This is a "Fake" digital attempt at the style of "Tilt Shift" Photography. I say fake because the photos taken with an actual tilt shift lens are much better and this was an exercise to see what a digital attempt would look like.
The effect is to create a minature view of an actual place just by adjusting the depth and focus, hence "Tilt Shift". If you google it you will get a barrage of wonderful photos in this style. (I really want to get the actual lens!) Photo taken then focus adjusted in Photoshop CS2