Still / Motion / Tilt-Shift

I blogged about Keith Loutit’s use of tilt-shift/time lapse photography back in October of 2008. He’s made some really cool, very unique videos. I still urge you to check them out.

In that post I also made a small (and by small I mean obvious and almost inconsequential) prediction about this technique seeing common use in the “commercial” world in the near future. Well here you go. And here. And here. And uh…here. Whether it was done optically or digitally – the result is the same. The still/motion line is blurring almost to the point of disappearing. A result that I’m personally very excited for.

Much has been made about the move from still to motion when it comes to digital photography. It’s certainly the most talked about photographic trend of the last 2-3 years. It’s almost impossible to buy a DSLR today that doesn’t have some video capability and many of them shoot hi-def. Check out forerunner Vincent Laforet’s gorgeous use of the Canon 5D MkII and 1D Mk IV here and here. Ironically he’s one of the industry’s best known practitioner’s of tilt-shift work as well. He’s nothing if not prolific and his blog demands to be on your reading list.

I’m pleased to see that the melding of these technologies has also resulted in film/commercial directors taking a page from the still playbook and using tilt-shift techniques to produce work meant for mass consumption. It serves as a great reminder for those video-hesitant still photographers, that we’re all essentially playing the same game – it’s up to you to determine what rules you’re going to play by.