Why does a long-exposure photo with blurred trees look like a miniature scene?
Asked 6/3/2012
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2 answers
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I made a 1-minute exposure through a 9-stop ND filter from an upstairs window using a 24mm lens on a Canon APS-C camera at f/22, ISO 100. The effect I wanted was blurred trees with sharp buildings, and I got that—but the image also has an unwanted “miniature” or tilt-shift look.
The trees in front of and behind the main buildings are motion-blurred, while the buildings remain sharp, and even some distant buildings are still in focus. Why does that combination create the miniature effect, and what can I do to avoid it while still using long exposures?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
14y ago
2 Answers
7
I think your first thought is correct. The "tilt/shift" (really just tilt in most cases) miniature model look is mostly to do with extremely shallow depth of field. In this case the most interesting building (to my eye) is the one in the bottom left which has blurred trees in front and behind giving the impression of very shallow depth of field.
The other buildings are sharp, but they only partially break the effect if you allow your eye to wander around the frame.
The other things often associated with miniature models are high saturation and contrast. Whilst this photo doesn't look overly saturated or contrasty, the effect of the highly detailed red/orange roof against the green trees may be contributing to the look a little too.
Originally by user3521. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user3521
14y ago
0
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The “miniature” look is mainly coming from a false shallow-depth-of-field cue. In your image, the buildings stay sharp while the trees in front of and behind them are blurred by wind during the long exposure. Our eyes read that foreground/background blur much like the very thin DOF often used to fake miniature scenes.
So even though your actual depth of field is deep at 24mm and f/22, the motion blur is acting like selective focus.
To reduce the effect:
- Reduce wind-driven blur in the trees by using a shorter exposure if possible.
- Change the composition so there’s less blurred foliage both in front of and behind the subject.
- If you want to break the miniature illusion more strongly, let distant background elements go out of focus too, rather than keeping everything beyond the subject sharp.
- Also avoid strong color/contrast combinations that can enhance the model-like impression.
In short: the shot looks miniature because motion blur in the trees mimics shallow DOF, especially around the sharp building.
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