Lens Focal Length

Learn how the focal length of a lens affects the look of the shot.

Lens Focal Length

Developed by Jason Tomaric, FilmSkills
ABOUT THIS LESSON
The focal length is undoubtedly the most powerful aspect of the lens, and understanding it’s true capabilities will enhance a cinematographer’s storytelling abilities significantly.  Learn how to create deep and shallow depth of field, compress or expand distance in your shot, create the illusion of faster or slower time and increase or decrease shot size in this comprehensive yet easy-to-understand video.
 
  • 23:50 video that unlocks the power of focal length
  • Complete companion guide
  • Tips for using the depth of field to enhance the story
WHAT YOU WILL LEARN
  • How to change the focal length with both prime and zoom lenses
  • How the focal length affects the field of view
  • How the focal length affects the depth of a shot
  • How the focal length affects the perception of time
  • How the focal length affects the depth of field
ABOUT THE LESSON AUTHOR
Jason Tomaric

Jason Tomaric

Director, Cinematographer Los Angeles, California
Jason J. Tomaric is an Emmy, Telly, and CINE Award-winning director and cinematographer of four internationally-distributed feature films, dozens of national television commercials, music videos, and the largest film training content library in the world, published author of 8 books - used in many top universities, and creator of AccuSkills.com, an industry-changing learning management platform. 
 
Jason has worked in Los Angeles and around the world in over 20 countries. His clients include Disney, NBC/Universal, National Geographic, McDonald’s, Toyota, Scion, Microsoft, and Paul Mitchell, with narrative work screened at Sundance, Slamdance, and South by Southwest film festivals as well as on Netflix and on all broadcast networks.
 
Jason has taught and/or guest lectured at some of the nation's most prestigious film schools including UCLA, Columbia College, John Carroll University, Kent State University, San Francisco State, University of Notre Dame, and numerous film festivals.
 
Jason has written eight industry-defining books, all sold in bookstores, and used in film schools around the world. The American Society of Cinematographers hails Jason's books - "There are no wasted words in Tomaric's tome, which concisely summarizes each facet of the director's craft.  It's difficult to think of a step in the process that Tomaric fails to address." 
 
Jason’s DVD training series on Hollywood film production have trained filmmakers in over 40 countries, with distributors in Europe, Hong Kong, New York and Australia.
 
In 2010, Jason launched FilmSkills, which combines the world’s largest film training video library with his proprietary learning management system.  Adopted by 47 universities within the first year, FilmSkills is now the leading industry-standard training solution for motion picture and television production.
 
In 2015, Jason launched AccuSkills.com, an industry-changing learning management platform that bridges the gap between academia and industry.