Tilt Shift: I am not at all familiar with tilt shift and do not understand the concept. I see that there are lens dedicated to this function. Also, software that can preform this...

itsbill Loc: Tavares, Florida

I am not at all familiar with tilt shift and do not understand the concept. I see that there are lens dedicated to this function. Also, software that can preform this function. I have looked at photos that are reputed to be tilt shift and see no difference of any other photos except they all seem to be shot from an elevated position. I would appreciate any explanation in layman terms. Thanks - Bill

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

itsbill wrote:

I am not at all familiar with tilt shift and do not understand the concept. I see that there are lens dedicated to this function. Also, software that can preform this function. I have looked at photos that are reputed to be tilt shift and see no difference of any other photos except they all seem to be shot from an elevated position. I would appreciate any explanation in layman terms. Thanks - Bill

Among other things a T/S lens allows you to keep the sensor surface parallel to the surface of a building. The result is that the lines of the building remain parallel instead of skewing inward as it does up. They also allow you to control the line of the DOF so that you do some interesting things.

Google tilt shift and look at images.

JohnSwanda Loc: San Francisco

itsbill wrote:

I am not at all familiar with tilt shift and do not understand the concept. I see that there are lens dedicated to this function. Also, software that can preform this function. I have looked at photos that are reputed to be tilt shift and see no difference of any other photos except they all seem to be shot from an elevated position. I would appreciate any explanation in layman terms. Thanks - Bill

When we view tall buildings from ground level, they converge like railroad tracks converge as the see them. Our minds apparently correct for this and we perceive them as parallel. But photographing them the convergence becomes obvious. View cameras have tilting and shifting lens boards which can correct for this. There are also small format lenses which have this function. They can be expensive and are probably only cost effective for professionals. But many post processing software programs also have the ability to correct this. But you must leave space around the buildings because you will have to crop the tilted sides of the image.

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

dsmeltz wrote:

Among other things a T/S lens allows you to keep the sensor surface parallel to the surface of a building. The result is that the lines of the building remain parallel instead of skewing inward as it does up. They also allow you to control the line of the DOF so that you do some interesting things.

Google tilt shift and look at images.

Railroad tracks converge as they go into the horizontal distance. Why shouldn't buildings converge as they go into the vertical distance??

Hank Radt

I've found I prefer to shoot with standard lenses and then decide whether to deal with the convergence in the software. In some cases, I adjust, using the keystoning function; in others, I prefer the effect of the convergence, depending on the subject. But at least this way I have the choice.

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

rehess wrote:

Railroad tracks converge as they go into the horizontal distance. Why shouldn't buildings converge as they go into the vertical distance??

Ask architectural photographers why they like it that way. I was just answering the OP's question.

Hank Radt

dsmeltz wrote:

Ask architectural photographers why they like it that way. I was just answering the OP's question.

That makes sense.

Rich1939 Loc: Pike County Penna.

rehess wrote:

Railroad tracks converge as they go into the horizontal distance. Why shouldn't buildings converge as they go into the vertical distance??

Only speaking for myself, the buildings look like they are going to fall over backwards.

The cliche' railroad track into the distance shot has ground under it to give visual support so it just looks like it tapers. and yes I have some cliches in my files.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

rehess wrote:

Railroad tracks converge as they go into the horizontal distance. Why shouldn't buildings converge as they go into the vertical distance??

because people don't stand with their eyes 4 -5 ft away from the buildings as you would with railroad tracks. Perceptually with our "normal focal length vision" we see only mild convergence. And in similar fashion if you shot the building at a distance where you could "get it all in" with a 50-80mm lens, there would be little, if any convergence. But many shoot with ultra wides and are surprised when they see their buildings and trees leaning back.

mallen1330 Loc: Chicago western suburbs

rehess wrote:

Railroad tracks converge as they go into the horizontal distance. Why shouldn't buildings converge as they go into the vertical distance??

Architectural and real estate photographers try to keep the vertical lines vertical - especially for building interiors. Crooked or converging walls are disorienting and distracting. Our brains filter out the converging verticals that photos cannot. Try this experiment: In your room, tilt your head up toward the ceiling. Note that the verticals still seem to be vertical and parallel. If you do the same with your camera, the resulting image will show the convergence. It's the same with horizontals. Tilt your head to the side. The horizon or the floor and ceiling still appear level, but not in a photo with tilted camera. However, we DO see horizontal perspective convergence (railroad tracks), so this effect in photos is not disorienting.

JohnSwanda Loc: San Francisco

Gene51 wrote:

because people don't stand with their eyes 4 -5 ft away from the buildings as you would with railroad tracks. Perceptually with our "normal focal length vision" we see only mild convergence. And in similar fashion if you shot the building at a distance where you could "get it all in" with a 50-80mm lens, there would be little, if any convergence. But many shoot with ultra wides and are surprised when they see their buildings and trees leaning back.

Shooting tall buildings with a normal lens from ground level will show convergence. The only way to avoid all convergence with a non-tilting lens is to shoot from a vantage point half the height of the buildings.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

JohnSwanda wrote:

Shooting tall buildings with a normal lens from ground level will show convergence. The only way to avoid all convergence with a non-tilting lens is to shoot from a vantage point half the height of the buildings.

That's true but that's not the only way to keep a building straight without a T/S lens.
You can shoot with a wide angle, an angle wide enough to hold the camera level so the sensor is parallel to the building and still get the top of the building in the frame and the building will be straight.
It's best to use a high mp camera since 1/2 of the shot will be street and likely need a lot of cropping, depending on the result you are looking for!
You accomplish what a T/S does without tilting and shifting and standing on the ground.
SS

Thomas902 Loc: Washington DC

"...Architectural and real estate photographers try to keep the vertical lines vertical - especially for building interiors..." mallen1330 speaks with tenured wisdom here... Much of my revenue stream comes from gigs as a lighting assistant for commercial "Architectural" shooters in my market...

Here post processing "fixes" are not germane is as the client and/or their art director is on location and signs off on each deliverable...
Tilt-Shift is the time honored way this is accomplished in real-time... I also have colleagues who work commercially as "Food" photographers... They to are heavily dependent on Tilt-Shift optics to manage DOF issues inherent in this genre...

That said, unless you have compelling commercial reasons Tilt-Shift optics can be and usually are cost prohibitive for most hobbyist...

Hope this helps or is at least food for thought...
I wish your well on your journey Bill

Darkroom317 Loc: Mishawaka, IN

Here is a video with a fairly good explanation. Keep in mind while I posted a video that uses a view camera, as this is my point of reference for this technique, much of the information is still valuable when thinking about tilt and shift with DSLRs with specials lenses. Hope this helps with the principles of these techniques.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOkiHwHXOdg

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

itsbill wrote:

I am not at all familiar with tilt shift and do not understand the concept. I see that there are lens dedicated to this function. Also, software that can preform this function. I have looked at photos that are reputed to be tilt shift and see no difference of any other photos except they all seem to be shot from an elevated position. I would appreciate any explanation in layman terms. Thanks - Bill

Bottom line though, $$$. IF you don't need a T/S lens, you can't afford one. Rather a pro specialist tool. Might be able to find an entire used View Camera for less.