# What are the stylistic uses of long focal length in live action? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 12, 2015, 9:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-stylistic-uses-of-long-focal-length-in-live-action/724927 "2015-07-12T09:50:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MichaelEmouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/michaelemouse/32/101_2.png) [@MichaelEmouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelEmouse)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2015, 9:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-stylistic-uses-of-long-focal-length-in-live-action/724927/1 "2015-07-12T09:50:13Z")
I get how a short focal length could be used. It has a distinct distorting effect which can make a scene or a subject look grotesque or goofy. It can be used in horror or comedy. This is a good example, especially from 0:50 to 1:00: [Brazil Interrogation Scene - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NA9B6-s6r7Y) Perhaps there are other aspects and uses to of short focal length. If you can think of any, please tell me. What about long focal length? It flattens perspective; Makes it difficult to tell how far away everything is. Ok, how can that be used to communicate something or give a particular impression? I’ve seen it many times but I’m at a loss to tell what it was supposed to do. Does it do anything else than flatten perspective? What are some examples of good uses of it\*? \*Preferably with a link to illustrate. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2015, 9:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-stylistic-uses-of-long-focal-length-in-live-action/724927/2 "2015-07-12T09:54:48Z")
It makes far away things look large. When you have people walking across a ridge and the moon or sun is in the background, a long lens and a zoom makes them look like [this](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4RQLPBCnGzE/UGQBwdKBqlI/AAAAAAAAG8U/gXwNVk71k1o/s1600/Raiders-of-the-Lost-Ark-Indiana-Jones-sunset.png). It can also make a crowd look [claustrophobic](https://static-secure.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2014/7/24/1406157701678/Commuters-in-London-014.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2015, 10:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-stylistic-uses-of-long-focal-length-in-live-action/724927/3 "2015-07-12T10:09:36Z")
How long is long? Is 70mm long? 200mm? Anyway, long lenses can be vital for “telescope” shots where the camera is shooting the lead from a distance, maybe then to zoom back. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2015, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-stylistic-uses-of-long-focal-length-in-live-action/724927/4 "2015-07-12T12:48:57Z")
Very nice explanations with terrific video here : [A Primer on Focal Length: Why Lenses Are One of the Most Powerful Tools at Our Disposal](http://nofilmschool.com/2014/11/primer-focal-length-lenses) ---
**Author:** ![MichaelEmouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/michaelemouse/32/101_2.png) [@MichaelEmouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelEmouse)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2015, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-stylistic-uses-of-long-focal-length-in-live-action/724927/5 "2015-07-15T01:09:38Z")
Thanks for the answers. Long focal length is often used on portraits because it’s supposed to be flattering. What makes it flattering? ---
**Author:** ![zombywoof](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/9e8a1a/32.png) [@zombywoof](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zombywoof)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2015, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-stylistic-uses-of-long-focal-length-in-live-action/724927/6 "2015-07-15T01:30:09Z")
> [@MichaelEmouse](#): > > Thanks for the answers. > > Long focal length is often used on portraits because it’s supposed to be flattering. What makes it flattering? For an example of shorter vs longer focal length see [here](http://www.ontakingpictures.com/postImages/Mary_focallength1.jpg). The key point to realize is that perspective is NOT determined by lens focal length, but by the _camera-to-subject distance_ - the second picture isn’t better because it’s a longer lens, but _because the camera is further away_, it’s the difference between how something looks if you put your eye right up to it vs. if you step back…if the second picture were taken from the same position with the lens from the first, the “flattering” perspective would be exactly the same, but of course the subject would be much less magnified and smaller in the frame.