One of the first places where I took note of tilt shift photography was in a bump for Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim years ago.  

The bumps featured pictures of Atlanta & surrounding suburbs done with this cool effect that at the time, I didn’t know the name for. It seemed to give a sense of wonder like looking down from the heavens at the world going by.  It reminded me of model trains and older PBS children’s programming with stop motion animation as they used detailed miniature sets often. 

Eventually this effect began to show up increasingly in other places until it reached a point of immediate recognition that this was tilt shift photography.

Tilt–shift photography refers to the use of camera movements on small- and medium-format cameras, and sometimes specifically refers to the use of tilt for selective focus, often for simulating a miniature scene. Sometimes the term is used when the shallow depth of field is simulated with digital post-processing; the name may derive from the tilt–shift lens normally required when the effect is produced optically. – Wikipedia

The saturation of the effect hasn’t harmed it in my eye, though depending on whom you ask, it’s making it difficult for many to tell the pros from the amateurs.

We have advances in technology & programming to thank for that. What once took a high quality camera & a specific lens, can be done these days with a high end mobile phone, or computer thanks to web browser apps, photoshop techniques or a mobile based app like instagram. The risk is that too often these advances make it too easy to lean upon them for something that once took skill & expertise. In this instance, while it makes the technique easier to achieve, it doesn’t eliminate the need to have an eye for what makes a good shot.  We can only hope it doesn’t grow as outrageous as filter hipsters who have pretty much made everything ironic.

Don’t worry, I’ll post the related tutorial also from Ultralinx. Enjoy this list and if possible try your own hand at taking interesting photos to new & different levels with similar effects.

To view the list visit:  Ultralinx: 20 Stunning Tilt Shift Photos