# Odd Looking Filming **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 21, 2022, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-looking-filming/968325 "2022-07-21T14:27:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![TRC4941](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trc4941/32/6792_2.png) [@TRC4941](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TRC4941)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2022, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-looking-filming/968325/1 "2022-07-21T14:27:51Z")
That’s a stupid topic title, but I can’t think of another way to say it. I don’t even know if I can explain it here. I’ve noticed this on two shows - Dateline & The Lincoln Lawyer. When they show a city from above it looks like a fake city - almost like a city set up for a model train. The trees look artificial and the cars look like toys. The picture also looks brighter and crisper. As they zoom in, then I can see it is real. Has anyone else noticed this? ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2022, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-looking-filming/968325/2 "2022-07-21T14:30:57Z")
I’ve not seen it, but it sounds like a tilt-shift effect. ---
**Author:** ![Pork\_Rind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pork_rind/32/111_2.png) [@Pork\_Rind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pork_Rind)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2022, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-looking-filming/968325/3 "2022-07-21T14:39:17Z")
I agree. I do tilt-shift photography with my 4x5 occasionally - it’s a fun effect to play with. Here’s an overview… > **[Tilt-shift photography - Adobe](https://www.adobe.com/creativecloud/photography/discover/tilt-shift-photography.html)** > > Discover the world of tilt-shift photography, learn how to use lenses to achieve unique shots, and hear from experts on how to hone your technique. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2022, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-looking-filming/968325/4 "2022-07-21T14:47:24Z")
> [@Pork\_Rind](#): > > Here’s an overview… That is trippy. I can’t get over this picture, it looks so much like a model: [![](https://cc-prod.scene7.com/is/image/CCProdAuthor/tilt-shift-photography_P1_900x420?$pjpeg$&jpegSize=200&wid=900) ](https://cc-prod.scene7.com/is/image/CCProdAuthor/tilt-shift-photography_P1_900x420?$pjpeg$&jpegSize=200&wid=900) ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2022, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-looking-filming/968325/5 "2022-07-21T14:47:26Z")
I have also seen video effects in monitors and cable boxes that are supposed to enhance viewing of different formats like music, sports, games, and vivid mode that may make some images look odd. I’ve noticed this particularly where the video mode is enhancing edges and colors, and sometimes sports mode looks weird. I think the tilt-shift effect best matches the OP’s description, but if not that then possibly some video viewing mode is having an effect. ---
**Author:** ![JohnGalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johngalt/32/184_2.png) [@JohnGalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnGalt)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2022, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-looking-filming/968325/6 "2022-07-21T17:30:20Z")
The opening sequence of Colbert’s _Late Show_ is like that. The street scene of New York looks like toys or closeups of a model railroad layout. ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2022, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-looking-filming/968325/7 "2022-07-22T13:34:01Z")
There are Apps for your phone/tablet that let you do that effect to photos you’ve taken. Search your app store for “Tilt Shift” ---
**Author:** ![Turek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/turek/32/18782_2.png) [@Turek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turek)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2022, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-looking-filming/968325/8 "2022-07-22T14:41:40Z")
The “tilt-shift” effect is just simulating a very shallow depth of field. When there’s a shallow DOF on a wide angle picture (like a landscape or cityscape), you’re brain interprets it as “this is an image of something small”. You can do it with a tilt-shift lens, or simulate it in software. It’s pretty easy to do in Photoshop. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2022, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-looking-filming/968325/9 "2022-07-22T14:57:19Z")
Increasing the color saturation and contrast enhances the effect. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2022, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-looking-filming/968325/10 "2022-07-22T15:24:34Z")
I think that could be happening when the technique is used. It generally reduces the area of a 2D image. The coloring in that area from real life pictures has to be changed in some manner. Since there is a reduction in the amount of information that can be presented it’s not surprising to see a lack of detail result in producing the flat unvarying colors we readily detect as coming from an artificial image like a cartoon drawing instead of a photograph. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2022, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-looking-filming/968325/11 "2022-07-22T17:46:56Z")
> [@GaryM](#): > > There are Apps for your phone/tablet that let you do that effect to photos you’ve taken. This is one of the first and best plug-ins: > **[Review: Alien Skin Bokeh | CreativePro Network](https://creativepro.com/review-alien-skin-bokeh/)** > > Pros: Accurately simulates shallow depth of field. Gives much greater control over highlight appearance and apparent depth than Photoshop alone. Plug-in's sliders are simple enough that moving beyond the presets is very easy. Con: $199 price is too... ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2022, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-looking-filming/968325/12 "2022-07-22T18:29:04Z")
There was a commerical a number of years ago that used this affect. I remember discussion of the technique at that time. It seemed to be used quite a bit for a little while until it lost its appeal as something odd or different. People are going back to it? ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2022, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-looking-filming/968325/13 "2022-07-23T00:05:45Z")
> [@carrps](#): > > People are going back to it? It seems to be that when something new is discovered and becomes a design trend, it gets overused, pushed to the edge of sanity, is briefly abandoned entirely, then, after a gap, makes a comeback by being used judiciously and appropriately. See also things like the teal and orange colour grade, shaky cam, and HDR photoshop filters. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2022, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-looking-filming/968325/14 "2022-07-23T02:08:16Z")
And dumb old Mr. Rogers went to all the trouble of building a model… ---
**Author:** ![TRC4941](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trc4941/32/6792_2.png) [@TRC4941](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TRC4941)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2022, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-looking-filming/968325/15 "2022-07-25T14:34:42Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > > [@Pork\_Rind](#): > > > > Here’s an overview… > > That is trippy. I can’t get over this picture, it looks so much like a model: > > [https://cc-prod.scene7.com/is/image/CCProdAuthor/tilt-shift-photography\_P1\_900x420?$pjpeg$&jpegSize=200&wid=900](https://cc-prod.scene7.com/is/image/CCProdAuthor/tilt-shift-photography_P1_900x420?$pjpeg$&jpegSize=200&wid=900) That’s it exactly! Well, now I know! Thanks, everyone for your input. Although, you have my head spinning with the details of how it’s done. I’ll leave it to the pros.