Friday, April 13, 2012

Photo Fun: Tilt Shift

Before our trip, B brought home an iPad, thinking it would be super helpful and much more portable than the laptop for web searches, photo management, keeping in touch with email...etc. He was so right! I downloaded the new Photoshop app PSTouch hoping to work through a few tutorials while on the trip. That didn't happen. However, a certain someone else monopolized the iPad and got rather good at manipulating photos - how is it that the 15 year old brain can just soak this stuff up?

With T's permission, here are some of his creations. First, a 'mash-up' of some of his fav Paris things, made by isolating images, then pasting them into a collage:

Tate show-18

Here's my favourite special effect: Tilt Shift. With the right photo taken from a high angle, you can create the super-cool illusion of a miniature model. Including tiny Lilliputian people, cars and trees.

This mediocre picture, a view from the Arc de Triomphe on a cloudy day...

View, Arc de Triomphe

....became this:

Tate show-0

And this shot of the main hall at Musee D'Orsay (I know that photography wasn't allowed, but everyone else was taking pictures from the observation balcony, so I did too).

Musee D'Orsay main hall

....became this:

Tate show-1

I haven't tried it yet myself, but there's a simple tute here, and if you don't have Photoshop, a "tilt-shift your photo" website here. I'm hoping there is a little corner of my 44.5 year old brain available to learn how it's done, because I think it's so much fun. I've actually signed up for a 3 part Photoshop class (6 hours of instruction) at the same tech school that offered a complimentary DSLR lesson with my camera purchase (see how marketing works? Attend a 2 hour free class and sign up for a $$ Photoshop course before you leave! haha). I just know if I don't go to the class, I'll never take the time to sit down and learn what the software can do for me and my pictures.  I didn't think I'd be into digital photo manipulation, but I love what T did to those images and I want to try some cool stuff, too!

17 comments:

Ariane said...

That is so cool!! I love his photo work!! Looks great!!

Katy Cameron said...

I love tilt and shift stuff. I have a friend with a tilt and shift lens for his DSLR, and he has some seriously cool 'toy town' images!

Mrs Flying Blind... said...

Hats off to T!

Katie B said...

Really cool! I love the miniature effect!

Jo Ann said...

T has mad skills learning how to create those Mini France pics. I suspect a tech savy gal such as yourself should pick it up fast.

monika@mysweetprairie.ca said...

Good for you! What a great opportunity. All I do is macro, and change contrast. lol Go for it! : )

Susan said...

What a fabulous effect you get from the manipulations! I should really learn how to do that! I love that man in your first photo (top left). We ate in that square a number of times we were in Paris in 2010 and 2011! There was always something happening!

Leanne said...

More great photos! I love the collage and the other effects.

Happy Zombie said...

Those are freaking awesome!!

Chez Roo said...

I love tilt shift! I didn't know you could do it in photoshop (I know,you can do everything in photoshop), I have an app for it on my iPhone. They're so cool, and cute!

**nicke... said...

so awesome krista! it makes me want an ipad even more than i already do, i didn't think it was possible! ;)

Lynne (Lily's Quilts) said...

That Musee d'Orsay one is amazing. I wish my kids would leanr photoshop for me so I can do cool stuff like that. Have you tried Touchdraw yet? You know, the one I am completely totally and utterly hooked on beyond all rhyme or reason?!

Kirsty @ Bonjour Quilts said...

Awesome stuff, I love the tilt-shift, it always reminds me of Thomas the Tankengine program sets. Good job on signing up for a photoshop course, I'd love to do one too. The program has so many features it would be great to have someone guide you though. I know I probably only use about 15% of what it can do.

PinkGranny said...

Wonderful pictures! I can tell you had fun....with your creative nature how could you not have fun with such great subject matter! Can't wait to see more.

kathy said...

We are off to Sweden & Finland this summer and I plan on getting an Ipad also. I am glad to hear that it worked for you.
Two years ago, while on an Ireland trip, I was thinking about how useful an ipad would have been. Some hotels had wifi and even a free computer for guest's use. However, when they only had the 10 euro per half-hour computers that did not work well, the ipad would have been easier to utilize.
The reason I am asking is I have never done an organized tour in my life and usually travel by the seat of local recommendations.

Did it get heavy? lugging it around? or did you leave it in the hotel?
Curious about the weight issues.

Dianne said...

Oh those young minds, they sop stuff up like sponges! T did a great job of his photo collage the the teeny tiny people. Can't imagine how great your photos will be AFTER a class!

Andrea C said...

Very cool!