ACTING & FILM SCHOOL

Visual Style Tip: Choosing Your Camera Lens For Depth

Next time you’re setting up a shot, take a moment to think about how the lens you’ve selected will change the way the space in front of your camera looks. Remember this basic principle: a wide lens will exaggerate the depth of your shot, while a long or telephoto lens will compress the depth. And depth is an important factor in visual style.

By Claude Kerven, Chair of Filmmaking Department at the New York Film Academy