Image via Complex Original
It's hard to believe that Instagram only started two and a half years ago and has already made such a dramatic impact in our social media world. But those who are not among its more than 150 million users give it some serious hate. The usual criticism stems from a sentiment that Instagram is ruining photography. Photography purists point out that there is little variety among the images, and it's easy to fake true skill within the constricted options on Instagram. But some Instagram users are breaking down those stereotypes one incredible Instagram post at a time. By using the filters to create a makeshift version of tilt-shift photography or just by uploading photos taken on real tilt-shift lenses, these photographers are blowing us away with their skills. Check out the talent of the incredible community Instagram has built with The 30 Best Tilt-Shift Photographs on Instagram.
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30. stratocasterous
Caption: TOKYO. 東京タワーより、六本木・新宿方面。 #tokyo #tokycity #miniature #shinjyuku #whitagram #tokyotower #tower #view #city #instagood #building #ville #megacity #tiltandshift #ilovethisplace #ig_nippon #ig_japanese #東京 #東京タワー #��- #��-並み #ミニチュア #ミニチュア部 #一眼レフ #大都市 #新宿 #六本木 #カコソラ #ジオラマ
Tokyo looks drastically different with a tilt-shift lens; the blurred skyscrapers in the background make an awesome skyline behind the intriguing foreground.
29. mattsphotography
Caption: Las Vegas Miniature. #lasvegas #vegas #thestrip #tiltandshift #miniature #nightphotography
Las Vegas has the mini version of everything. This photographer utilized the tilt-shift to make the Vegas Strip feel miniature. It is both conceptually and visually stunning.
28. magical75
Caption: #fun #instagrammers #instahub #instagood #instamood #instagramhub #picoftheday #summer #mode #fashion #me #sexy #nature #photooftheday #tagsforlike #like #nice #soutout #plant #river #lake #tiltandshift #canon
At first glance this photo is just another stony brook. But when you look closely, the blurred grass is evocative in its wild texture.
27. lfennigbauer
Caption: Escalators at Emporium #escalators #malmö #sweden #holiday #tiltandshift #iphone4 #instadaily
These escalators are like the moving staircases in Harry Potter. But aside from that, the angle and intersections of lines in this photo create a really complicated geometry.
26. constant_creations
Caption: Cantera flowers #constant_creations #itouch4photos #theconstantcreator #instagrammers #visualtectonics #filtermania #tiltandshift #bestoftheday #jj #igdaily #intagram #ipodography #jj_forum #tiltandshiftfocus
The incongruousness of sunflowers with the grim colors and feel of the photo is creepy yet enticing.
25. kalimain
Caption: #tiltandshift #miniature #maqueta
The focus on the figure in the center emphasizes the grandeur of the yachts.
24. qa_photo
Caption: #qaphoto #miniature #sweden #tiltandshift #river #riverside #riverwalk #rivers #water #nature #landscape #naturelover #tagsta #natureshot #blur #ic_water #tagstagramers #agua #primeshots #beautiful #stone #walking #ripples #beauty #picoftheday #tagsta #irox_water #natur #tagsta_nature
This picture makes the rocks on side of lake feel like mountains. It's incredible what a change in depth of field can do for perception.
23. mccawleyphoto
Caption: Main beach. #procamera #tiltshift #goldcoast
This vibrant and appealing photo really makes the nostalgia for summer kick in.
22. lv99_hal
Caption: 「写真撮るよー！」
This may be one of the subtlest tilt-shifts we've seen. But the delicacy works well with the dainty landscape.
21. fahimfadz
Caption: pilih pilihan hati
This dreamlike photograph captures the viewer's attention and leaves him or her pondering what actually is going on.
20. shawnlee913
Caption: The old Soho Mill Pool was enlarged to a sizeable lake, providing both water for the Manufactory and picturesque views. #sohohouse #shawn #captured #tiltshiftphotography #tiltshift #birminghamcitycouncil #birmingham #unitedkingdom
This user does a sort of tilt-shift inception by photographing miniatures with his tilt-shift lens. Tilt-shift makes normal size things look small, so by doing this he is making it unclear whether the subject is actually a miniature or not.
19. ooohlarry
Caption: #iphoneonly #iphonephotography #streetphotography #iphonesia #webstagram #photooftheday #tokyo #japan #tiltshift #tilt #tiltandshift #tiltshift_jpn #snapseed #tokyodisneyland
The ambiguity of what is actually happening here makes this picture exciting and magical.
