ABSTRACT
Lens flares can make a powerful statement about a character when used sparingly and in situations where their intended meaning is clear, so their inclusion is not misunderstood as being a purely aesthetic choice by the filmmaker. The overt stylization lens flares can add to the look of a shot can be instrumental in creating these visual connections, especially when their use is restricted to images meant for this purpose within a story. Thomas Vinterberg’s Far from the Madding Crowd demonstrates the value of using flares strategically for maximum effect, by featuring them prominently at two key moments of the film to foreground the connection that gradually develops between a shepherd, Gabriel Oak, and his employer, Bathsheba Everdene. The very first time Gabriel is seen he is shown in a low-angle medium close-up shot with a strong sun flare directly above his head, in a composition that is visually evocative of the classic “hero shot”.
