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Times Square shrunk...

Posted: 10/04/2009 - 10:28
by beyond
I just stumbled upon Ben Thomas' "shrunk" pictures and wondered if I could do this as well... so here's a take on the extreme DOF...

Oh, by the way, I found the initial photo on the net - so no credit to me for that :)

Re: Times Square shrunk...

Posted: 10/04/2009 - 10:48
by Analog-X64
Nice work.

For those wondering this technique is called "Tilt-Shift" You can virtually make any picture look like a scaled down version of the real thing with a few easy adjustments in Photoshop.

Re: Times Square shrunk...

Posted: 10/04/2009 - 12:26
by FFRenzy
Here's one i did with a picture i took from the London Eye a few weeks ago. Click the download link to see the full effect.
http://mbffrenzy.deviantart.com/art/Til ... -118060460

Re: Times Square shrunk...

Posted: 10/04/2009 - 12:30
by Analog-X64
Here is one that I did.

This effect works best with photos taken from high point of view. I searched through flickr looking at various photos and this one was the perfect candidate for this type of effect.

Original Photo here: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3041/293 ... 6d70_o.jpg

Re: Times Square shrunk...

Posted: 10/04/2009 - 12:50
by Analog-X64
Hope Beyond doesnt mind. I took the image he posted and played with Contrast, Color Balance, Sharpness, Curve added a bit more Blur, and Saturation.

Played around with Color and Tonality using curves which helps give the objects that Plastic look.

Re: Times Square shrunk...

Posted: 11/04/2009 - 22:53
by Vosla
That effect is prettyyyy! :D
Does a simple shift of focus with a big tel have any effect? I am not so experience with better cameras (I could borrow though one from work) and I use a pretty primitive PSP5 which has no filters to simulate that.

Re: Times Square shrunk...

Posted: 12/04/2009 - 9:37
by FFRenzy
Vosla wrote:That effect is prettyyyy! :D
Does a simple shift of focus with a big tel have any effect? I am not so experience with better cameras (I could borrow though one from work) and I use a pretty primitive PSP5 which has no filters to simulate that.
Here's a page that has sopme stunning examples of tilt-shifting, and a few links to how to make your own lens, or how to simulate it in photoshop : http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2008/11 ... otography/

Re: Times Square shrunk...

Posted: 12/04/2009 - 14:34
by beyond
Just made a couple of others, images stolen from maps.live.com's 3D view... It's pretty easy when you've done a few... :)

Analog: I really like your picture! :)

Re: Times Square shrunk...

Posted: 12/04/2009 - 15:45
by Analog-X64
Beyond: thanks for the link awesome stuff there.

Vosla: Here is what you need.

1. A Photo taken from a High Point of View almost like Isometric.
2. In my example I adjusted the Contrast of the picture since it was a bit washed out.
3. Create a Gradient Fade away from where the main focus is.. usually done by masking the area.
4. Blur the area that is out of focus.
5. Adjust/increase the color saturation so you get that Toy look.
6. Adjust the Color Balance/Curve or more Saturation to get that Plastic Look.

and thats pretty much it.

Re: Times Square shrunk...

Posted: 12/04/2009 - 19:08
by FFRenzy
Additional tip : "Lens blur" in photoshop works best.

Re: Times Square shrunk...

Posted: 12/04/2009 - 19:12
by FFRenzy
Here's another one from a picture i made in London

Re: Times Square shrunk...

Posted: 12/04/2009 - 22:36
by Vosla
Thanks for the info. :)
The new pics are also awesome.

Re: Times Square shrunk...

Posted: 12/04/2009 - 23:52
by Analog-X64
These are fun to do.. :) Here is another one I did today.

Re: Times Square shrunk...

Posted: 13/04/2009 - 1:05
by FFRenzy
Analog-X64 wrote:These are fun to do.. :) Here is another one I did today.
just some constructive criticumn : could be a bit better if you shifted the gradient selection up a bit, so the middle plane is in focus. And i've found that sometimes a bit of extra, manual selection can do a LOT for something like this. In this case, i'd make a gradient selection, and would also paint the middle plane, so it would stay unblurred.

As an example, below is one i did a few weeks ago, and in this case, i made the gradient selection, but also made sure the two people carrying the stroller remained unblurred.

Re: Times Square shrunk...

Posted: 13/04/2009 - 3:03
by leoni
Lots of trips to Legoland, Denmark :P :duh:

What a funny effect :)