Picture Composition, 2nd Edition

3

The lens, the eye and perception

Introduction

A useful ability when framing up a shot is having the experience to predict how a particular subject or view will translate into a two-dimensional recorded image. A beginner without this skill may have to wander around the subject looking through the viewfinder at various set-ups, and with various choices of lens angle and camera distance, in order to see how these variables affect the shot. Cameramen and directors often have the developed visual ability to mentally predict the effect of mass, line and size relationships and how they will impact on the shot for any specific lens angle and camera position chosen. Viewpoint can be decided before a camera is taken out of its case. This is often ...