Walk on a miniature Tokyo

• Walk through a miniature Tokyo

Photographer Ben Thomas first visited Tokyo in 2008 and just marveled at the scale of this Asian metropolis. "The local culture and architecture are incredible. Tokyo can be scary, fun and challenging at the same time. " Thomas decided that the city may be ideally suited to tilt-shift photography, which allows you to selectively focus on objects, creating a feeling of miniature scenes.

In 2012, he returned to the Japanese capital to make a few more pictures for his book "Tiny Tokyo." "Anything that allows you to look at something familiar in a new light - it's just amazing. Look at the picture that seems familiar, but at the same time is a little strange - so dig a little deeper and examine the scene with fresh eyes. "

Thomas started using tilt-shift lenses about seven years ago when he moved to Melbourne and wanted to find a unique way to capture the city. Photo: Shibuya intersection 109.

"While tilt-shift lenses are used primarily in architectural photography. I was attracted by the fact that with its help it was possible to obtain such an incredible effect. Removing Melbourne in new ways, in a nutshell, I realized that a picture can tell a story. " Photo: Tokyo championship sumo Ryogoku Kokugikan arena, Sumida.

Thomas spent three weeks in Tokyo, taking the city from a height. Before you start a project, he spent three months in search of the roofs, bridges and towers, with which you can shoot. Photo: Artificial island of Tsukishima, Chuo.

"It was not just to find a place that I like - I wanted to show all the aspects that, in my opinion, constitute the beating heart of Tokyo. Logically, I had the right place for filming. Tilt-shift recording is usually carried out from the top, so that the planning took a lot of time. " In the photo shops Takadanobaba Station, Shinjuku.

When all options have been exhausted, Thomas rented a helicopter to make such pictures, which conceived. It was an unusual experience: a combination of adrenaline, the speed and the urge to vomit. Photo: tugs, Ochanomizu.

"Unfortunately, I was swayed in transport, especially when on the move is necessary to look through the camera lens." Photo: Night intersection Osiage.

"For the project" Tiny Tokyo "I spent about an hour in the air with two assistants." Photo: Wet street, Chiyoda.

Tilt-shift photography has long ceased to be an innovation. Now, there are numerous applications for smartphones and filters, as well as special plug-ins for "Photoshop" that recreate the effect. In the photo: the different modes of transport on the Tsukiji market.

His belief that the main thing now - to find a special approach to the tilt-shift, which will help to reveal the feature of a place or person. Photo: Commercial Dock Koto.

"A successful shot will always depend on the object and the technical side - light, shapes and colors. However, the object should also have some kind of charisma. " In the photo: a bar in the back of a street in Shinjuku.