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Dolly zoom (lh5.googleusercontent.com)

submitted ago by MartinPedro

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[–]goal2004 149 points150 points ago

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For the confused: Dolly zoom effect

tl;dr - The camera maintains a certain field of view angle (amount of zoom) so that the subject stays the same relative size in the picture while actively changing distance from it. Moving closer to the subject will make the background appear to be running away, whereas moving away from the subject makes it seem as though the background is coming close fast.

[–]Redcard911 33 points34 points ago

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Good, now I have an explanation for why I just threw up.

[–]verbose_gent 1 point2 points ago

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That's the kind of response directors usually want when they use it or like when a character has an epiphany.

[–]ShapkaSamosranka 0 points1 point ago

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Jaws.

[–]kitd 31 points32 points ago

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Thank you. I've often wondered how they did that.

[–]Fuck_Your_Squirtle 7 points8 points ago

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I'm still wondering

[–]0x7fff5fbff690 12 points13 points ago

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As you get closer you zoom out and vice versa.

[–]Soaplicker 2 points3 points ago

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THANK YOU.

[–]Norrbotten 1 point2 points ago

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Thanks for making my brain stop hurting.

[–]Punkndrublic 1 point2 points ago*

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The automatic "make-me-feel-kind-of-nauseous" effect.

[–]lefike 8 points9 points ago

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To clarify: they adjust the amount of zoom and move the camera further or closer to the object. Named after a scene from the Hitchcock movie Vertigo.

[–]whollyme 27 points28 points ago

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Used in a scene in Vertigo, but not named after it. The name comes from the fact that the lens is zooming in one direction, while the camera is moving in the other, on a dolly.

[–]lefike 2 points3 points ago

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Until the OP I've only known this effect as the vertigo effect, which directly derives from the film with the same name because it first used the effect.

[–]lunyboy 8 points9 points ago

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Not the first, but the first notable use. The Germans beat Hitchcock to it.

[–]tom3r 2 points3 points ago

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This doesn't surprise me. We all know those Germans make good stuff.

[–]Loneytunes 1 point2 points ago

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Thats what I always heard it called.

[–]atrocities 2 points3 points ago

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It can also be called a "push/pull" shot

[–]finethanks 2 points3 points ago

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confirmative.

[–]finethanks 0 points1 point ago

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The dolly that holds the camera is pushed backwards and the focus is pulled to compensate.

[–]finethanks 0 points1 point ago

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I learned this from visiting Universal Studios and going through the soundstage tour!

[–]dinklebob 0 points1 point ago

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I think I saw an effect similar to this in "The Quick and the Dead" when people were about to fire (third-to-last fight?). Can anyone confirm that it was a Dolly effect?

[–]Mjrdouchington 1 point2 points ago

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yup, It was a zolly, with a dutch tilt in it too. Worked with the guy who built the rig to do it - it was all motorized because the timing between the zoom and the dolly move can be a little hit or miss when you're doing it manually. By using a motion control rig they could nail it every time.

[–]dinklebob 0 points1 point ago

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Let me just say that those shots were by far my favorite. Coolest effect ever.

I now have a burning desire to go watch it again... must... satiate...

[–]DonDrapest 0 points1 point ago

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while actively changing distance from it.

Though it's clearly not the case, it still seems to me that the pulling away of the camera and advancing of the zoom would simply cancel each other out, if done at the same rate. What's the difference?

[–]jannne 1 point2 points ago

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Zooming in doesn't move you closer, it just makes your field of view narrower.

[–]DonDrapest 0 points1 point ago

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yes, and moving away makes your field of view wider, right?

How will standing 10ft from a subject and zooming in proportionally give you a different picture than standing, say, 3ft from a subject with no zoom?

[–]jannne 0 points1 point ago

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The movements of the observer have no impact on field of view.

As you move in the relative distances between object changes, this is seen in the dolly zoom shots.

