Masters of Illusion

In this video, one is introduced to the topic of visual illusion and how the film industry conquers these optical illusions. The narrator introduces one to basic visual techniques utilized for special effects involving mastering optic and visual perception creating a reality for a movie audience.

To understand these visual illusions, one looks back to art during the Renaissance when great artists were making groundbreaking discoveries. There were a great many discoveries, but the discovery and perfection of linear perspective advanced the world of art to accurately portray a scene. Linear perspective had been practiced before, but linear perspective consisting of a vanishing point was a new discovery that gave true depth of space. The painter Masaccio, in his work titled The Trinity, performed the first successful attempt at linear perspective. This painting created a path for many other artists like Durer and Da Vinci to explore beyond the concept of linear perspective into other new territories.  Durer practiced perspective with multiple vanishing points, allowing proportions to form naturally. While Da Vinci explored perspective of disappearance, which is creating a hazy background in a painting by employing warmer color tones in the foreground, and then painting colder tones in the background, creating a haze in the end. 

These techniques developed during the Renaissance have allowed filmmakers to create realistic special effects by employing methods discovered by these artists. Their idea and creation of perspective in their paintings and studies have influenced camera angles and the creation of sets within films. I loved watching this video, even if it is a little dated. Although this video discussed how Renaissance art influences film techniques, it is quite clear that these techniques can be employed using a simple camera. Creating a realistic image, so it does not appear flat is very important for the collage. Employing methods like camera angles or simple ideas of linear perspective within the frame will give a sense of depth within any photograph.