a Time Slice Photo?

A time slice photo is a creative photography technique that shows the passage of time in a single image.

By taking multiple photos of the same scene over several hours and blending them together, you can reveal how sunlight transforms a landscape throughout the day from golden hour to twilight, in one breathtaking composite.

This technique is perfect for landscape photography, especially in places like Val d’Orcia, where the light constantly changes and every moment looks like a painting.

Gear You’ll Need for Time Slice Photography

First, you need a camera that allows full manual control, offers good resolution, and has at least some advanced features. The ability to use interchangeable lenses is also a plus.

In my case, I opted for a Canon R5 paired with a Canon RF 24mm–70mm f/2.8.

Next, you’ll need a tripod with a head.

For this trip, I chose the Manfrotto 055 carbon fiber three-section tripod  (MT055CXPRO3), paired with a 3-way head .

This tripod offers outstanding reliability at just 2.1 kg thanks to its carbon fiber construction, a feature I really appreciate when traveling and needing to move quickly from one location to another.

It’s an extremely sturdy and stable solution, two essential qualities for this type of shooting.

I paired it with the Manfrotto XPRO 3-Way Head (MHXPRO-3W), a head designed to offer maximum precision and control. Thanks to its ergonomic knobs and integrated friction controls, it allows for highly accurate adjustments on each axis, locking the camera firmly in the desired position.

This stability is especially valuable during long exposures, where even the slightest vibration can ruin the shot. Once the framing is set, the head remains perfectly still for as long as needed, ensuring consistent and reliable results.

Compared to a ball head which is better suited for dynamic contexts and quick framing changes, the 3-way head stands out for its millimetric precision and absolute solidity, making it the ideal choice for situations that require total control and immobility.

For the shot, it’s important to have a high-capacity memory card and pay close attention to battery choice.

In my case, we connected the camera’s power supply to an Anton Bauer Dionic battery using a Canon adapter.

Planning Your Time Slice Shot

Start your session 3–4 hours before sunset to capture the changing light.

Scout different viewpoints along the Val d’Orcia hills and use an app (like PhotoPills or Sun Surveyor) to track the sun’s path. Side lighting or backlighting usually gives the most dynamic results.

Look for a quiet spot away from heavy tourist traffic. Tuscany’s serenity is part of the story your image should tell.

Camera Settings and Shooting Tips

Once you’ve set up your tripod and framed your shot:

1. 1. Shoot in RAW for maximum editing flexibility.
2. 2. Use an intervalometer to take photos automatically. One per minute is a good rhythm.
3. 3. Manual focus to prevent shifts during the sequence.
4. 4. Keep ISO low since you’ll be on a tripod.
5. 5. Frame slightly wider than needed to allow cropping later.
6. 6. Fix your white balance (don’t use Auto WB) for consistent tones.

Choosing the Right Exposure Mode

There are two ways to handle exposure for time slice photography:

Method 1 – Manual Mode (M)
Set your base exposure, then gradually increase shutter speed as light fades. Adjust every few shots to maintain smooth transitions.

Method 2 – Aperture Priority (Av)
Simpler and more automated. The camera adapts shutter speed automatically, giving more consistent exposure. Ideal if you’re new to time slice shooting.

Start your sequence two hours before sunset and continue until 30 minutes after sunset for the best results.

Post-Processing Your Time Slice Photo

After a few hours of shooting, you’ll have around 120–240 images. The goal now is to tell a visual story of how light evolves.

1. 1. Select your best frames: Remove shots with people, cars, or unwanted distractions.
2. 2. Adjust exposure and color in Adobe Lightroom for consistency.
3. 3. Import into Photoshop as layers.
4. 4. Add guides and create masks to “slice” the image into segments that represent different times of day.
5. 5. Blend, fine-tune color balance, and sharpen details.

Depending on your creative vision, you might use anywhere from 6 to 20 slices.

You can arrange them from day to night or even symmetrically (day–night–day) for artistic effect.

Final Thoughts: Capturing Time and Light

The time slice technique transforms a simple landscape into a dynamic story of light, time, and emotion.

Few places on earth showcase this better than Val d’Orcia in Tuscany , a landscape where time truly seems to slow down.

If you’re inspired to try this technique, grab your tripod, plan your timing, and embrace the shifting light.

And when you create your own masterpiece, don’t forget to tag @ManfrottoImagineMore on Instagram , we’d love to see your time slice creations.

Imagine More.