DIY tilt-shift photography

Tilt-shift photography uses special lenses to change the perspective and tos.org/faking-depth-of-field/">depth of field; the lens is both tilted and shifted according to the Scheimpflug principle. [more] A popular use of tilt-shift photography is for minature faking, making a “real” scene look as if it’s an artificial minature model. [tography.net/">more] [tography/">50 examples]

There are methods for digital software as well as homemade devices and mods for your camera.

Homemade tilt-shift projects

Captain nod's Plungercam 2 uses plumbing supplies and gives you the effect of a Lensbaby on the cheap ($25). [tos/captin_nod/3380908441/in/set-72157619127553773/">photo] [tos/captin_nod/3763460228/">test video]

Tilt-shift photography with the Gimp

There are techniques to do this with the Gimp and other open-source, free software tools. [discussion]

The results are tos/earth2marsh/109236489/">every bit as good as traditional, film-based tilt-shift. [tos/earth2marsh/sets/72057594078982967/">more]

Gimp tilt-shift tutorials:

• Gimparoo’s fake tilt-shift tutorial
• “A Better Fake Tilt-Shift With The Gimp.”
• Bart Busschotts’ Gimp tilt-shift photo experience and newer, more detailed instructions.
• A Photoshop tilt-shift tutorial that’s been rewritten and modified for the Gimp.

What does it look like when done? Here’s an example of one photographer’s attempt with Gimp.

For further reference

Flickr’s tilt-shift minature fakes pool.

A torials/fakemodel/">Photoshop tutorial for the fake model effect.

See the special tilt-shift lenses for Canon cameras stocked by Amazon.

Search google for more…