[–]deejayqueue 1 point2 points ago

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The way a camera lens collects light is not linear.
Most people see those "light entering a camera" diagrams and the light is represented as straight lines that would describe a cone, the point of which is the focal point of the lens, inside the camera. Actually, it looks more like the bell of a trumpet. It curves due to the curvature of the lens, which is necessary to amplify and control the focus of the light.

The distortion isn't really perceptible in photos because our brains always try to resolve changes in perspective so we don't get dizzy and can find our way around.

So, moving closer/further away physically to something while zooming the opposite direction amplifies the curved distortion of the lens, and makes it more apparent.

[–]goal2004 0 points1 point ago

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Not exactly. It cancels itself out on the subject itself, but when the field of view is wider you see more of the background, and when it is narrower you see less of it. Combined with the illusion that your subject stays the same size; that's the dolly zoom effect.

[–]DonDrapest 0 points1 point ago

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Yes clearly it is, it's just difficult for my brain to picture conceptually. I guess that's what makes it an illusion, after all.

[–]goal2004 0 points1 point ago

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OK, how about this: http://i.imgur.com/8bfAb.png

I sketched out 2 different field of view angles of a camera, and the subject at a distance from the camera where it would appear to have the same width. Do you see how the example on the right shows that more of the background makes it into the final image?

[–]DonDrapest 0 points1 point ago

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Kind of... Do you mean the one on the left has a narrower field but is zoomed in, and the right has a wider field, unzoomed?

[–]goal2004 0 points1 point ago

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Exactly

[–]Shnazzyone -3 points-2 points ago

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Yeah if I'm not mistaken this effect is done with a zoom using a wide angle lens and a macro focus. After you get the focus and do the zoom you get that effect. I do not think a dolly had any part in making this. At least that's how I do it. Maybe they did use a zoom in this one, could be wrong.

[–]goal2004 -1 points0 points ago

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I'm uncertain about the reason the effect is named this way (haven't fully read the wiki article, jumped straight to the math actually). The way it really works is just by maintaining a level of zoom where the subject stays the same relative size in the frame.

As a game developer I've used this effect, and the mathematical formula specifically, to convey an exaggerated sense of scale to the player. It's really great for free-cam RTS games, like World in Conflict, where the camera is really narrow when high above the ground, making things appear smaller than they are, and when you're closer to the ground the field of view is wide open, making everything feel huge.

[–]_severin 48 points49 points ago

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I AM TOO DRUNK FOR THIS SHIT

[–]probly2drunk 1 point2 points ago

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Probly

[–]TeethofBusey 0 points1 point ago

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Yeah, wild turkey and this are NOT agreeing with each other.

[–]_severin 1 point2 points ago

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So it appears I was on reddit last night...

[–]MrBakinslato 59 points60 points ago

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This belongs in r/woahdude.

[–]irrelevant_informant 7 points8 points ago

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woah dude

[–]goes_the_dynamite 27 points28 points ago

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Stared at that for a good minute before I realized I was gently rocking back and forth while opening my eyes a little more, a little less.

I must kill the prime minister of Malaysia.

[–]timshel_ 7 points8 points ago

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Just relax, Derek.

[–]MartinPedro[S] 4 points5 points ago

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What?

[–]pcrii 8 points9 points ago

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zoolander reference

[–]AhhhBROTHERS 11 points12 points ago

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svEPWBxpYjo&feature=related

from Jaws

[–]WalterEKurtz 2 points3 points ago

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Best use ever.

[–]MercurialMadnessMan 1 point2 points ago

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Brilliant use of the effect.

[–]Buckminster_Killah 11 points12 points ago

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those a-holes walking in front of the camera...sheesh

[–]PopeNimrod 16 points17 points ago

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There's a famous and awesome use of this in Goodfellas, which is so subtle it gives a really cool effect: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4Utlw0XiHU

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points ago

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Is the camera backing up or moving forward in that shot?

[–]Ikronix 9 points10 points ago

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Backing up.

[–]Takuya-san 7 points8 points ago

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Don't know why someone downvoted you. The camera is clearly backuping up in this shot, as shown by the background becoming bigger (since zooming while backing away increases the size of the background in a relatively faster way than it does the foreground).

