Tilt-shift photography

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Tilt-shift photography is an artistic technique where the lens is tilted and shifted relative to the attached camera.

Contents

[edit] Invention

The technique has been around since the very early days of the large format camera where the front glass element could be moved independently of the other to create a sweet spot of focus. The technology has since then been made available for 35 mm cameras where a lens has an element in the front that moves independently of the other. The lens is frequently used in architectural photography to correct distortion, which rather than create sweet spots of focus keeps an entire frame in focus but minimizes the effects of convergence. Other photographers have popularized the lens by using it in portrait photography, a technique which has been compelling as the sweet spot of focus draws the viewer in immediately. Walter Iooss Jr. of Sports Illustrated, Vincent Laforet, Ben Thomas and many other photographers have images using this lens/technique on their respective websites.

[edit] Application of technique

On a view camera, the lens and camera are connected by a bellows. When tilt is applied, the film or image sensor is not at a right angle to the optical axis of the lens, causing a gradient of focus. The technique can also be done with a modern camera by constructing a tilted lens manually.

[edit] Uses of effect

By blurring, the viewer's gaze may be directed away from parts of the image the photographer wishes to de-emphasize.

A smaller depth of field can also be simulated by bringing the foreground and/or background out of focus.

Perspective can be corrected for by sharpening the focus of a foreground and background that would otherwise be inside the depth of field; in theory, perfect perspective correction happens when the planes of the lens, the image sensor, and the object being imaged all intersect.[1]

[edit] Miniature faking

Main article: Tilt-shift miniature faking

Miniature faking is a post-processing technique, which involves selectively blurring a photo to simulate the narrow depth of field found in macro photography and some tilt-shift photography, making the image appear to be of a miniature model.[2]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Wilson, Andrew (May 1, 2006). Shift/tilt lenses bring new perspectives. Vision Systems Design. Retrieved on 2008-05-19.
  2. ^ Segal, David (2007-02-07). Can Photographers Be Plagiarists?. Slate. Retrieved on 2007-02-07.

[edit] External links

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