Tilt-Shift / HDR

[curtiswheat]

My attempt at a tilt-shift/HDR Image Wanted that toy rustic kind of look. CC Please on the overall feeling of the shot and any improvement ideas.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/photobycurtis/2317241065/" title="Rush Hour3 by photobycurtis, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2182/2317241065_635fe3c2c6.jpg" width="500" height="400" alt="Rush Hour3" /></a>

Camera: Canon EOS 40D
Exposure: 0.001 sec (1/1250)
Aperture: f/5.6
Focal Length: 135 mm
ISO Speed: 400

[Nobie]

Wow, it actually looks like a very detailed colored pencil drawing.

[Murtasma]

I think you need to increase the amount of blur coming into the frame on the top and bottom. The illusion of miniature cars isn't very strong. Also the light poll is pretty distracting.

BTW this looks like a tone mapped image and not a HDR/Tone mapped image. You need three exposers to do a HDR image then Tone map it.

[xxpinballxx]

I agree with Murt the blur seems to be a bit too low.
ITs almost like it was taken with a very narrow DOF...

[daf_dab]

This is an amazing technique. How did you do this? The vechicles do look like toy cars....

http://www.flickr.com/photos/daf_dab/

[wulf]

I don't think it quite works - it looks more like a tone-mapped image that has become a bit smudgy at the top and bottom. The pseudo tilt-shift effect is more about simulating the narrow depth of field created by that kind of lens that makes the result look like it is a macro shot of a scale model.

For example, the light in the foreground is near the camera so the whole thing should be blurred as if it is too close to focus properly.

Wulf

[curtiswheat]

Thanks for the CC. I will take it into account on my next one.
Here is another version of it.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/photobycurtis/2317101135/" title="Tilt-and-Shift by photobycurtis, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3016/2317101135_9f70229ba3.jpg" width="500" height="400" alt="Tilt-and-Shift" /></a>

[wulf]

I saw that on your Flickr account. I think the same "depth of field" question applies but I prefer the colours here (I'm not a great fan of the extreme HDR / tonemapping style so take that with as big a pinch of salt as you like ;) ).

Wulf

[curtiswheat]

I always do. Thanks again for the CC

[xxpinballxx]

just curious as to the method you are using to blur the image.....
and also could you post the original?
ITs seems the blur is not the same as with most Tilt shift fakes?

[curtiswheat]

I first use quick mask and create a gradient mask. That gives me the blur. I then use curves to get desired effect.

Here is my original.


http://photobycurtis.com/images/original.jpg

[wulf]

Attached is my attempt (and the mask I used). The main challenge is definitely the masking although resisting the temptation to apply too strong a blur also helps create a "realistic" effect. You can clearly see that I haven't quite perfected the technique (more time would be a key ingredient) but it does demonstrate how bluriness needs to depend on distance. When the masking is sloppy (as it is here) the result often looks like fogging rather than the scale model illusion you are after!

Wulf

[curtiswheat]

Very nice. I didn't think of trying to mask the pole...

[xxpinballxx]

I gave it a quick try too .....
NOt as dramatic HDR and didnt clone the pole out that well but more towards a Fake tilt shift..
http://xxpinballxx.zoints.com/image/77641-high

[commongrackle]

Wulf...looks more tilt-shifty...but, I'm curious...why mask the pole? It's not background, so is this because you would be looking past it? :confused:

[wulf]

Wulf...looks more tilt-shifty...but, I'm curious...why mask the pole? It's not background, so is this because you would be looking past it? :confused:
Tilt-shift lenses were designed so that you can take a picture of a tall building without perspective making all the angles look slanted. However, inquisitive photographers discovered that you could also use them on other subjects and create an effect that looks like a scale model (and then inquisitive digital artists discovered how your software could go a long way to avoiding having to buy one of the expensive lenses in the first place!).

The characteristic that makes this work is a limitation of macro photography - at close ranges your depth of field can be very minimal. Therefore, it is hard to photograph a scale model without some of it being blurred. You can't naturally achieve this with a standard lens because shots taken at a distance, even with a wide aperture, have a large depth of field. The weird effect is the result of mashing the characteristics of two completely different set ups into one image.

Depth of field is based on distance from the camera and so, in this simulated tiny world, the foreground poles are very close and thus should be very blurred.

In fact, to avoid the fogginess, I suspect the solution is to slice the picture up into different layers, each one based on distance from the camera, and then blurring them individually. That is all quite time-consuming though, especially working with a mouse to make the selections!

Wulf

[commongrackle]

wulf- Thanks for taking the time to explain all of that! Now I understand.