Chapter 1
One-Eyed Magic
In the age before visual effects became a highly technical endeavor, the art was closely related to magic. In fact, Georges Méliès, one of the first great visual effects artists, was a professional magician by training. A magician performs illusions that take place in front of your eyes. In the case of motion pictures, the miracle takes place in front of the one eye of the movie camera.
The Pinhole Camera
The one common denominator of all visual effects photography, be it film, video, or digital, is the all-important lens. Consumer digital cameras have invisible lens controls save for a zoom button. Due to automation, the focal length, focus ring, and f-stop are hidden from the operator, which makes it difficult for ...
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