Crazy depth of field in "Life in the Undergrowth" at DVinfo.net
DV Info Net

Go Back   DV Info Net > Special Interest Areas > Under Water, Over Land

Under Water, Over Land
Tools & Techniques for Nature, Outdoors, Wildlife & Underwater Videography.

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old March 31st, 2008, 12:22 AM   #1
New Boot
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 7
Crazy depth of field in "Life in the Undergrowth"

For those of you who have seen this series by the BBC with David Attenborough, how do they achieve the shots where the insect is close up in the foreground, while he's almost in focus in the background (or maybe he is in focus, I don't remember, but it was striking.) Any ideas?
Greg Lindsey is offline   Reply With Quote
Old March 31st, 2008, 03:35 AM   #2
Major Player
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Hong Kong
Posts: 340
They may have been using the "Panavision Frazier Lens System", it is a periscope system, designed by an Australian cinematographer. It won a Technical Achievement Award at the 1997 Oscars


PS:
I am obviously wrong as I have just found this legal case http://hd24.com/frazier_case.htm and here http://www.patenthawk.com/rulings/04-1060.pdf

Last edited by Bob Thompson; March 31st, 2008 at 03:49 AM. Reason: Discovered new information
Bob Thompson is offline   Reply With Quote
Old March 31st, 2008, 05:00 AM   #3
Major Player
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Pembrokeshire, Wales
Posts: 734
Clever use of a green screen?
__________________
Canon XH A1; Canon XF100; Nikon D800
Annie Haycock is offline   Reply With Quote
Old March 31st, 2008, 09:50 PM   #4
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 192
Once upon a time there was a special effects filter which was basically a closeup lens cut in half and mounted in a retaining ring. That resulted in half the frame focused on something a few inches (cm) away while the other half was at infinity. It was a startling effect, but after a bit the viewer could pick up the straight line boundary between near and far. I'll bet a computer could effectively hide that interface...Just an idea.

Peter Rhalter
www.parkfilms.com
Peter Rhalter is offline   Reply With Quote
Old April 1st, 2008, 01:53 AM   #5
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Lundy Island, UK
Posts: 175
Oxford Scientific Films used to do work for the "Life" series.

http://www.oxfordscientificfilms.tv/...aspx?cid=3&d=8
__________________
www.returntickettonature.co.uk
Grant Sherman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old May 4th, 2008, 05:21 AM   #6
Major Player
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Vastervik ,Sweden
Posts: 639
I tock a look at the "Undergrowth" and I think it is just a clever use of a extreme wideangle lens and a long focus (big "F").
Some times Sir David is on exact focus but the creature are not, take a look again and see...

Markus
Markus Nord is offline   Reply With Quote
Old May 6th, 2008, 07:36 AM   #7
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Oslo, Norway
Posts: 91
Split diopters and borescopes

Many shots were achieved using boroscopes and periscope/snorkel lens systems such as the Frazier that Bob Thompson refers to. The diopters are used for split focus shots, tricky to use effectively. The borescopes come in many flavors but generally use a specially designed optical path that retains the great DoF that you see in Life in the Undergrowth.

James
__________________
Natural History Cameraman
Earthmedia Film, Oslo, Norway
James Ewen is offline   Reply
Reply

DV Info Net refers all where-to-buy and where-to-rent questions exclusively to these trusted full line dealers and rental houses...

B&H Photo Video
(866) 521-7381
New York, NY USA

Scan Computers Int. Ltd.
+44 0871-472-4747
Bolton, Lancashire UK


DV Info Net also encourages you to support local businesses and buy from an authorized dealer in your neighborhood.
  You are here: DV Info Net > Special Interest Areas > Under Water, Over Land

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

 



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 04:26 PM.


DV Info Net -- Real Names, Real People, Real Info!
1998-2024 The Digital Video Information Network