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

Greg Lindsey · March 31st, 2008, 12:22 AM

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?

Bob Thompson · March 31st, 2008, 03:35 AM

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

Annie Haycock · March 31st, 2008, 05:00 AM

Clever use of a green screen?

Peter Rhalter · March 31st, 2008, 09:50 PM

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

Grant Sherman · April 1st, 2008, 01:53 AM

Oxford Scientific Films used to do work for the "Life" series.

http://www.oxfordscientificfilms.tv/...aspx?cid=3&d=8

Markus Nord · May 4th, 2008, 05:21 AM

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

James Ewen · May 6th, 2008, 07:36 AM

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

March 31st, 2008, 12:22 AM	#1
Greg Lindsey 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?

March 31st, 2008, 03:35 AM	#2
Bob Thompson 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

March 31st, 2008, 05:00 AM	#3
Annie Haycock Major Player Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Pembrokeshire, Wales Posts: 734	Clever use of a green screen? __________________ Canon XH A1; Canon XF100; Nikon D800

April 1st, 2008, 01:53 AM	#5
Grant Sherman 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

May 4th, 2008, 05:21 AM	#6
Markus Nord 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 __________________ www.nordproduktion.se https://vimeo.com/nordproduktion

March 31st, 2008, 09:50 PM	#4
Peter Rhalter 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

May 6th, 2008, 07:36 AM	#7
James Ewen 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