The Tilt Shift : Make your Time Lapses More Creative

Mastering Time-Lapse Photography with Tilt-Shift Effects

Shooting time-lapse is a fun and engaging photography experience. A time-lapse image captures the movement of a scene at specific intervals, creating a dynamic visual effect. On the other hand, a time-lapse video can either be a sequence of these images or a regular video sped up to show the passage of time. Photographers use time-lapse video techniques to create stunning content that highlights changes over time. This technique is perfect for filming the movement of people, the construction of buildings, road traffic, or natural events such as sunsets. Numerous events and sceneries can be uniquely showcased through time-lapse photography.

To add more creativity to your timelapse video, you may consider adding a tilt shift effect to it. Tilt shift effects add a blurred mark on a certain area of the frame so that you can emphasize and focus on the subject of your image or video. Originally, a tilt shift camera lens was used to be able to control the depth and area of blur when shooting. These specialized lenses, however, are pricey and are more complicated to use. But you do not have to worry, because nowadays, tilt shift effects are already a part of many free editing software such as Adobe Photoshop.

You might be surprised learning that the video below depicts a real city and not some miniatures. It is in fact a tilt-shift video, an editing process giving a miniature (or “Lego”) effect to real sceneries.

We talked last time about flickering and how to avoid them in your time lapses. Now it’s time to go deeper into what can be done through time-lapse with the tilt-shift.

What exactly is a tilt-shift?

First, let’s talk about how tilt-shift was born.

It was initially aimed to shot large buildings with process cameras using a tilt-shift lens (the word “tilt-shift” basically derives from these lenses). Indeed, it was perfect to avoid perspective deformations.

Nowadays, the tilt-shift is widely known as an aesthetic way of shooting pictures or videos of a landscape. Technically, it is a blur applied to specific areas of an image/video. The good part of it is that it is now pretty easy to make its own tilt-shift time-lapses!

How tilt-shift lenses work?

Most of the tilt-shift videos are combined to time-lapse. You can find a lot of them, showing big cities all around the world : Singapore, Toronto, Chicago, Melbourne. They are all becoming miniature models for the time of a picture… Sometimes it is a whole country turning into a legos scenery, such as Albania. The trickiest part of these videos is to get the right field of view. It is indeed compulsory to have a top view of what you want to shoot !

Tilt Functionality

The Tilt feature adjusts the focus plane by angling the lens relative to the camera sensor. This change allows you to control the depth of field, either enhancing sharpness across the scene or creating selective focus with a soft blur around key areas. This capability, rooted in the Scheimpflug principle, is especially useful for achieving creative effects like making real-life scenes appear as miniature models.

Shift Functionality

The Shift function alters the image’s perspective by moving the lens vertically or horizontally. This adjustment lets you recompose the scene without moving the camera, ideal for capturing panoramic views or maintaining straight lines in architectural photography. Similar to how Enlaps' Tikee cameras offer advanced control in time-lapse photography, this feature ensures precision and flexibility in capturing large-scale scenes.

Then, it is easy to turn your regular video into a tilt-shift thanks to video editing software, such as Adobe Premiere, Final Cut, Adobe After Effect or even Photoshop!

More than that, specific lenses (we talked about it above) called tilt-shift lenses makes tilt-shift easier to shoot. They are sadly dedicated to professionals (like architects) due to their price.

How to Use Tilt-Shift Lenses - Tilt-Shift Examples

Tilt-shift lenses are versatile tools in a photographer's arsenal, offering creative control over focus and perspective. Below are some examples of how this unique lens type can be used effectively.

Portrait Tilt-Shift Photography

In portrait photography, tilt-shift lenses allow photographers to achieve a selective focus effect, where the subject is sharply in focus while the background is artistically blurred. This technique can be used to draw attention to specific features of the subject, creating a dreamy, ethereal quality that traditional lenses struggle to replicate. The precision of focus control, similar to what Enlaps cameras offer in time-lapse photography, makes these lenses ideal for artistic and commercial portrait work.

Landscape Tilt-Shift Photography

When shooting landscapes, tilt-shift lenses excel by keeping the entire scene in sharp focus, from the foreground to the horizon. By adjusting the tilt, photographers can enhance the depth of field, making every element of the landscape crisp and detailed. This is especially valuable for expansive scenes where you want to capture both near and far objects with equal clarity, much like the panoramic capabilities of Enlaps' Tikee cameras in wide-scale project monitoring.

Timelapse Tilt-Shift

Tilt-shift photography can add a unique dimension to time-lapse videos by creating the appearance of miniature scenes. By selectively focusing on key areas and blurring the rest, tilt-shift time-lapse captures can transform bustling cityscapes or construction sites into what appears to be a miniature model world. This creative approach, when combined with time-lapse, as done by Enlaps' technology, results in captivating content that draws viewers into an almost surreal experience.

Tips for a perfect tilt-shift shot?

Here are some tips to prepare your shooting of photos that you will use to realize the tilt-shift timelapse video.

The photo has to be far enough from the target;

1. Not too much deep of field, otherwise it will be necessary to crop the photos;

2. If possible, photos should be taken from above to get a bird’s eye view;

3. The environment has to be consistent, without significant contrast.

Then there are two solutions:

1. Applying the tilt-shift effect on each photo of your timelapse using photo editing software (Photoshop, for example). This can quickly become tedious.

