‘Miniature’ New York comes to life in tilt-shift photos | CNN

<strong>Mini metropolis</strong>: Jasper Léonard takes striking shots of cities across the globe, resizing them into mini metropolises by using innovative perspective tricks.

Mini metropolis: Jasper Léonard takes striking shots of cities across the globe, resizing them into mini metropolises by using innovative perspective tricks.

Courtesy Jasper Léonard

<strong>Dream world</strong>: Léonard's dream world is rendered a reality in his book "<a href="https://www.accpublishinggroup.com/us/store/pv/9789401443395/new-york-resized/jasper-leonard/" target="_blank" target="_blank">New York Resized</a>," published by Lannoo.

Dream world: Léonard's dream world is rendered a reality in his book "New York Resized," published by Lannoo.

Courtesy Jasper Léonard

<strong>Tilt shift shots</strong>: Léonard uses a tilt-shift lens and shoots from rooftops or helicopters.

Tilt shift shots: Léonard uses a tilt-shift lens and shoots from rooftops or helicopters.

Courtesy Jasper Léonard

<strong>Transformations</strong>: The effect renders the world into tiny toy towns populated by miniature toys and people.

Transformations: The effect renders the world into tiny toy towns populated by miniature toys and people.

Courtesy Jasper Léonard

<strong>New angles:</strong> The photographer's unusual take on the city adds a degree of distance from New York's busy streets.

New angles: The photographer's unusual take on the city adds a degree of distance from New York's busy streets.

Courtesy Jasper Léonard

<strong>Re-imagining the Big Apple</strong>: "New York was my dream subject to use the tilt shift technique," Léonard tells CNN Travel.

Re-imagining the Big Apple: "New York was my dream subject to use the tilt shift technique," Léonard tells CNN Travel.

Courtesy Jasper Léonard

<strong>Lens shift:</strong> Léonard started devising this unusual perspective while studying visual arts. "I started re-designing lenses to research the link between reality and its photographic expression," he explains.

Lens shift: Léonard started devising this unusual perspective while studying visual arts. "I started re-designing lenses to research the link between reality and its photographic expression," he explains.

Courtesy Jasper Léonard

<strong>No trickery: </strong>Léonard rarely relies on Photoshop, clarifying he only used it in five images in the book. Instead, he uses his homemade lens adapter and two classic tilt shift lenses.

No trickery: Léonard rarely relies on Photoshop, clarifying he only used it in five images in the book. Instead, he uses his homemade lens adapter and two classic tilt shift lenses.

Courtesy Jasper Léonard

<strong>Lens-attachments</strong>: Léonard created lens attachments to allow him to effectively achieve different angles on the city.

Lens-attachments: Léonard created lens attachments to allow him to effectively achieve different angles on the city.

Courtesy Jasper Léonard

<strong>Redesigning reality: </strong>"I was able to redesign the way I photograph reality," explains Léonard.

Redesigning reality: "I was able to redesign the way I photograph reality," explains Léonard.

Courtesy Jasper Léonard

<strong>New perspective:</strong> Leonard, pictured, says he enjoys seeing New York in this new way.

New perspective: Leonard, pictured, says he enjoys seeing New York in this new way.

Courtesy Jasper Léonard

<strong>Globe trotter:</strong> Léonard also shares photographs on his Instagram account, showcasing shots in Tenerife and Paris -- as well as New York.

Globe trotter: Léonard also shares photographs on his Instagram account, showcasing shots in Tenerife and Paris -- as well as New York.

Courtesy Jasper Léonard

<strong>Around the world</strong>: Léonard has also published two other miniature city books, one about Antwerp, in the Netherlands, and one about Belgium.

Around the world: Léonard has also published two other miniature city books, one about Antwerp, in the Netherlands, and one about Belgium.

Courtesy Jasper Léonard

<strong>High society</strong>: Léonard scours the city looking for spots where he can take aerial shots.

High society: Léonard scours the city looking for spots where he can take aerial shots.

Courtesy Jasper Léonard

<strong>Always searching</strong>: "I've been on the lookout for high places, flying around and driving around with 'bucket trucks' so I can make the world seemingly miniature," he says.

Always searching: "I've been on the lookout for high places, flying around and driving around with 'bucket trucks' so I can make the world seemingly miniature," he says.

Courtesy Jasper Léonard

<strong>New York minute</strong>: Léonard wanted to take photographs of New York because of its ubiquity in the media.

New York minute: Léonard wanted to take photographs of New York because of its ubiquity in the media.

Courtesy Jasper Léonard

<strong>Visual scenery: </strong>"Thanks to TV shows and Hollywood, New York and its visual scenery is known by the entire world," says the photographer.

Visual scenery: "Thanks to TV shows and Hollywood, New York and its visual scenery is known by the entire world," says the photographer.

Courtesy Jasper Léonard

<strong>Real versus imaginary:</strong> Because New York's streets are so famous, they are almost universally familiar. Leonard says that makes it easier to blur the lines between fantasy and reality.

Real versus imaginary: Because New York's streets are so famous, they are almost universally familiar. Leonard says that makes it easier to blur the lines between fantasy and reality.

Courtesy Jasper Léonard

<strong>Cinema cityscape: </strong>"The tilt-shift technique works best on well-known places, Manhattan and its visual context has a place in everybody's mind," says Léonard.

Cinema cityscape: "The tilt-shift technique works best on well-known places, Manhattan and its visual context has a place in everybody's mind," says Léonard.

Courtesy Jasper Léonard

<strong>Halfway city</strong>: "For me even now, New York feels like a city halfway in between cinema and reality," reflects Léonard.

