DIY Making Illusions: Dioramas-The Island Beach and Waterfall

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I'm really a novice at this---but, 

I'm going to show you some un-doctored photos and how I created the illusion of an Island Beach and Waterfall. 

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In the back you can easily see the seams of the paper photo. I used free stock photos from Morgue Files, downloaded and divided the pics by four pieces. I then enlarged each by the same percentage and printed them. I printed extra wet sand to put on the bottom, These are pieced and taped to the wall of thin foam core.

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The beach sand is actually just scrapbook paper again. I usually buy when they are 3 or 4 pieces for $1.00. 

I have some rocks thrown at the beach wall...but by placing my dolls and furniture just so---

the camera only sees what I want it to see.

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Here's a shot of the corner of the two diorama walls. 

This is how crude the taping is. I use Painter's removable tape. The right side is full of pieces of waterfall.

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Here you can see how small my beach actually is, but I can move the placemats and expose more sand. The plants are covering the house on the print and the uncovered white area. Bamboo place mats imply decking of some sort. The fence is a drainage rack for dishes, I use for lots of things. I moved the placemats and sand wider or narrower..depending on my angle of camera shots.

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I use many kinds of containers and either use tape, 

clay, or rocks to make arrangements of 

bushes or plant displays. 

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A plant to the left implies some jungle. Here the couple have just landed, and all their amenities are displayed on the fence. The large boat anchor---keeps your eye from the transition of the photo and blank wall behind the fence.

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I raised the angle of the camera to give 

them the illusion of walking up hill.

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On another day while exploring the island, Joe took some cheesecake photos of Vickie by the waterfall.

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From multiple copies of the same photo I enlarged, I  cut the repeated images creating the twists and turns of water falling over 

lots of rocks. I used a silver pen here and there to cross out things I didn't want to show. 

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 I had used the same wall of water for the Chicago Botanic Gardens Waterfall...I've doctored the photo and fuzzed out all the seams. I used the plank paper as a bridge under her, that worked well and added some floral 'bushes' because it was the botanic gardens after all.

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Here I had Vickie standing or sitting on planks next to rocks. Rocks hid the seam of the placemat, added some different plants and

 the bags distract the eye from the messy transition and Joe's clear doll stand.

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Undoctored photo and almost a boob-shot. 

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This one is better, a selfie-- I tried fuzzing out the shadows and then just decided they weren't too bad.

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Vickie and Joe in front of the waterfall...off to do more exploring. The helmets and handlebars show plenty of the bike...and you know they are going somewhere, fantastic. 

Next the vacation 'hut'. I bet Vickie and Joe never want to leave.

All the opinions and photographs in this blog are my own. I have not been paid or reimbursed in anyway for my opinions, posts or any products shown or anywhere I shop.

Thanks always for visiting. 

I will try and respond to every comment and answer every question.

 Please do not use photos without linking back to this blog without my permission. 


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