AI Illustration Concepts | Practice: Drawing as a Miniature | Tilt-Shift Lens

I tried drawing with a tilt-shift lens.
I kept the subject fixed as a 'cityscape viewed from a high vantage point' and placed a tilt-shift version side-by-side with a normal bird's-eye view.

🎨 Image 1: Applying tilt-shift

I started by trying out the tilt-shift effect.

My intention was to 'make the cityscape look like a miniature.' I blurred the top and bottom, focusing only on a central band.

Intent note: Focus only on the central band of buildings. Blur the top and bottom to create a miniature feel.

1:1 aspect ratio, tilt-shift lens, miniature effect, aerial view of a small town, selective focus horizontal band, blurred top and bottom, toy-like, warm afternoon light

The result was an image where the central row of buildings was in focus, while the sky above and the ground below were blurred.

It looked like a diorama. The buildings looked like toys, the colors were vivid, and the 'feeling that this is not a real city' came across well. After looking at it several times, I started to lose track of whether it was a real photograph or an AI-generated image.

However, because the top and bottom are blurred, it is difficult to grasp the overall picture of the city.

🎨 Image 2: Viewing with a normal bird's-eye view

I drew the same subject using a normal bird's-eye view.

I did not change my intention. Same city, same time of day. No tilt-shift applied.

Intent note: View the same city from a bird's-eye perspective with everything in focus.

1:1 aspect ratio, aerial view, bird's eye view, small town, natural perspective, full focus, warm afternoon light

The result was an image where the entire city is clearly visible.

The layout of the buildings and the shape of the roads are all visible. However, it also looked like 'just a map.' I felt like there wasnowhere for the eyes to restwhile looking at it.

🎨 Comparing the two images

When placing the two images side-by-side, the one with the tilt-shift effect was the one that 'made me want to look at it.'

Even though there is less information, my eyes are drawn to it. Precisely because there are blurred parts, my eyes are directed toward the parts that are in focus.

When I tried to place a dog in a miniature city, only the dog ended up looking strangely realistic.

Oh well, that's fine.

Afterword

Thank you for reading this far.

I previously wrote an article about the bird's-eye view perspective.

I wonder if combining these techniques makes them even more effective?
Perhaps there are even better combinations out there?

Please feel free to make use of these ideas.

It would encourage me if you could follow or like this post!
I look forward to your continued support!