Tilt-shift photography changes the focus of an image, so the outcome often looks like the subjects in a photo are miniature instead of full size. When the lens is tilted, it’s pointed at a different angle than the usual straight-on approach, and if the lens is shifted, it’s moved either up or down until the photographer gets his or her desired shot.
When photography was in its infancy, all cameras could take tilt-shift photos, but now it’s necessary to get a special tilt-shift lens that attaches to a digital SLR camera. This accessory can cost several thousand dollars, but there are also settings and downloadable photo altering programs that can mimic the results of a tilt-shift lens.
Some great tilt-shift photos are taken from aerial perspectives, while others use blurring effects to isolate subjects. It’s also a good idea to make sure your shot doesn’t have too much going on, and that there’s no need to focus on tiny details like facial expressions. Those will get blurred anyway, and when you focus on outlines of subjects rather than specifics, it makes the subjects appear smaller.
There are many websites that offer useful tips for people who want to try this type of photography, and the tilt-shift photography examples below should offer brilliant inspiration:
Photo Credit: Sippanont Samchai
Photo Credit: Vincent LaForet
Photo Credit: http://www.tiltshiftphotography.net/
Photo Credit: Abir Anwar
Photo Credit: JeRoseL ’06
Photo Credit: Peter Fuchs
Photo Credit: Leandro Ciuffo
Photo Credit: pikonasso
Photo Credit: kaliseviltwin
Photo Credit: SantiMB
Photo Credit: Yueh-Hua Lee
Photo Credit: 55Laney69
Photo Credit: Tom Roeleveld
Photo Credit: Photo Dean
Photo Credit: Barbara Agnew
Photo Credit: Marc Biarnés
Photo Credit: Sean Ng
Photo Credit: Eduardo Millo
Photo Credit: Marc
Photo Credit: Stav
Photo Credit: ras263
Photo Credit: aphotoshooter
Photo Credit: mendhak
Photo Credit: Adolfo Chavez III
Photo Credit: David Cornejo
Looking for more great photography inspiration? Check out these 25 Stunning Examples of Pattern Photography.
About The Author
Eleanor Hecks is the Editor-in-Chief of Designerly Magazine, an online publication dedicated to providing in-depth content from the design and marketing industries. When she's not designing or writing code, you can find her re-reading the Harry Potter series, burning calories at a local Zumba class, or hanging out with her dogs, Bear and Lucy.