Halfway city: "For me even now, New York feels like a city halfway in between cinema and reality," reflects Léonard.

Courtesy Jasper Léonard

I<strong>conic moments</strong>: Léonard complements his shots with famous quotes about New York City, by figures ranging from Ezra Pound to Lana del Rey.

Iconic moments: Léonard complements his shots with famous quotes about New York City, by figures ranging from Ezra Pound to Lana del Rey.

Courtesy Jasper Léonard

<strong>New York quotes: </strong>"There are many wonderful quotes about New York, that give a different view on New York," reflects Léonard.

New York quotes: "There are many wonderful quotes about New York, that give a different view on New York," reflects Léonard.

Courtesy Jasper Léonard

<strong>Contextualization: </strong>Léonard found that quotes helped contextualize his shots. "For a photo book it works really well to match quotes next to images," he explains.

Contextualization: Léonard found that quotes helped contextualize his shots. "For a photo book it works really well to match quotes next to images," he explains.

Courtesy Jasper Léonard

<strong>Array of images:</strong> As well as including the city's landmarks, Leonard also zooms in on restaurants, bars and parks that are less well known.

Array of images: As well as including the city's landmarks, Leonard also zooms in on restaurants, bars and parks that are less well known.

Courtesy Jasper Léonard

<strong>Dreaming big:</strong> Having achieved his dream of photographing New York, Léonard wants to take his distinctive take on the world further afield.

Dreaming big: Having achieved his dream of photographing New York, Léonard wants to take his distinctive take on the world further afield.

Courtesy Jasper Léonard

<strong>Resizing the world:</strong> "There is still a lot to see in the world," says Léonard. "This year I'll be exploring Amsterdam for an 'Amsterdam Resized' book."

Resizing the world: "There is still a lot to see in the world," says Léonard. "This year I'll be exploring Amsterdam for an 'Amsterdam Resized' book."

Courtesy Jasper Léonard

<strong>Capturing the imagination</strong>: But there are other cities that have sparked an interest: "In the future I'd like to see a city in Asia,"says Léonard. "Cities like Hong Kong or Tokyo do tickle my imagination."

Capturing the imagination: But there are other cities that have sparked an interest: "In the future I'd like to see a city in Asia,"says Léonard. "Cities like Hong Kong or Tokyo do tickle my imagination."

Courtesy Jasper Léonard

Jasper Léonard creates miniature New York in with tilt-shift photos

CNN —

Imagine New York in miniature: the Empire State Building rendered in LEGO-size scale and tiny figures crossing a diminutive Brooklyn Bridge.

Photographer Jasper Léonard makes this dream world a reality in his book “New York Resized,” published by Lannoo Publishers. Léonard takes striking tilt-shift shots, often from rooftops or helicopters, to transform the city into a tiny toy town.

“New York was my ‘dream subject’ to use the tilt-shift technique,” Léonard tells CNN Travel.

Miniature metropolis

Léonard uses a tilt shift lens to capture a unique perspective on New York City.

Courtesy Jasper Léonard

These distinctive snapshots are hazy imaginings of New York as a mini metropolis – the blurred bright lights and tiny cars add a degree of distance and disconnect from busy street scenes.

Léonard started experimenting with this unusual perspective while studying visual arts.

“I started redesigning lenses to research the link between reality and its photographic expression,” he explains. “As a part of this project, I created lens attachments with mirrors in them and I was able to redesign the way I photograph reality.”

The photographer prides himself on rarely relying on Photoshop, clarifying he only used it in five images in the book. Instead, he creates this innovative effect via his homemade lens adapter and two classic tilt-shift lenses.

Léonard wanted to photograph the Big Apple because of its ubiquity in media.

Courtesy Jasper Léonard

“I take a lot of pleasure in looking through a camera and seeing New York as a miniature,” he says. “There are a lot of nice digital ways to use tilt shift as well, even Instagram has a pretty nice filter.”

Léonard shares his quirky photographs on his Instagram account, showcasing shots in Antwerp, Tenerife and Paris – as well as the Big Apple.

His New York book follows up a successful take on Antwerp and Belgium, also published by Lannoo.

The small/Big Apple

Léonard makes the world look like a toy town.

Courtesy Jasper Léonard

“I’ve been on the look out for high places, flying around and driving around with ‘bucket trucks’ so I can make the world seemingly miniature,” says Léonard.

New York was his dream photography playground, thanks to its ubiquity in the media.

“Thanks to TV shows and Hollywood, New York and its visual scenery is known by the entire world,” says the photographer.

Because the city’s streets are so famous, Leonard says it was easy to blur the lines between fantasy and reality – because the division is already murky.

Iconic places in New York are turned on their head in Léonard's images.

Courtesy Jasper Léonard

“The tilt-shift technique works best on well known places, Manhattan and its visual context has a place in everybody’s mind. For me even now, New York feels like a city halfway in between cinema and reality.”

Léonard contextualizes his dazzling shots with famous quotes about the city that never sleeps, by figures from Ezra Pound to Lana del Rey.

“There are many wonderful quotes about New York, that give a different view on New York,” reflects Léonard. “For a photo book it works really well to match quotes next to images.”

Future projects

Léonard wants to take photographs of Hong Kong and Tokyo in the future.

Courtesy Jasper Léonard

He’s conquered America, and now Léonard wants to take his distinctive take on the world elsewhere.

“There is still a lot to see in the world,” he says. “This year I’ll be exploring Amsterdam for an ‘Amsterdam Resized’ book. But in the future I’d like to see a city in Asia. Cities like Hong Kong or Tokyo do tickle my imagination.”