ABSTRACT
The language of the lens encompasses how the lens mediates and interprets the physical world for us; how it “renders” the image in different ways that can be used for effective visual storytelling. It is important for both the DP and the director to understand how lenses can be used and what effects can be achieved for particular visual purposes in the story. As the lens gets even wider, there is distortion of objects, particularly those near the lens. This is the fundamental reason why a longer focal length lens is considered essential for a portrait or head shot. A downside of rack focusing is that some lenses breathe when changing focus; this means they appear to change focal length while shifting focus. A direct, specular beam of light that hits the lens will create a flare that creates veiling glare, which appears as a sort of milky whiteness over the whole image.
