Camera, Perspective and Focal Length
Your weapon of choice
Alright before we get into photographing let's take a look at our most important tool: the camera. In this section we'll learn the controls, learn about focal length and how focal length affects the perspective.
First off you'll want to have your cross hair on at all times.
There are 6 main camera controls that you should familiarize yourself with in Honey Select Studio and they are as follows:
. or > = This will tilt the camera to the right
\ or | = This will tilt the camera to the left
/ or ? = This will reset the camera tilt
] or } = This will decrease your camera's focal length
= or + = This will increase your camera's focal length
; or : = This will reset your camera's focal length
Focal Length vs Home and End
Perspective
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You're probably wondering, what the heck is a focal length? If you have a camera you'll be familiar with these terms but if not I'll try my best to explain this.
Simple version:
Increasing focal length will zoom in your shot and decreasing focal length will zoom out your shot. But doesn't pressing Home and End on the keyboard zoom in and out too sin07? Yes, yes it does. But the difference is focal length will change your perspective! Using Home and End to zoom will have very little effect on your background and perspective.
The technical version (SKIP IF YOU DON'T REALLY CARE):
On a camera lens whether it's interchangeable (SLR/D-SLR) or mounted to the camera itself there are a set of numbers that you will see marked on the lens. It will look something like 18mm-50mm. These numbers represent the range of said lens. 18mm being the lowest it can go and 50mm being the highest.
The higher the number the more the lens can zoom in. Some lens can go all the way up to 600mm which is an insane amount of zoom.
The lower the number the wider the lens will go, however; just like in HS the wider or lower the focal length the more distortion there will be present. How is this related to HS? Well increasing and decreasing focal length in HS works the same way but unlike a real camera lens, the focal range is vastly superior, and free of course.
By pressing = we zoom the camera in narrowing and compressing the background. The more you zoom in the less of the background is exposed.
Pressing ] does the opposite. It zooms the camera out and widens the shot allowing more of the background and objects in the shot. However zooming too far out with ] will cause distortion to your picture.
Perspective
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This is best explained through pictures so I will use mostly pictures to describe what happens when you increase or decrease focal length.
What is all of this useful for?
Well decreasing and increasing focal length both has their advantages and disadvantages.
Advantages and Disadvantages for Decreasing Focal Length:
+ Widening the shot helps in indoor settings and maps. It will allow you to move in closer with less obstructions
+ You can fit more people into your frame for group shots
+ Since the shot becomes wider you can use it to exaggerate certain body parts, boobs/butts.
+ Useful for landscape shots
- Zooming out too far will cause distortion
- Not flattering for portraiture due to distortion
- Less detail
Advantages and Disadvantages for Increasing Focal Length:
+ Great for close ups and portraiture
+ Useful when creating dialogue scenes in comics to isolate subject
+ Great for zooming in on detail
- Not useful in indoor settings or tight spaces
In this shot the focal is at default. To set your focal length to default press the : ; key.
This is the same shot but with decreased focal length using the ] key. Take notice of how much more of the sky and water are in the shot.
