Choosing Focal Length

Improve Your Renders in C4D with David Ariew

The focal length of a camera lens is the distance between the lens and the image sensor when the subject is in focus. The

angle of view is how much of the scene is captured by the image sensor. Wide angles capture greater areas, small angles

smaller areas. Changing the focal length changes the angle of view.

Choosing a focal length changes the perception of your scene dramatically. Wide angles can make motion feel faster,

make objects feel as if they are very far away or stretched out, and exaggerate proportions if we’re close to the subject

on a wide lens. Long lenses can create some very unique parallax effects when rotating around objects, pull

backgrounds closer to the subject through compression, and can really help characters feel more appealing to the

viewer.

Check out the difference varying lenses have on a human face. Note the proportions of their facial features and then also

note how far the background feels in relation to the subject in each shot.
 Choosing Focal Length
Improve Your Renders in C4D with David Ariew

FOCAL LENGTH FOR LANDSCAPE

When you’re setting up landscape imagery, keep in mind how each focal length will compress the foreground and

background. Each focal length can be used as a tool to tell a specific story. Just take a look at the difference each

focal length makes when shooting the countryside.

Now you’re on your way to being the world’s best DP (Director of Photography)! Build scenes, tinker with lens

compression, and even try some dolly zooms. You can stick with just one focal length and really push the boundaries

of what’s possible, or try changing focal lengths for each shot!

Either way, experimenting with focal lengths opens up a whole new world of possibilities. If you want more tips on

planning out your composition, head to the link below for the article and video tutorial.

https://som.bz/3fbwiUY