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Whenever I see Paul E.T. has posted a new video, I get quite excited. He doesn’t post often, but when he does, it’s very revealing. He goes in-depth into how Hollywood does its magic, breaking down the techniques.
Sometimes, it’s also a tutorial… of sorts. Or a “How I did this” sort of thing. His newest video is one such video, recreating a Hollywood-style car chase in his garage with a couple of RC cars, a projector and a great big TV screen.
Over the last few years, I started watching Formula 1 races again, over a decade after I last saw it with dad. I started following several F1 photographers and drivers, and I truly enjoy the content related to this sport.
So, when I saw a photo from Dutch photographer Ruud Van Vught, it naturally caught my eye. It shows Max Verstappen’s Red Bull car in a sunset over Spa Francorchamps track. But then I read the description: it was actually a model car. I just had to reach out to Ruud and ask him how he did it, and he gladly shared it with DIYP.
Miniatures have been a part of filmmaking pretty much since filmmaking began. They’re typically used when building a full-sized set or prop would be impractical or just flat out impossible. Sometimes they’re used to create forced perspective shots to make a miniature look like it’s part of the real world or to be able to blow something up that they couldn’t blow up in real life or to create something that could just never really exist in the real world.
Whatever your reasons for using them, they’re a lot of fun and can be very effective when done right. But how do you do them right? Well, you can start by watching this video from Steve Ramsden where he goes over his top 10 filmmaking tips for filming miniatures to make them look (and act) like they’re a part of the full-sized real world.
We’ve already met photographer Udi Mozni through his creative miniature images. He shoots everyday objects and turns them into something completely new. So, it’s no wonder that he reimagined an egg as a little planet. I asked Udi a bit about his process, and he kindly shared it with DIYP.
Felix Hernandez (previously) is a photographer who turns his vivid imagination into fantastic images. He brings miniatures and practical effects together, sometimes adds a dash of digital manipulation, and turns imaginary worlds into real photos. Strange Thing in the Forest is his latest creation, and Felix once again tells a story through his stunning miniature photos.
Winner of multiple Oscars, BAFTAs and SAG awards, Apollo 13 was a pretty epic movie. And with a budget of $52 million it had some pretty spectacular effects, too. Apollo 13 was a mix of model and miniature effects as well as CG and compositing, with one of the most memorable scenes being the launch itself.
DIY filmmaking and effects guru Steve Ramsden wanted to have a go at remaking this scene for himself with the help of a model rocket, some stock footage and Google Earth. Ironically, this was exactly the way the VFX team on the actual movie didn’t want to shoot it, but Steve’s interpretation turned out pretty well.
Photogenic scenes are all around us and we can make fantastic photos even from regular household items. But you know what we’ll need? A camera, sure, but also lots of imagination. Israeli photographer Udi Mozni doesn’t lack inspiration, that’s for sure. He uses miniature figurines and stuff from around his house to create fun and unusual miniature worlds.
I’ve seen so many great examples of miniature photography that I wouldn’t even know where to start with examples. I’m very inspired by it, and I’ve wanted to start shooting my own miniature photography for a while now. If you’ve wanted the same, Mathieu Stern has a video just for you. If you’re still new to miniature photography, here’s everything you need to know before you start shooting.
I don’t know what’s with me and miniature replicas of random stuff, but I just love them even though they’re completely useless. If you can relate, then you’re gonna love this tiny Sony camera kit. Select Sony stores around Japan give it away for free if you buy a real kit, and even though it doesn’t shoot, it’s cute as a button.
Miniature photography seems to be very popular right now. The world is starting to come out of lockdown in many places and some of us are beginning to shoot regular-sized people again, but there’s something about photographing tiny ones that’s always a little bit special. And combining them with everyday objects really captures the imagination.
Inspired by the work of photographers such as Erin Sullivan and Tatsuya Tanaka, photographer Chris Hau shows several different miniature scenes in this video, using food and other household items. They’re a lot of fun, and pretty easy to do. In fact, Chris says that the most difficult part was getting hold of the miniature characters.
Udi Tirosh is an entrepreneur, photography inventor, journalist, educator, and writer based in Israel. With over 25 years of experience in the photo-video industry, Udi has built and sold several photography-related brands. Udi has a double degree in mass media communications and computer science.
Alex Baker is a portrait and lifestyle driven photographer based in Valencia, Spain. She works on a range of projects from commercial to fine art and has had work featured in publications such as The Daily Mail, Conde Nast Traveller and El Mundo, and has exhibited work across Europe
Dave Williams is an accomplished travel photographer, writer, and best-selling author from the UK. He is also a photography educator and published Aurora expert. Dave has traveled extensively in recent years, capturing stunning images from around the world in a modified van. His work has been featured in various publications and he has worked with notable brands such as Skoda, EE, Boeing, Huawei, Microsoft, BMW, Conde Nast, Electronic Arts, Discovery, BBC, The Guardian, ESPN, NBC, and many others.
John Aldred is a photographer with over 20 years of experience in the portrait and commercial worlds. He is based in Scotland and has been an early adopter - and occasional beta tester - of almost every digital imaging technology in that time. As well as his creative visual work, John uses 3D printing, electronics and programming to create his own photography and filmmaking tools and consults for a number of brands across the industry.
Dunja Djudjic is a multi-talented artist based in Novi Sad, Serbia. With 15 years of experience as a photographer, she specializes in capturing the beauty of nature, travel, and fine art. In addition to her photography, Dunja also expresses her creativity through writing, embroidery, and jewelry making.
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