This photo was taken by Nicola de Pisapia and is very effective in portraying the realism of the model being captured using the methods of perspective and scale. Firstly, if this photo was not in a collection that showcases realistic looking models, it could have fooled anyone because of its realism and attention to detail. At a first glance, the photo looks like one that would normally be found on a travel brochure or postcard. Through the use of capturing the shot from a higher perspective, the city looks perfectly proportional to the blurred background, making it seem as if the photo was taken from a drone over the real city. The details of the model structures are also believable because of their continuity in scale with each other. No tree looks out of place, nor does a roof shingle. Lastly, the most effective part of the composition is the bokeh which is the aforementioned blurry background. It focuses the observer’s eye to the city while also splitting the photo into two very distinctive regions, making the city truly feel as if it were a mile away from the mountainside. If the background were in focus, the water probably would have looked toy like with fake ripples and the mountainside would not have the bluish haze such as real mountain ranges.
De Pisapia, Nicola. “Vesuviano – Model of a model of reality. Vietri sul mare (SA) Italy.” Flickr, 2008, https://www.flickr.com/photos/vesuviano/2700828021/.