18. indotripfoto
Caption: Static #instago #instahub #instapic #instagood #tiltshift #tiltandshift #iphone #iphonesia #iphoneonly #people
The tilt-shift lens is already playing with depth. Add in a real element of depth, and the photo throws your depth perception for a huge loop in the best possible way.
17. studio054
Caption: Walking - #stockholm #water #tiltshift #tiltandshift #people #road
This photo captures exactly what we would expect Stockholm to look like—subtle, yet beautiful, with a lot of personality.
16. robbert_buist
Caption: Repost with snapseed edit. #snapseed #tiltshift #tiltandshift #utrecht #holland #dutch #city #cityscape #fall
Fall colors and one of those famous Dutch canals—perfection in a nutshell.
15. proforeigner
Caption: #ciudadela #penthouse #tiltshift #tiltandshift #mini #miniature #maqueta #model #city #cityscape #santurce #plaza #hdr
This user plays with the themes of horizontal and vertical lines in a way that really draws the viewer in.
14. phsphoto
Caption: #northacton #centralline #londonunderground #metropolis #toytown #trainset #miniature #tiltandshift
The stark juxtaposition between the focused red train and the blurred everything else creates an exciting and beautiful composition.
13. damiensusu
Caption: Typical Melbourne Central insta post. Thought I would just jump in the bandwagon with a wider angle shot of the coop's shot tower last use in 1961 and a main focal point of the building. :p #melbournecentral #shopping #architecture #melbourne #citylife #tiltshift #instadaily #tower
This photographer really understands how to strikingly capture architecture. Is he famous yet?
12. bananafitz
Caption: Going home! #happy folk. (Apart from the 18,000 Poles)
This Instagram user did an awesome job of capturing this massive crowd in that small Instagram square.
11. joachimvdzeeuw
Caption: #fortluna #utrecht #lunetten #utrechtzuid #jungle #holland #water #plants #zombies #green #tiltandshift
This lily pond would have put a smile on Monet's face.
10. leofloresfotografia
Caption: Parece de brinquedo... mas é o hall de entrada da nossa biblioteca.
You can really never go wrong with black, white, and red. But this interior design is phenomenal and phenomenally portrayed too.
9. ryancheng80
Caption: Tilt&Shift sunset #tiltandshift #sunset #sundown #goldenhour #vsco #tagstagramers #likes #nature_perfection #nature #moment #beautiful
This photographer takes the cliché out of sunset photographs in every way.
8. squids_eye
Caption: #tiltandshift #iphone #blackandwhite #rail #lines #signalbox
The simplicity in every element of this composition works beautifully.
7. yaaile
Caption: Miniatur #samarinda #instasamarinda #wolterwonginsidi #tiltandshift
The depth of this photo is astoundingly beautiful. The serenity that the post portrays can be attributed to the calm colors.
6. dclick
Caption: #marseille #marina #tiltand shift #morning #5dmk3 #90tse #resize #colors #sky #sea #port #light
The tilt-shift lens makes this photo more than just another lighthouse picture. The blurred lights and the gradient of blue makes it stand out.
5. _cloudless
Caption: ICollected sunset. #ミニチュア #tiltshift #tilt_shift #snapseed #tiltshift_jpn #tiltshiftgraphy #tiltshiftgen #vehicleclub #minilife #tiltandshift
The sunset colors in the water contrasted with the grass is lovely. Because of the tilt-shift, the focus of the piece jumps out towards the viewer.
4. korteniemi
Caption: Food transport #miniature #tiltshift #haukeliseter #norway .old #deterdeilig
The rule of thirds meets the beauty of Norway. What more could you ask for?
3. laterooms
Caption: The Bristol Ballon Fiesta over the impressive Clifton Suspension Bridge. #travel #amazing #love #uk #England #balloons #bridge #design #art #trip #bristol #cool #tiltshift #photo #picoftheday #photooftheday #igers #instagood #instalove #instadaily #sun #summer #autumn #seasons #sky #clouds #fun #beautiful
These hot air balloons look like toys after their tilt-shift transformation. Banksy is definitely not the only artsy person from Bristol.
2. durz_old_blint
Caption: #tilt&shift #Acael
The fact that this photographer chose to blur the "most important" part of the photo is very innovative. It works well because the Eiffel Tower is still so distinct.
1. rifkipr
Caption: Sky view #sky #view #building #instagood #instamoment #photograpy #tiltandshift
Everything is working in this photo. The color scheme is beautiful. The tilt-shift with the blurred city lights and where the focus is placed works magically... It is perfect.