Tilt-shift is a type of photography wherein the subjects of the photo look like scale models. This is achieved by using tilt-shift lenses or by photo manipulation of the image (fake miniature) using a photo processing software like Photoshop. In tilt-shift miniature faking, the subject is shoot throughout the focal range. It means that the background, foreground and the middle are all in focus or almost near to it. After which the photo is edited in Photoshop or a similar software with some parts of the image selectively blurred to achieve the effect.
For those miniature photos taken with the use of tilt-shift lenses on the hand, the effect is the result of selective focusing. By rotating (tilting) the lens of the camera relative to the image plane, and the accompanying movement (shift) of the lens parallel to the image, you can control the appearance of some of the areas of your subject. Hence, some parts of our photo appear blurred while some are sharp.
In this article, we are sharing with you some amazing examples tilt-shift photography that you can use as inspiration. You can find here photos captured using tilt-shift lenses as well as those which are edited to achieve a fake miniature effect. In photography parlance, fake miniature effect cannot actually be called as tilt-shift photography as shift, is actually seldom involved in this technique and it has nothing to do with the effect produced. Nevertheless, we deem it necessary to include the fake miniature effect for the sake of differentiation and also to touch on the these two types of photography at once. Nevertheless, they have more or less the same visual effect. Take a look here and enjoy!
Mini-car racing
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Miniature effect achieved by tilt-shift photography. Photo used under Creative Commons from Michael Medrano
Real models
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Real models, a tilt-shift experiment. Photo used under Creative Commons from kennymatic
Urbano tilt-shift photography
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A well executed tilt-shift photography where the cars and buildings look like models. Photo used under Creative Commons from Catwomancristi
Palafitos Tilt Shift
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Houses on the riverbank are creatively manipulated to look like miniature models. Photo used under Creative Commons from Arcanta
Hoover Dam
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Hoover Dam in minature, Tilt-shift experiment. Photo used under Creative Commons from Karl Randay
Tilt-shift
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Tilt-shift effect achieved by means of Photoshop. Notice how giant heavy equipment are scaled down to look like models. Photo used under Creative Commons from Daniel Slaughter
Dysart Harbour Tilt shift
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Dysart, a small harbor on the fife coast Scotland under tilt-shift. Photo used under Creative Commons from gordon2208
Piazza del Duomo
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Piazza del Duomo, Milan. Photo used under Creative Commons from Bjørn Giesenbauer
Aduana, Valparaiso Tilt Shift
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Taken on a busy port in Aduna, Valparaiso, Chile. Photo used under Creative Commons from Arcanta
King Street Tilt Shift
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King Street in downtown Kingston using Tilt Shift to create a miniature effect. Photo used under Creative Commons from skevbo
Wild Island Tilt Shift
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A tilt-shift photo featuring miniature people effect. Photo used under Creative Commons from richtpt
New York Tilt-shift
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Ever seen how buildings of New York reduced into scale models? Check this photo above to see. Photo used under Creative Commons from L.C.Nøttaasen
Little game
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Little Game, tilt-shift photography. Photo used under Creative Commons from pattagon
Fake model, NC State Fair
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A tilt-shift photography that gives the effect of fake models taken at NC State Fair. Photo used under Creative Commons from bunchofpants
Tilt-shift photography
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Miniature people. Photo used under Creative Commons from FabianOrtiz »
Tilt-shift Market Street
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Image of Market Street with a tilt-shift effect edited using Photoshop. Note the appearance of the photo that looks like a toy town. Photo used under Creative Commons from Reven.
Temuco Tilt Shift
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Tilt-shift photo created out of the picture of the city of Temuco in Chile. Photo used under Creative Commons from Claudio ©
Tilt-shift photography
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Notice the toy-like effect of Tilt-shift on the boats in this image. Photo used under Creative Commons from LetoCarvalho
Brosundet
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This is a fake tilt-shift created out of the photo of the beautiful city of Brosundet in Norway. Photo used under Creative Commons from alfstorm
Tilt-shift
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Tilt-shift photo of a park in Barcelona Spain. Photo used under Creative Commons from alemaner
San Francisco Morning HDR
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San Francisco Morning HDR Tilt Shift Miniature. Photo used under Creative Commons from mtlockca
Tilt Shift
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Tilt-shift photo of a beach. Photo used under Creative Commons from Fabio Luiz A. Silva
Tilt-shift Photography
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Tilt-shift photo of a city. Photo used under Creative Commons from Mosquito0815
Tilt-shift Photography
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Miniature effect on the trees using tilt-shift. Photo used under Creative Commons from Daniel Espirito Santo
Marble mausoleum. Agra, India
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Tilt-shift photo of Taj Mahal. Photo used under Creative Commons from Jennifer Emick
Ants, Dubai
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Tilt-shift photography of construction workers. Photo used under Creative Commons from Sascha Kuntze
Minimize Lisbon
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This tilt-shift photo was taken in Lisbon, Portugal. Photo used under Creative Commons from Daniel Espirito Santo
Tilt Shift Photography
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Amazing tilt-shift photography of a famous building. Photo used under Creative Commons from Robert McLaughlin
It’s a small world- Tilt-Thift Photography
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Tilt-shift photography of Niagara Falls. Photo used under Creative Commons from Sascha Kuntze
Aerial Photograph of a pier in Santa Monica California
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Photos taken through a tilt-shift lens making the world look like a toy. Photo used under Creative Commons from Deniz Hotamisligil
Tilt-Shift Photography Resources and Tutorials
- Tilt Shift Photoshop Tutorial: How to Make Fake Miniature Scenes by Visual Photo Guide
- Do-It-Yourself Tutorial: Tilt-Shift Lens
- Focusing the Tilt-Shift Lens
- How to Make Fake Miniature Scenes
- Step into the world of miniature with David Clapp