[–]JimmyJamesMac 0 points1 point ago

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That looks more like rear screen projection to me.

[–]MisterWonka 5 points6 points ago

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Absolutely not. It's clearly the same effect, and Scorcese has discussed it.

[–]JimmyJamesMac -1 points0 points ago

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I guess I am so used to seeing movie makers take the easy way out I was sceptical.

[–]brendanmccue 1 point2 points ago

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Frankly, doing a dolly-zoom is easier than setting up projection for a shot. It's a dead simple effect than any camera operator worth their role on the shoot can do.

[–]elastic-craptastic 4 points5 points ago

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I thought the same thing. I think it's just because it just is a low quality vid.

[–]BreakAllTheRules 11 points12 points ago

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This makes my brain hurt.

[–]DiabeticComa 8 points9 points ago

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How? Like Vertigo?

[–]lefike 4 points5 points ago

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It's the same thing.

[–]LantianTiger 4 points5 points ago

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What is this witchcraft?!

[–]Murrabbit 4 points5 points ago

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This gif makes for a great visual explanation of what Field of View is, which I hear asked fairly often in r/gaming.

[–]Psykoboy2 1 point2 points ago

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You can do this effect with any camcorder or...hell, maybe even your phone. Anything that can zoom. Find an object and zoom in on it, then as you walk towards it slowly zoom out.

[–]rfbandit 1 point2 points ago

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Good old contra-zoom. Difficult to pull off, but awesome.

[–]OhManThisIsAwkward 1 point2 points ago

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Here is a short compilation of dolly zoom used in film.

[–]Team_Braniel 1 point2 points ago

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Any other film people know this as a "Push-pull"?

[–]sweatyduck 1 point2 points ago

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Aww man, that person in the middle of it really ruined this for me

[–]mossyskeleton 1 point2 points ago

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The cement is breathing.

[–]aluminumfalcon 1 point2 points ago

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NSFD - Not Safe For Drunk

[–]Daveyd325 1 point2 points ago

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Report in /r/trees; reap karma.

[–]djloreddit 1 point2 points ago

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TIL what my favorite movie effect is called.

[–]Damodaru 1 point2 points ago

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I looooove the effect of this technique.

GET OFF THE ROAD!!

[–]xtkbilly 1 point2 points ago

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It's 3D, without any of the extra payments!

[–]cbear013 0 points1 point ago

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My teacher for 'Film appreciation' called this a 'BOOMCrash' effect

[–]alexleafman -1 points0 points ago

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It is called a dolly zoom.

[–]brendanmccue 1 point2 points ago

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It has tons of names. My Film Production professor called it the "zolly" effect pretty often. I've also heard it called the Hitchcock Effect.

[–]alexleafman 0 points1 point ago

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Looking through the thread I see that it does have a lot of names..

[–]TheFluxIsThis 0 points1 point ago

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That's a mindfuck right there. Made me a little dizzy watching it.

[–]MANTIS_POWER 0 points1 point ago

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one of the craziest gifs ive ever seen! reminds me of tripping (shrooms) in the passenger seat of my car and the windshield seemed miles away from me at times

[–]XjCrazy09 0 points1 point ago

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Not going to lie, I'm drunk right now and this freaked me the Fuck out.

[–]threejd 0 points1 point ago

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wat

[–]EmperorSofa[!] 0 points1 point ago

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Now I know what it would be like if I had control over the fabric of space.

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point ago

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Thats called a push-pull

[–]Chibizac 0 points1 point ago

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Oh my goodness... Woah...

[–]noughtagroos 0 points1 point ago

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If memory serves, I believe Brian De Palma uses this effect in several of his films, at least in part as an homage to Hitchcock.

[–]raffytraffy 0 points1 point ago

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telephoto lens!

[–]multiphrenic 0 points1 point ago

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I feel sick...

[–]Seruz 0 points1 point ago

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Incredible film! :)

[–]HauntedPumpkin 0 points1 point ago

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Somebody stop this gif I wanna get off.