2. Or giving a tilt-shift effect to your pre-edited timelapse movie, using video editing tools (After Effects, for example).
   A little tip when you are editing your video: improve contrast and saturation (to make colors more vivid), that will enhance the “mock-up” effect – as they are often very bright and colored.

Willing to go further?

Rob & Jonas’ Filmmaking Tips have made an interesting and complete video dealing with tilt-shift. Full of advices and example, it is a must-see!

Creating Tilt Shift with Photoshop

Even if your video came out just like a regular one, adding a tilt shift effect to produce a miniature perspective is very possible. Here are some tips on how to do it :

1. Import your footage

If it is not yet a time-lapse, then edit it first by speeding it up. Right-click the video layer and select “Time” on the options, then “Time Stretch” next. Enter a lower percentage to make the footage faster. The lower the percentage, the faster the clip will be. Pre-compose it and apply “Posterize Time” (still under Time Stretch) by selecting a frame rate to finally make it a time-lapse. If your footage was originally already a timelapse, then just pre-compose the layer. It is also advisable to rename the precomposed layer for better identification in the process.

1. Proceed to the Blur Map

This is the layer where you have control of the blurring effect. You decide what shape, type of pattern, and depth of blurriness you wish to have. Overall, these elements make up the gradient of your layer. There are various ways to edit the gradient :

• Mask Effect

Make an adjustment layer from the “New” tab and place it on top of the precomposed timelapse. Insert a camera lens blur effect on this layer. Create a new pre-composed white solid and draw a rectangular mask across its center. You can move the parallel lines of the rectangle to adjust its width. Invert the mask and feather it to a certain number of pixels. 100 pixels will do. Go back to the adjustment layers and check its effect controls. From there, apply the blur radius and change it to at least 30, or according to your preference as seen on the changes of the clip. You can also change the shape of your blurring effect on this part. 

• Light-sweep Effect

For this one, you create a new black solid layer and put it on top of the precomposed timelapse. Click on the “light-sweep effect” and once applied to the solid you can adjust it accordingly, such as how you want to angle it. Adjust to how wide you want it to be, how many degrees of angle, and how much sweep intensity you want. The white area in the middle that is shown while you are adjusting is the part of the footage that has the focal point. Pre-compose the layers.

Explore the effects of the options and adjust them according to your own perspective. You will be able to see the changes directly, so do not be afraid of adjusting until you see how you want it to look. But pro-tips to better emphasize your focal points are to angle a small field depth to the subject and avoid a focal plane that is too wide.

1. Export Your Tilt Shift Time Lapse

Replay and view your video after edit and once you are satisfied, then you can now export it. Choose the frame size you want and pick a high-resolution quality that is best. Click “Export” and wait for it to finish and be exported to your computer files.

Tilt Shift via Camera Lens

As mentioned earlier, cameras can be partnered with specialized camera lenses so the field of focus can be applied directly while shooting. Tilt shift happens when photographers tilt their lenses because it alters the lens plane angle and changes the focus. So basically, you just have to control the tilting of the lens, adjust focus, and when you see the image you want, then click the shutter button.

Tips When Shooting

1. Further your distance to capture a wide field of area. Shoot at a parallel plane.

2. It is best if your subject is small to achieve a great miniature effect.

3. Zoom the lens for a longer focal length.

4. A moving subject is best especially with time lapse so that people will appreciate the quick movement when they view the footage.

5. Make the color vibrant so that it will be appealing when you post it.

Whether you use an iPhone or a DSLR camera, being creative and passionate is key to mastering time-lapse photography. Explore your camera settings and experiment with different effects to elevate your work.

What Is a Tilt-Shift Lens Good For?

Tilt-shift lenses are ideal for scenarios where control over focus and perspective is critical. They are commonly used in architectural photography to correct converging lines in tall buildings, in landscape photography to enhance depth of field, and in creative photography to produce selective focus effects. The ability to manipulate focus and perspective directly in-camera makes these lenses a powerful tool for both professionals and enthusiasts who seek a higher level of control over their images.

What Are the Disadvantages of a Tilt-Shift Lens?

Despite their versatility, tilt-shift lenses come with a few disadvantages. They are often manual-focus only, which can be challenging for photographers accustomed to autofocus. The lens movements also require a solid understanding of how tilt and shift affect the image, which can involve a steep learning curve. Additionally, the lens's specialized nature means it may not be as versatile as a standard lens for everyday photography, making it a niche tool in a photographer's kit.

Why Are Tilt-Shift Lenses So Expensive?

Tilt-shift lenses are expensive due to the complex optical engineering required to produce them. The precise movements of the tilt and shift mechanisms demand high-quality materials and meticulous construction. Additionally, these lenses are often produced in smaller quantities than standard lenses, further driving up the cost. The investment, however, is justified by the unparalleled creative control they offer, akin to the advanced capabilities found in specialized equipment like Enlaps' Tikee cameras, which are designed for high-performance imaging in professional settings.

Recommended Tool:

• Enlaps' Tikee Camera: For high-quality time-lapse photography, consider using Enlaps' Tikee camera. It offers advanced features for capturing detailed time-lapses and ensuring your project milestone videos are professional and engaging.

  
  

  Visit Enlaps for more information.