The invention provides a method and an apparatus for use with an imaging device weighing less than eight ounces, such as a lightweight digital camera or a camera-equipped cell phone, in conjunction with a base apparatus capable of locating and re-locate the imaging device relative to a built environment, and generating and displaying discontinuous time-lapse image sequences. The inventive apparatus provides for the rotation of the attached imaging device to capture a set of images that provide complete coverage of the items and features that are visible from the location of the apparatus or to duplicate an image taken from any compass heading and pitch reachable by the apparatus.