ABSTRACT

The Language of the Lens explores the expressive power of the camera lens and the storytelling contributions that this critical tool can make to a film project. This book offers a unique approach to learning how lenses can produce aesthetically and narratively compelling images in movies, through a close examination of the various ways lens techniques control the look of space, movement, focus, flares, distortion, and the "optical personality" of your story’s visual landscape.

Loaded with vivid examples from commercial, independent, and world cinema, The Language of the Lens presents dozens of insightful case studies examining their conceptual, narrative, and technical approaches to reveal how master filmmakers have harnessed the power of lenses to express the entire range of emotions, themes, tone, atmosphere, subtexts, moods, and abstract concepts.

The Language of the Lens provides filmmakers, at any level or experience, with a wealth of knowledge to unleash the full expressive power of any lens at their disposal, whether they are shooting with state-of-the-art cinema lenses or a smartphone, and everything in between.

chapter

the lens revolution

chapter |6 pages

a lens language

chapter |8 pages

lenses & image systems

chapter |34 pages

technical concepts

part |28 pages

Space

chapter |2 pages

confinement

chapter |2 pages

vastness

chapter |2 pages

awkwardness

chapter |2 pages

exasperation

chapter |2 pages

connection

chapter |2 pages

bewilderment

chapter |2 pages

subtext

chapter |2 pages

apprehension

chapter |2 pages

rage

chapter |2 pages

allegory

chapter |2 pages

peril

chapter |2 pages

order

chapter |2 pages

symbolism

part |16 pages

Movement

chapter |2 pages

urgency

chapter |2 pages

speed

chapter |2 pages

suspense

chapter |2 pages

desperation

chapter |2 pages

haste

chapter |2 pages

angst

chapter |2 pages

resolve

part |36 pages

Focus

chapter |2 pages

attraction

chapter |2 pages

context

chapter |2 pages

significance

chapter |2 pages

shock

chapter |2 pages

denial

chapter |2 pages

foreboding

chapter |2 pages

tension

chapter |2 pages

concentration

chapter |2 pages

rebirth

chapter |2 pages

impairment

chapter |2 pages

turmoil

chapter |2 pages

anxiety

chapter |2 pages

loneliness

chapter |2 pages

vision

chapter |2 pages

malevolence

chapter |2 pages

wistfulness

chapter |2 pages

clarity

part |16 pages

Flares

chapter |2 pages

prowess

chapter |2 pages

atmosphere

chapter |2 pages

ambiguity

chapter |2 pages

theme

chapter |2 pages

mystery

chapter |2 pages

physicality

chapter |2 pages

attachment

part |14 pages

Distortion

chapter |2 pages

surreality

chapter |2 pages

whimsy

chapter |2 pages

intimidation

chapter |2 pages

intoxication

chapter |2 pages

entrancement

chapter |2 pages

disorientation

part |13 pages

Intangibles

chapter |2 pages

naturalism

chapter |2 pages

authenticity

chapter |2 pages

similitude

chapter |2 pages

spontaneity

chapter |2 pages

texture

chapter |2 pages

uniqueness