Suggestions for choosing a photo
It can sometimes be challenging to find a photo that works well with the tilt-shift effect.
However, there are just two short rules which you can use to help select the right photos.
Here they are:
1. Scene
Is the photo of a scene in the distance, or a close-up shot?
Photos of scenes work much better. Close-up shots of one or more subjects rarely work well.
Photos of scenes work much better. Close-up shots of one or more subjects rarely work well.
2. Depth
Does the photo have a good balance of both near and far areas
in it?
The bottom of the photo should be that part of the scene nearest the camera.
As you move towards the top of the photo, the distance of objects in the photo should gradually become further away.
For this reason, photos taken looking down at an angle to a scene often make good tilt-shift miniatures, because they have a good mix of objects at different distances. We want to give the illusion of focusing the camera at a very specific distance, so having good depth in the photo is important.
The bottom of the photo should be that part of the scene nearest the camera.
As you move towards the top of the photo, the distance of objects in the photo should gradually become further away.
For this reason, photos taken looking down at an angle to a scene often make good tilt-shift miniatures, because they have a good mix of objects at different distances. We want to give the illusion of focusing the camera at a very specific distance, so having good depth in the photo is important.
Let's try it out with some examples.
The following photos don't work so well with a tilt-shift effect -
"Portrait"
Front of House
Kittens
Boats in Harbour #1
all of the boats are at a similar distance to each other.
Continue to the next page to see photos that DO work well as miniatures!