Trick+Photography



Trick photography involves using different optical illusions, visual effects and special effects to create creative and sometimes mind boggling pictures. Some examples of popular trick photography techniques are forced perspective and long exposure. Some techniques require the use of props, or image editing, but some techniques can be pulled off with just the camera. Keep in mind that there are tons more different types of trick photography, I'm only going to talk about two of the popular methods. Most of these trick photography techniques were created through experimentation. Let your imagination run wild and start taking some tricky photos! (That sounded really, //really// cheesy...)

If you click on the image, you will be taken to the page where the image was found. Most of these pictures are from Flickr, so you'll be taken to the Flickr page of the image. :D

Forced Perspective
//Sometimes, it's all about the timing!//

Forced perspective is one of the more popular types of trick photography. It involves using optical illusions to make things seem closer or further way, or larger or smaller than they actually are. Usually, you only need a camera to take these kinds of shots, no Photoshop required. This is why people like it so much.

To do this, the object that is supposed to look closer or larger should be positioned closer to the camera. The object that's supposed to look smaller should be positioned further away from the camera

You can use anything as a prop. Seriously, anything!

In both of these images, the camera was upside down. In the first picture, it makes it look like the person is falling off the Earth. In the second picture, the two guys look like they're hanging on something in the sky.

You can also rotate the camera at different angles to capture gravity defying images. For example, if you turn the camera sideways, the wall becomes the ground and you can take pictures of people walking on buildings. Turning the camera upside down makes it look like the person is trying not to fall into the sky or they are stuck tot he ceiling. You can also turn the camera at other angles to make it look like a person is climbing up a wall towards the viewer. Check out [|sgoralnick]'s [|alternate reality gravity photoset] on Flickr for some examples of this.



Forced Perspective can also be used to make toys in photos look real. The toy is positioned closer to the camera so it looks larger than it is. A backdrop is then placed behind it and the lighting is positioned in specific ways to make the toy look more realistic. Action figures are usually used in this type of photo. Check out this website for tips and more examples of toy photography. Check out these websites for more examples of toy photography: click and click and click and click.

For more examples of Forced Perspective, click here!

Long Exposure
Long exposure is when you increase the length of time the film or the image sensor of a camera is exposed to light; making the shutter speed slower. A slower shutter speed catches more light (therefore more movement) and blurs those movements together. A faster shutter speed captures fewer movements and you end up with a cleaner, more crisp image.

As you can see from the image to the left, the slower shutter speed (1 second) captured more movements and they are all blurred together to create a smooth, softer looking waterfall. The faster shutter speed (1/800 second) captures fewer movements and you can each drop of water more clearly rather than a wall of water. . . . ..

Long exposure shots are generally used to take pictures at night to boost the brightness of the scene (having the shutter open longer catches more light). It can also be used to take more tranquil/dreamy looking images or more artsy looking pictures, particularly of moving water or moving lights.

To take long exposure shots, you will need a tripod. The camera can not be moved while taking long exposure shots, because bumping the camera will cause the camera to move and you will end up with an extremely blurry picture. Some photographers suggest using a remote control to control the shutter because pressing the button on the camera may cause the camera to move.

Another type of long exposure that you can try out is following a certain object that is moving by panning. This creates a blurry background with one sharp/clear focal point (assuming you did a really good job of panning).

For more examples of Long Exposure, click here!

Other Methods
As I said earlier, there are a lot of different tricks you can use while taking trick photos; too many to talk about on this page. So I've linked some other pages for you to check out if you're curious! (These methods usually require Photoshop or another image editing program.)

Transparent Screen Trick: [|click] and [|click] HDR (High Dynamic Range): [|click]

Tilt-shift: click and [|click]

Lomo Photography: [|click]

Infrared: [|click]

Multiplicity: [|click] and [|click]

Floating People/Objects: [|click]

For other tricks, check out this website: [|click]

References:
@http://www.thephotoargus.com/inspiration/28-mind-bending-examples-of-optical-illusion-photography/

@http://www.photoshopcafe.com/tutorials/HDR_ps/hdr-ps.htm

@http://www.lightstalking.com/20-special-effects-photography-tutorials

@http://www.smashandpeas.com/tilt-shift-photography-tutorial-showcase/

@http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_effect

@http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forced_perspective

@http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shutter_speed

@http://photoextremist.com/

@http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/how-to/tips/how-to-trick-photography

@http://tutorialpulse.com/photoshop-tutorials/lomo/

@http://www.designzzz.com/forced-perspective-pictures/

@http://www.brighthub.com/multimedia/photography/articles/854.aspx

@http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2010/08/07/beautiful-examples-of-transparent-screen-trick-photos/

[]

@http://trick-photography.org/

@http://themesbank.com/blog/2011/10/01/awesome-trick-photography-examples/

@http://www.instantshift.com/2010/08/24/88-brilliant-examples-of-forced-perspective-photography/

@http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/creative-transparent-screen-trick-photos/

@http://sixrevisions.com/photography/breathtaking-examples-of-long-exposure-photography/

@http://www.digital-photography-school.com/long-exposure-photography

[]

[] http://www.instantshift.com/2010/08/24/88-brilliant-examples-of-forced-perspective-photography/ []

[] long exposure will give you great results because it keeps your shutter open longer to capture and blur the movements together are generally used to take pictures at night to boost the brightness of the scene (having the shutter open longer catches more light).

http://www.photoshopcafe.com/tutorials/HDR_ps/hdr-ps.htm On your wikipages... Research & list...

Camera Angles ([]) - bird's eye view (looking down from above) - worm's eye view (looking up from below) - high angle (looking slightly down from above the eye line) - low angle (looking up from below the eye line, but not on the floor) - eye level (self explanatory) - over the shoulder (self explanatory) - point of view/first person (self explanatory) - oblique/canted angle (dutch tilt)

Shot Lengths ([]) - extreme long shot (veeery far away, usually used outdoors) - long shot - medium shot (half body) - close-up - extreme close-up (a.k.a. macro)

Types of Lighting ([]) - side lighting - back lighting - rim lighting - ambient light - soft/diffuse light - hard light - spotlight - artificial light - various combinations of the above

Tiananmen Square 1989 ([])

Pablo Picasso: Drawing with Light ([|http://life.time.com/culture/picasso-drawing-with-light/?iid=lf%7Clatest#9])

//**3.** On your personal wikipage (the one you used for your photography/video research topics) insert a line to divide the page and the 2 images you've chosen to work on. Comment on the photo, the era, circumstances of the photo and **discuss HOW the image made an impact** on people (society, history?, people's thoughts/ideas/beliefs... etc). In other words, **consider and discuss the ways** the photo changed the world. **WHAT** did viewers respond to in the photo?//

//**All writing must be in your OWN words. Use citations/references.**//

//**Consider the following:**//

//**Story** - All photographs tell the viewer something about what is happening in the world around them and that great photos enable a viewer to feel what is happening and have an emotional response to the image. The old proverb says a picture is worth 1000 words, this is a great opportunity to discuss how that applies to the concept of story in photos.//

//**Audience** - Photos that are meant to elicit a response from the audience. Discuss with students how well composed photos would mean different things to different genres of people: age, sex, gender, ethnicity, and beliefs.//

//**Message** - The message of an image is what the photographer is trying to convey in terms of intended outcome, such as anti-war, propaganda, a warning to others, etc.//

//**Style** - How the image is composed? is he/she attempting to stop action, or show movement? Is the image in color/black and white. Like music and other artists, photographers have their own unique style.//