Cool Diorama Photo Look Trick

[eskimo2]

I’d read about this effect and thought that I’d give it a try.  Just blur the foreground and background of a picture to make it look like it has a short depth of field and it gives it a diorama feel:



(Achieved with 5 layers)

The original picture:




This was my first try at it earlier tonight:



(Achieved with 3 layers)

from xrtoronto's original picture in his thread:

[Leslie]

That is very interesting.  The effect does look like a diorama with little models placed about.   Do you have a scientific explanation  for the effect?  It's pretty cool looking.



Les

[ujustdied]

hehe that looks really cool. i have never seen that before.

[Holden McGroin]

[head scratch]while the effect looks cool, the original reason for a diorama is to be as close to realistic as possible with a simulation... and now we want to take a photo of a real place and make it look like the simulation....[/head scratch]

[Leslie]

Is the effect the same printed on paper I wonder.  If it is, it could make great backgrounds for actual dioramas.  Or even as a study beforehand to get an idea of what a diorama will look like when it's finished.



Les

[zorstorer]

Originally posted by Leslie
That is very interesting.  The effect does look like a diorama with little models placed about.   Do you have a scientific explanation  for the effect?  It's pretty cool looking.



Les

Isn't it due to focal length?  Much easier to get long distance shots in focus, but the short range on the diorama forces some parts out of focus.  At least it sounds good to me at 2 am

[DiabloTX]

Originally posted by Holden McGroin
[head scratch]while the effect looks cool, the original reason for a diorama is to be as close to realistic as possible with a simulation... and now we want to take a photo of a real place and make it look like the simulation....[/head scratch]

I had the same thoughts about building up ricers.  In fact, I still do.

[Nilsen]

Very cool effect eskimo! I actually thought it was a diorama at first.

[eskimo2]

Holden McGroin – LOL, Fantastic Response!

Zorstorer – Yes, that is pretty much it.  I think our eyes do the same thing.  I asked my 7 year old daughter to look at the picture of the model boats; she was convinced it was a model.  I know that she does not have enough experience looking at pictures of models and dioramas to have developed a mindset that short depth of field comes from close up pictures of small things…   She had to have developed this idea naturally by looking at real world things up close.

[AKH]

Originally posted by Holden McGroin
[head scratch]while the effect looks cool, the original reason for a diorama is to be as close to realistic as possible with a simulation... and now we want to take a photo of a real place and make it look like the simulation....[/head scratch]

Well, I'm going to use this technique in my next book "Advanced Modelling Techniques"

[AKH]

Originally posted by Leslie
That is very interesting.  The effect does look like a diorama with little models placed about.   Do you have a scientific explanation  for the effect?  It's pretty cool looking.



Les

In the original post: "short depth of field."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Depth_of_field

[Sundowner]

Originally posted by AKH
Well, I'm going to use this technique in my next book "Advanced Modelling Techniques"

I think Anna Nicole Smith already has a book out under that title.

Regards
Sun

[Hornet33]

Where was the harbor photo taken??? Looks like Cordova AK when I was up there in May.

[AKH]

[eskimo2]

Originally posted by Hornet33
Where was the harbor photo taken??? Looks like Cordova AK when I was up there in May.

You were?!  Why?  I was born in Cordova; left when I was a baby.  My father was the minister of the Baptist Church from about 1962 to 1966.  My family was there during the Good Friday Earthquake of 1964 (9.5 Moment Magnitude) I’ve only been back once or twice.

This picture was taken in Homer Alaska this past summer.