[–]fuckingthedog 0 points1 point ago

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Anyone else trying to do this effect with their phone's camera?

[–]Valendr0s 0 points1 point ago

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I'm freakin out man

[–]Fimoreth 0 points1 point ago

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I'm drunk as fuck right now and you're blowing my mind..

[–]SUXLECOX 0 points1 point ago

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Ah yes, the dolly zoom trick. 'Twas used in the film Vertigo by Alfred Hitchcock.

This particular effect is useful when trying to shoot a scene that will contain shock, horror or just premonitions of bad things that will happen.

[–]Ryanami 0 points1 point ago

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Never watched a gif that many times before.

[–]tomasgdvl 0 points1 point ago

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I will definitely try to do this in the future.

[–]iSurvivedthe2000s 0 points1 point ago

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This is amazing. I always wondered how such shots were achieved. Thanks for sharing!

[–]tath3on 0 points1 point ago

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Mind Blown!

[–]thevideoclown 0 points1 point ago

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Wow I got nauseous

[–]lurker_becomes_lurkd 0 points1 point ago

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Why does this hurt my brain?

[–]spectrum_90 0 points1 point ago

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in before keanu_reeves says woah

[–]ajoshw 0 points1 point ago

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Dang, how did you know I'm drunk?

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point ago

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how...

[–]TanktopModul 0 points1 point ago

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Wow, this really isn't something to look at when hungover.

[–]gryzby 0 points1 point ago

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Usually, in the picture business, we call this a "Push-Pull" or a "Vertigo Shot"

[–]Hazarc 0 points1 point ago

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Vertigo effect FTW.

[–]wild_eep 0 points1 point ago

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They used this a lot in Parker Lewis Can't Lose.

[–]violetxrain 0 points1 point ago

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The people in it are kind of giving me a headache. That might just be my period though. I'd like to see more of these.

[–]Spaceman-Spliff 0 points1 point ago

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Used perhaps most famously in Vertigo!

[–]OlderFart 0 points1 point ago

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The first time I noticed this used was in Poltergeist.

The mother has just noticed that her children are screaming in their room and she has to run down a hall to get to them, and 'magically' the hall becomes extremely long.

[–]heretobate 0 points1 point ago

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psh I do contra-zooms everyday.

[–]dr_heiter 1 point2 points ago*

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This seems like the same effect used in movies when someone is really drunk/high and said someone's face is the focused center and everything is moving really fast around them.. amirite?

[–]lefike 3 points4 points ago

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No.

[–]dr_heiter 3 points4 points ago

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Aw shucks

[–]apmihal 0 points1 point ago

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That specific effect probably involves time-lapse and a SnorriCam rig. Here's a good example of SnorriCam use.

[–]Pxlnight13 0 points1 point ago

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this is amazing! I've always loved the zoom effects sometimes used in movies to create a "stomach dropping" effect. I would love to know the source/photographer/where can i get more of this??

[–]anonymousT 0 points1 point ago

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Wow this saves time when trying to describe what changing fov does

[–]Kill825 0 points1 point ago

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This remind anybody of the mutants from S.T.A.L.K.E.R. that messed with your vision when they attacked you?

[–][deleted] -3 points-2 points ago

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I don't get it.

[–]NoCowLevel 2 points3 points ago

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The camera physically moves backwards while zooming in, and then it physically moves forward and zooms out. It creates this really strange look.

[–]lunyboy -2 points-1 points ago

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Not technically a "dolly" zoom, but steadycam zoom. This is an excellent example of it, but would have been a bit more relevant in a crowd in front of buildings so field of view was easier to ascertain.

Things to look for: percieved distance to background objects Relative depth of field Barrel distortion Halo effect at widest angle

[–]neren -1 points0 points ago

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It reminds me of those old martial arts movies :)

[–]Lambocoon -1 points0 points ago

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in the bizz we call this a "trombone shot"

[–]Xanthan81 -1 points0 points ago

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Typically referred to as a "Zolly." (Zoom + Dolly = Zolly)

[–]lanieloo -1 points0 points ago

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fucking [6]

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