How to create depth

by | Oct 8, 2023 | Cinema Art | 0 comments

Of course films are two dimensional projections and the third dimension we see it’s fake, just an illusion created by our minds.
Yet it’s a fundamental illusion that is necessary to believe to the story we are being told is true.
It’s a concept deeply rooted in the intersection of art, perception, and psychology.

  1. Two-Dimensional Projections: All films, and indeed most traditional art forms like paintings, are displayed on flat, two-dimensional surfaces. However, through techniques like perspective, shading, and focus, these art forms can give the impression of depth, making objects appear closer or farther away than others.
  2. Illusion of the Third Dimension: The depth or the third dimension we perceive in movies or paintings isn’t a “real” third dimension in the physical sense. Instead, it’s an optical illusion that our minds interpret as depth based on visual cues. Our brains are wired to interpret these cues to make sense of the world around us, as depth perception is vital for our survival and daily tasks.
  3. Necessary Illusion: This illusion of depth is crucial for storytelling and immersion. If films or paintings looked completely flat with no impression of depth, it would be hard for viewers to engage or immerse themselves in the story or scene. The depth makes scenes appear more lifelike and believable, drawing viewers into the world the artist has created.
  4. Masters of the Past: When you look at the works of renowned artists like Caravaggio or Leonardo da Vinci, you can see how expertly they employed techniques to suggest depth. For instance in Leonardo da Vinci his use of atmospheric perspective, where distant objects are made to look hazier and less distinct than closer ones, is evident in paintings like the Mona Lisa. This technique adds depth and makes the scene appear more three-dimensional.
  5. Beyond the Visual: The illusion of depth isn’t just about visual believability. It’s also tied to our emotional connection to the story or artwork. A sense of space and depth can make a scene more emotionally resonant. Think about how a deep, expansive landscape shot in a film can evoke feelings of awe, freedom, or even isolation.

In essence, while we might intellectually know that movies and paintings are flat, our emotional and perceptual engagement with them relies on the “fundamental illusion” of depth. This illusion, cultivated over centuries of artistic evolution, allows us to suspend disbelief and become engrossed in the stories and emotions conveyed by the art.